Cork’s Glen Rovers book their place in Munster final with a point to spare

Glen Rovers (Cork) 0-15
Patrickswell (Limerick) 0-14

Jackie Cahill reports from the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

CORK CHAMPIONS GLEN Rovers are through to a first AIB Munster senior club hurling final since 1976.

Eight points from Patrick Horgan helped the Glen through to a November 20 decider against Clare kingpins Ballyea.

Glen trailed from the start until the 58^th minute, when Horgan won a free despite having to win the ball under pressure from three players, and duly converted from close in.

Conor Dorris added a fine point from the wing for a two-point buffer and while Aaron Gillane converted a free in the second minute of stoppage time for Patrickswell, the clock ran out on the Limerick men.

Glen Rovers, beaten semi-finalists against Ballygunner last year, also had goalkeeper Cathal Hickey to thank for a couple of cracking second half saves to deny first Thomas O’Brien and later Seanie O’Brien.

Glen Rovers’ David Noonan in action against Seanie O’Brien.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Limerick star Cian Lynch also had an early opportunity that he flashed wide and on a day when Patrickswell should have had at least two goals, they failed to register a green flag.

But Glen Rovers were wasteful themselves, particularly in the first half when they registered nine of their 13 wides.

They still managed to do enough, becoming the first Cork club to win a game in the provincial competition since Newtownshandrum won the 2009 final.

At half-time, in front of 2761 spectators on a bitterly cold afternoon, Rovers were 0-4 to 0-7 adrift but had played against the breeze in the opening half.

Patrickswell were moving better but failed to translate some good possession into scores, which left the door open for Rovers after half-time.

After Hickey saved from Thomas O’Brien, Horgan registered a point from play at the other end to kickstart proceedings in the second half but Aaron Gillane’s point had Patrickswell three clear again.

Rovers dug in and were level at nine points each when Horgan clipped over a 39th minute free.

Patrickswell rallied again to move two points clear on three occasions as the scores began to flow freely but Horgan was the man who pulled them level at 0-3 apiece with eight minutes left.

Hickey was called into action again with five minutes left, pushing away Seanie O’Brien’s effort before Lar Considine pulled on the loose ball and put it wide with the goal gaping.

Those were costly missed as, two minutes from time, Horgan somehow managed to engineer a free for himself despite being surrounded by a posse of Patrickswell players and converted for the lead score, 0-14 to 0-13.

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Conor Dorris made it a two-point game with a glorious score from the touchline before Patrickswell gave themselves a glimmer of hope when their leading scorer Gillane was on target with a free in the second minute of stoppage time.

But the clock ran out on Gary Kirby’s charges and Glen Rovers will now aim for a first Munster senior club title since 1976 in a fortnight’s time, when they face Clare kingpins Ballyea in a novel decider.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: Patrick Horgan 0-8 (6f), Dean Brosnan, Conor Dorris & David Busteed 0-2 each, Donal Cronin 0-1.

Scorers for Patrickswell: Aaron Gillane 0-6 (4f), Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 (2 65s, 1f), Thomas O’Brien 0-2, Cian Lynch, Jack Kelleher & Kevin O’Brien 0-1 each.

 Glen Rovers

1. Cathal Hickey

2. Calvin Healy
3. Stephen McDonnell
4. Gavin Moylan

5. David Dooling
6. Brian Moylan
7. Graham Callanan (c)

8. Donal Cronin
9. David Noonan

10. Dean Brosnan
11. Patrick Horgan
12. David Cunningham

13. Conor Dorris
14. Cathal O’Brien
15. David Busteed

Subs:
18. Brian Phelan for O’Brien (44)

Patrickswell

1. Brian Murray

4. Neil Carmody
3. James Mann
2. Thomas Nolan

5. Mark Carmody
6. Diarmaid Byrnes
7. Nigel Foley

12. Jack Kelleher
9. Barry Foley

10. Aaron Gillane
11. Seanie O’Brien
8. Cian Lynch

15. Thomas O’Brien (c)
14. Kevin O’Brien
13. Lar Considine

Subs:
17. John Flynn for Barry Foley (48)
18. Peter Harty for Considine (58)

Referee: Rory McGann (Clare)

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