Historic Munster title for the Mitchelstown CBS hurlers

Mitchelstown CBS 2-14

Cashel Community School 0-19

MITCHELSTOWN CBS created history on Saturday when they won their first Munster Senior B Hurling Championship title.

These competitions were founded in 1918 and 100 years later CBS landed their first title in this grade.

The game in Clonmel was tight and close all through with CBS leading for long periods. The winners opened with a first-minute goal when ‘man of the match’ Mark Keane placed James Keating who netted.

Cashel got on the scoresheet soon after when Rian Quigley forced a 65 that Eoghan Connolly converted.

A foul on Rian Quigley saw Colm Moloney with a free cut the lead to a point. Darragh Flynn edged CBS two clear with a sixth-minute point.

The Mitchelstown side won possession in the air with Mark Keane being fouled and James Keating pointed the free 1-2 to 0-2 clear.

James Keating and Colm Moloney exchanged a pointed free with Moloney with another free closing the gap.

Good play for CBS by Cathal O’Mahony to Tomas Vaughan could have led to a CBS goal but Aaron Browne saved well.

James Keating (free) put the winners 1-4 to 0-2 clear after 15 minutes. Cashel battled back well they moved impressive Ross Bonnar to the wing.

A long range free by Eoghan Connolly was sent over by Bonnar before Connolly with another free had the Tipp side back in the hunt.

Mark Keane made a vital interception from Rian Quigley who was goal bound. In the 20th minute, Tomas Vaughan was fouled and James Keating pointed the free. Keating restored CBS’s lead with a pointed 65 — 1-6 to 0- 6.

CBS moved John Hunter to mark Ross Bonnar which made a major impact. Colm Moloney pointed another free. In the 28th minute, Cathal O’Mahony worked well for James Keating who sent over.

In injury time Mark Keane won a vital high ball and placed James Keating who pointed and gave the winners an interval lead 1-8 to 0- 7.

Cashel made two changes for the second half and they battled back very well.

By the 37th minute, they were back within a point. James Keating pointed a sideline cut with Mark Keane putting Darragh Flynn in for a point 1-10 to 0-10.

Cashel enjoyed a very good spell and four points on the trot had them ahead for the first time in the 47th minute.

The turning point came a minute later when Christy O’Sullivan’s effort from the wing deceived the keeper and found its way to the net.

Cathal Harrington followed with a point and CBS were 2-11 to 0-14 ahead. By the 56th minute, both sides exchanged two points 2-13 to 0-16.

Three points on the trot for Cashel by Eoghan Connolly Ross Bonnar and James Kirby had them level 2-13 to 0-19 by the 59th minute.

CBS won a vital free when Mark Keane was fouled and James Keating pointed. Cashel were wide from a long range free in injury time followed by the final whistle.

Scorers for Mitchelstown CBS: J Keating 1-11 (0-6 f, 0-2 65, 0-1 sl), C O’Sullivan 1-0, D Flynn 0-2, C Harrington 0-1.

MITCHELSTOWN CBS: J Finn (Ballygiblin); K Noonan (Kildorrery), M Walsh-O’Grady (do), J Lewis (Ballygiblin); T Watson (Kildorrery), M Keane (Ballygiblin), J Hunter (Kildorrery); L Finn (Ballygiblin), O Brennan (Skeheenarinky); C Harrington (Kildorrery) (v-c), C O’Mahony (Ballygiblin) (c), C O’Sullivan (do); D Flynn (do), J Keating (Kildorrery), T Vaughan (Skeheenarinky).

Subs: R Hennessy (Skeheenarinky) for C O’Mahony (blood) C O’Mahony for R Hennessy, R Hennessy for K Noonan.