Munster Club JHC: St Catherine's take provincial crown with win over Feenagh-Kilmeedy

St Catherine’s 2-14

Feenagh-Kilmeedy (Limerick) 1-15

St Catherine’s added themselves the long list of AIB Munster junior hurling champions as they edged out Feenagh-Kilmeedy at Mallow on Saturday.

Never trailing at any stage, Catherine’s had two goals from Eoin Condon while teenager Seán O’Donoghue scored nine points. As well as the attack operated, this was a victory built on character, with their Limerick opponents never allowed to lead.

Leading by 2-8 to 1-8 at half-time in this meeting of two clubs beaten in their county finals, Catherine’s conceded four of the first five points of the second half as the free-taking of Diarmuid Coleman helped to draw the Limerick side level. However, the East Cork side had reason to be aggrieved with the awarding of one of those as goalkeeper Eoin Davis reacted to a late hit after a clearance.

Coleman’s seventh of the day, a huge effort from behind his own 65, left it 2-9 to 1-12 but Catherine’s never panicked. Led by Oisín Fitzgerald at centre-back and Shane Cotter and Kyle Wallace at midfield, they drove on again and scored four consecutive points, all from the stick of O’Donoghue – three frees and the other a great team score involving Rory Galvin and Brian Mulcahy.

With Coleman in such impeccable dead-ball form, Feenagh-Kilmeedy – beaten by Kilmurry in the football equivalent last weekend – were going to be fully shaken off. Galvin almost made the game save in the closing stages with a goal effort but Gerard O’Gorman’s brilliant hook denied him.

A tenth point from Coleman left two in it with four minutes of normal time left. Catherine’s passed up chances to buttress the lead and, in the 64th minute, Coleman stood over a free at halfway. He dropped the ball in but the defending was stout and the whistle brought sweet relief.

Set on their way in the first half by a second-minute free from distance by goalkeeper Davis, Catherine’s had their first goal immediately after, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. Condon’s point attempt fell short but goalkeeper Michael Bergin couldn’t cleanly claim possession and the ball squirted down behind the line.

The four-point lead barely lasted a minute, however, as Feenagh-Kilmeedy’s first score arrived in the shape of a Ruairí O’Connor goal, the corner-forward crashing home a shot from a John O’Gorman lay-off. Good scores from Kyle Wallace and Seán O’Donoghue restored the Catherine’s cushion but midway through the half the Limerick side hit a rich vein of form.

After a third free from Diarmuid Coleman, they had their first point from play through Maurice Fitzgibbon and then Luke Ryan tied the match at 1-5.

Foreshadowing what was to come later, Catherine’s ensured that they didn’t fall behind. An O’Donoghue free had them in front again and, though David Boyce levelled again with a fine Feenagh-Kilmeedy point, the second Catherine’s goal was not long in coming.

Davis provided the delivery from behind his own 45 and Condon rose to meet the sliothar perfectly and send it to the net. That made it 2-6 to 1-6 and the four remaining points of the half were evenly shared, though Condon was unlucky not to add a third Catherine’s goal in injury time.

The three-point lead was wiped out early in the second half, but Catherine’s were able to respond and Munster glory was theirs.

Scorers for St Catherine’s: S O’Donoghue 0-9 (0-5f), E Condon 2-0, E Davis (0-1f), K Wallace, K O’Donoghue, B Mulcahy, K Barry 0-1 each.

Feenagh-Kilmeedy: D Coleman 0-10 (0-9f), R O’Connor 1-0, D Boyce 0-2, M Fitzgibbon, L Ryan, S Kelly 0-1 each.

ST CATHERINE’S: E Davis; E O’Riordan, F O’Connell, L O’Connor; K O’Donoghue, O Fitzgerald, K Neville; K Wallace, S Cotter; S O’Donoghue, R Galvin, W Leamy; B Mulcahy, E Condon, M Mulcahy.

Subs: O Wallace for O’Connor, G O’Brien for Leamy (both 42), K Barry for M Mulcahy (51)

FEENAGH-KILMEEDY: M Bergin; B Donegan, K Murphy, S Murray; D Boyce, B Hannigan, J O’Regan; C O’Connor, S Kelly; D Coleman, M Fitzgibbon, L Ryan; R O’Connor, N Irwin, J O’Gorman.

Subs: G O’Gorman for Irwin (36), J O’Sullivan for O’Gorman (46), P O’Doherty for Kelly (51), R O’Connor for Ryan (58).

Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).