Grenagh push on in extra time against Donoughmore to set up Muskerry Junior Hurling final with Ballinora

Grenagh 2-21 

Donoughmore 0-22 

(after extra time)

Grenagh are through to the final of the Muskerry Junior A Hurling Championship after winning this enthralling semi-final after extra time against Donoughmore on Sunday afternoon in Blarney.

Goals from Robert Coleman proved to be crucial but Grenagh showed great character to come through after going from four points up early in the second half to two down in the 55th minute. Dan Twomey, their top-scorer, sent the game to extra time, where they clipped seven of the nine points in that 20 minutes.

After the sides changed early points, Grenagh found the back of the net on five minutes to edge ahead. Coleman crisply finished from close range after Sean Joyce landed a good long ball in around the goalmouth.

Donoughmore rallied well with four points in a row to lead 0-6 to 1-2 after 15 minutes, including scores by Adam Dinan and Kevin O’Connell.

But Grenagh showed again they possess a heavyweight knockout punch, as Coleman controlled well before blasting impressively to the net for his second goal. Twomey got in on the scoring act during what was a purple patch for Grenagh.

They were ahead 2-9 to 0-11 after 41 minutes. However, Donoughmore got eight of the next 10 scores to edge ahead at 0-19 to the 2-11 of Grenagh after 55 minutes.

With the outcome of this contest well and truly in the melting point going into the closing stages, Grenagh once again showed their strong resolve to take this game to extra time with Twomey again pointing.

Nine points were scored over the course of extra time. Seven of those went the way of Grenagh and that proved decisive, with Dan Twomey once again getting vital points.

Awaiting in the decider are Ballinora, who were comprehensive winners over Inniscarra's second team in the other semi-final clash: 1-25 to 2-8.

Grenagh will be looking to add a 13th Muskerry JAHC title to their roll of honour.  They'll be underdogs though, against a Ballinora side going for five Mid Cork titles in a row and leading contenders for county glory.

Scorers for Grenagh: D Twomey 0-14 (0-10 f, 0-1 65), R Coleman 2-1, S Joyce 0-3, S Morley, D Warren, M White 0-1 each.

Donoughmore: A Dinan 0-8 (0-3 f), K O'Connell, M Lucey 0-3 each, S Healy (f), S Barrett 0-2 each, C O'Callaghan, S O'Hanlon, J McCarthy, D McDonald 0-1 each.

GRENAGH: J Walsh; K O'Neill, P Barry Murphy, A Kiely; J O'Keeffe, K Cummins, J Lehane; D Warren, T Twomey; D Kenny, S Joyce, D Coleman; R Coleman, S Morley, D Twomey.

Subs: R McNamara for D Coleman (44), P Ahern for O'Keeffe (46), J Twomey for Lehane (54), D O'Shea for Kenny (61), N Coleman for Cummins (62), M White for Morley (65), B Walsh for McNamara (70).

DONOUGHMORE: S Sexton; S Golden, M Foley, F Honohan; S Healy, J Crowley, S O'Hanlon; K O'Connell, R Honohan; C O'Callaghan, S Barrett, D O'Connell; D Holland, M Lucey, A Dinan.

Subs: D McDonald for O'Connell, J McCarthy for Holland (both HT), L O'Sullivan for Honohan (44), J Murphy for Healy, G O 'Sullivan for O'Callaghan (both 60), S Broderick for Golden (67).

Referee: Niall Hayes (Blarney).