Mungret St. Pauls 0-17 Bruree 1-9
The second group game of the Premier Intermediate championship saw our Limerick Motor Centre Sponsored hurlers play Bruree on Saturday August 1st 2020 in Bruff. On a slippy surface, the familiar foes faced off with Mungret St. Pauls knowing a win steers them into the semi finals with Bruree facing relegation fears if they lose.
Mungret St. Pauls started strongly and had two points from play from Brendan Giltenane and Captain, Cian O’Brien. Bruree rallied with points of their own. It was a physical start to the game with both teams trying to impose themselves, Ronan Kirby putting his body on the line for the cause and preventing a Bruree goal attempt. At the water break, scores were level at 3 points each. A Bruree point and goal from play within 2 minutes of the water break put them in front. After the shock to the system, Mungret St. Pauls responded with a score from play for Mike Mullins and 3 Paul O’Brien scores from frees. At half time Mungret St. Pauls trailed 1-6 to 0-7.
One of the characteristics of a great hurling team, is not to panic when you are behind. The Mungret St. Pauls men emerged for the second half with purpose and picked off some fine scores whilst keeping Bruree scoreless. At the water break, Mungret St. Pauls had opened a lead of 0-13 to 1-6. The referee let play flow with little or no intervention and this resulted in some heavy challenges. Brendan Giltenane picked off another well worked point from play. Perhaps the highlight of the game was seeing Eoin O’Doherty connect with an excellent shoulder to send a Bruree man over the sideline and almost out the gate, drawing a roar from the Mungret St. Pauls faithful, they felt that one back in Bruree. The challenge summed up the workrate from our players in the middle third, Rory Duff, Eoin O’Doherty, Brian Barry and Cian O’Brien putting in a great shift for the team. Paul O’Brien casually strolled up and stroked home a beautiful sideline between the sticks, touch of class on his way to a 12 point haul. The last 10 minutes in what seemed a very long second half saw Mungret St. Pauls face some pressure from the opposition but some dogged defending paid off, Liam Harrrington taking ball and Brian Barry’s head simultaneously at one point, all for the cause. Mungret St. Pauls emerged victorious 0-17 to 1-9, sealing our place in the county semi final. We look forward to our final group game next weekend against Cappamore.
Team: Conor O’Brien, Conor Flahive, Ronan Kirby, Eoghan Mulcahy, Conor Hellewell, Brian Barry, Liam Harrington, Rory Duff, Eoin O’Doherty, Shane Barry, Cian O’Brien (C) (0-1), Niall Mulcahy, Paul O’Brien (0-12, 0-7 frees/65s, 0-1 sideline), Mike Mullins (0-1), Brendan Giltenane (0-2) Subs Used: Brian O’Meara (0-1), Daniel Larkin, Kieran O’Dowd Subs not used: Louis Dee, David Bridgeman, Dec Browne, Darragh O’Brien, Barry O’Grady, Richie Burke
Management: Bainisteoir: Seanie Barry, Coaches: Liam Cronin, Paul Harman, Hurley Carriers/Selectors: John Van Veen, Ger Keane, Club Official/Liaison Officer: Brian Mullane, Stats Team: Killian Stockil, Dan O’Brien, Donal Browne, Kitman: John Moriarty
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