Interprovincial hurling championship Final/Connacht 1-15 Munster 0-9: Hurling in December is an unforgiving business. Yesterday in the gnawing Pearse Stadium cold Connacht summoned a near flawless display to beat Munster and win the Interprovincial hurling title. Despite playing into the wind, Connacht controlled the opening half.
Eight minutes after the resumption Dave Donoghue pinched an opportunistic goal following some neat stickwork by Alan Kerins. Thereafter it was only the margin of victory that interested the 500 home supporters.
The remaining minutes were not without controversy as referee Eamonn Morris dismissed two players. After such a spellbinding summer it was unfortunate Dan Shanahan's year ended with a red card after a crude pull on Dave Collins. Numerical parity was restored seconds after as David Tierney was also red-carded for what seemed an innocuous challenge.
It scarcely mattered as Connacht confidently closed the deal. Ollie Fahy stroked over a raft of sublime points in the dying moments to embellish a dynamic display. After the game the Gort player celebrated on the double accepting the M Donnelly Interprovincial crown, and also the man of the match award.
All Munster's scores came from the free-taking of Niall Gilligan and Eoin Kelly as the all-Galway side - apart from late substitute Kevin Higgins from Mayo - hurled with intelligence.
Collins was tidy and industrious alongside the energetic Tierney at midfield. In attack Mark Kerins' athleticism and willingness to graft caused much difficulty for Ronan Curran. Kevin Broderick and Ollie Fahy also clipped over some nonchalant scores ensuring Vincent Mullins' charges departed for the interval three points ahead.
After witnessing such a lacklustre start Donie Nealon introduced Colin Lynch and John Gardiner, but the second half followed the pattern of the first.
CONNACHT: L Donoghue; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; F Healy, L Hodgins, F Moore; D Collins (0-1), D Tierney; A Kerins, M Kerins (0-6, 3 frees), K Broderick (0-2); D Hayes, O Fahy (0-4), D Donoghue (1-1). Subs: T Óg Regan for Hodgins (20 mins), G Farragher for Collins (62 mins), N Healy (0-1) for A Kerins (62 mins), K Higgins for Donoghue (70 mins).
MUNSTER: B Cummins; P Curran, P Maher, J Murray; E Corcoran, R Curran, J Gardiner; T Browne, O Moran; D Shanahan, N Gilligan (0-2, 1 free, 1 65), N Moran; J Mullane, E Kelly (0-7, frees), J Deane. Subs: C Lynch for Browne (half-time), J Gardiner for Curran (half-time), K Murphy for Deane (53 mins), N Moran for Prendergast (53 mins), P O'Brien for Gilligan (62 mins).
Referee: E Morris (Dublin).
