Sport

Mullane's goal crucial as Ballygunner seal final place

Ballygunner 1-14 Cratloe 0-15: BALLYGUNNER qualified for the Munster final after a hard fought two-point victory at Walsh Park…

Mon Nov 16 2009 - 00:00

Ballygunner 1-14 Cratloe 0-15:BALLYGUNNER qualified for the Munster final after a hard fought two-point victory at Walsh Park yesterday

A goal five minutes from time by substitute Barry Mullane ensured a final date with Newtownshandrum.

Mullane’s goal put Ballygunner five points clear with as many minutes remaining. It was a lead they scarcely deserved as the Clare men enjoyed enough possession in this game to have secured victory.

However, Ballygunner were not unduly worried when Cratloe stole into an early three-point lead. They fought back into the game through frees from veteran attacker Paul Flynn, most of which were earned by tricky corner forward Brian O’Sullivan.

READ MORE

The sides went in level at half-time on 0-7 apiece, but Cratloe had spurned several good point -scoring opportunities.

At half-time Ballygunner brought on JJ Hutchinson for Tommy Power who was being led a merry dance by Cratloe’s Sean Collins. Bringing on a forward for a defender necessitated a reshuffle of the Ballygunner line-up, but the alterations worked. Hutchinson helped himself to two valuable points in the second period.

And his older brother, Wayne, stole the show during the second half. He was designated to mark the dangerous Collins and more than matched the Clare under-21 All-Ireland winner.

The elder Hutchinson even stole up the field to rifle over a crucial point to put his side two points clear halfway through the second half.

Two subs combined for the crucial goal. Robbie Cunningham sent a long delivery towards Cratloe’s goal which was seized upon by Barry Mullane. Mullane kept his cool to fire past Seán Hawes.

BALLYGUNNER: S O’Keeffe; Philip Mahony, A Kirwan, V Molloy; W Hutchinson (0-1), F Hartley, T Power; C Kehoe, S Walsh; S O’Sullivan, A Moloney (0-2), Pauric Mahony (0-1), B O’Sullivan (0-2), P Flynn (0-5, five frees), S Power (0-1) Subs: JJ Hutchinson (0-2) for T Power, R Cunningham for S Walsh, B Mullane (1-0) for S Power.

CRATLOE: S Hawes; P Gleeson, B Duggan, D Ryan; J O’Gorman, M Hawes, L Markham (0-1, free); M Og Murphy (0-2), S Chaplin; S Collins (0-5), J Enright, D Browne (0-6, five frees), C McInerney (0-1), G Ryan, C McGrath Subs: P Collins for G Ryan.

Referee: John Sexton (Cork).

Newtownshandrum will meet Ballygunner in the provincial decider on November 29th.