KILMALLOCK secured their 10th county senior hurling title last weekend with 1-15 to 0-15 win over Adare at the Gaelic Grounds. The show piece encounter was closer than many people thought. Adare, leading at half time by two points were more than a match for the pre game favourites Kilmallock.
Neutral fans in the crowd were treated to a fantastic display of hard physical play coupled with some fantastic individual scores. The battle on the 40 between Gavin O’Mahony of Kilmallock and Declan Hannon of Adare was worth the entry fee alone.
The 47th minute was the turning point in the game. Eoin Ryan set up the impressive Jake Mulchahy who rattled the Adare net for the only goal of the game. Adare did respond with four points from Hannon but stout defending from the men in green and white secured the spoils on the day for Tony Considine’s men.
As soon as captain Paudie O’Brien lifted the Daly Cup, eyes turned to the Munster club championship where Kilmallock will now face the Tipperary champions Thurles Sarsfields or Drom & Inch on October 28 at a Limerick venue.
With the challenge of Adare all ready conquered, few country wide will fancy meeting Kilmallock.
Kilmallock: B Hennessy; L Hurley, M O’Loughlin, K O’Mahony; L Walsh, G O’Mahony, B O’Sullivan; R Egan, P O’Brien (c); J Mulcahy, P O’Dwyer, E Ryan; G Mulcahy, K O’Donnell, S O’Donnell.
Scorers for Kilmallock: J Mulcahy 1-1 (1 s/l), P O’Dwyer, P O’Brien, E Ryan 0-3 each, R Egan 0-2, K O’Donnell, S O’Donnell, K Kenneally, 0-1 each.
