Croagh-Kilfinny Dominates Granagh-Ballingarry in Championship Clash

In a commanding display, Croagh-Kilfinny triumphed over Granagh-Ballingarry with a score of 2-24 to 1-13 in the Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on March 15, 2024. This victory marks a significant achievement for Croagh-Kilfinny, who, following three consecutive wins, now have their sights set on a potential semi-final berth in the county’s second championship.

Manager James Hall expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s performance at Mick Neville Park, emphasizing their initial aim of survival in the championship. “Now, after three wins, we want to see how far we can go,” he stated. The match highlighted Croagh-Kilfinny’s ambition as they displayed remarkable precision, recording only three wides in the first half compared to Granagh-Ballingarry’s ten.

The early momentum set the tone for Croagh-Kilfinny’s victory. They established a five-point lead shortly after the start, which proved unassailable for their opponents. Granagh-Ballingarry struggled to find rhythm, hampered by the pressure exerted by Croagh-Kilfinny throughout the match. The winners’ cohesive teamwork allowed them to control both the pace and direction of the game from the outset.

As the match progressed, Granagh-Ballingarry found it difficult to respond effectively to Croagh-Kilfinny’s relentless assault. Their night began poorly, and they were forced into situations that led to missed opportunities. While Cian O’Carroll opened the scoring with a pointed free, Granagh-Ballingarry could not capitalize on their subsequent possessions, culminating in five consecutive wides.

Despite their struggles, Granagh-Ballingarry did find the net when Michael Russell soloed from the right wing to score a goal, briefly lifting their supporters’ spirits. However, Croagh-Kilfinny quickly responded with a goal of their own from James Lanigan, extinguishing any hopes of a comeback.

The second half continued in a similar vein, with Croagh-Kilfinny extending their lead. Following a brief response from Granagh-Ballingarry, Croagh-Kilfinny’s Andrew Meade struck decisively, scoring a goal that left Granagh-Ballingarry’s goalkeeper, Denis O’Connor, with no chance to react.

By the third quarter, the gap had widened to twelve points, effectively sealing the outcome of the match. Croagh-Kilfinny maintained their dominance as the game progressed, with their substitutes injecting fresh energy into the lineup. The final minutes saw Cian O’Carroll converting two more frees, bringing his total for the night to an impressive twelve points, including seven from frees and one from a ’65’.

The final score underscored Croagh-Kilfinny’s strength and tactical superiority throughout the encounter. The team’s ability to capitalize on opportunities while limiting Granagh-Ballingarry’s chances proved decisive. With this convincing win, Croagh-Kilfinny has positioned itself favorably in the championship, with ambitions now firmly set on advancing further.

SCORERS:
CROAGH-KILFINNY: Cian O’Carroll 0-12 (7 frees, 1 ’65’), Andrew Meade, James Lanigan 1-3 each, Bryan Flynn 0-3, Séamus O’Carroll, Conor Lenihan, Nessan Leahy 0-1 each.
GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY: Luke Flynn 0-6 (5 frees), Michael Russell 1-3, Paudie Murphy 0-2, Eoin Horgan, Denis O’Connor (free) 0-1 each.

CROAGH-KILFINNY: Dave Power; Denis Lenihan, Aidan O’Shea, Eoin Barry; Tom McMahon, Barry Lenihan, Jack Lenihan; Owen Dee, Séamus Lenihan; Andrew Meade, Bryan Flynn, James Lanigan; John Wall, Cian O’Carroll, Séamus O’Carroll. SUBS: Nessan Leahy for Owen Dee (half-time), Liam Lenihan for Séamus Lenihan (39 minutes), Brian Hannon for Jack Lenihan (injured, 48 minutes), Owen Dee for Bryan Flynn (injured, 55 minutes).

GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY: Denis O’Connor; Eoghan Casey, John Kealy, Mark O’Shea; Eoin Horgan, Jack Cagney, Ronan Mullane; Darragh Casey, Brian Sheedy; Michael Russell, Luke Flynn, Tom Horgan; Eoin Lynch, David Condron, Paudie Murphy. SUBS: Jack Mulqueen for Eoin Lynch (43 minutes), Josh Mulcaire for Tom Horgan (43 minutes), Jack Harnett for Jack Cagney (53 minutes).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Feohanagh).