Brian Moylan, Glen Rovers, and Kevin O Brien and Cian Lynch from Patrickswell during the Munster SHC Semi-Final.
Munster SHC Semi-Final
** **Glen Rovers (Cork) 0-15 Patrickswell (Limerick) 0-14
** **
By Jackie Cahill at the Gaelic Grounds
Glen Rovers are back in an AIB Munster Senior Club Hurling Final for the first time in 40 years.
The Cork outfit, who lost at the semi-final stage to Ballygunner last year, went one step better at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick to edge out Patrickswell.
They left it late, however, only getting ahead in the 58th minute through talismanic county forward Patrick Horgan, who collected eight points in total.
And Glen Rovers had goalkeeper Cathal Hickey to thank for a couple of cracking second half saves to deny first Thomas O’Brien and later Seanie O’Brien.
Limerick star Cian Lynch also had an early opportunity that he flashed wide and on a day when Patrickswell should have had at least two goals, they failed to register a green flag.
But Glen Rovers were wasteful themselves, particularly in the first half when they registered nine of their 13 wides.
They still managed to do enough, becoming the first Cork club to win a game in the provincial competition since Newtownshandrum won the 2009 final.
At half-time, in front of 2,761 spectators on a bitterly cold afternoon, Rovers were 0-4 to 0-7 adrift, but had played against the breeze in the opening half.
Patrickswell were moving better, but failed to translate some good possession into scores, which left the door open for Rovers after half-time.
Kevin O Brien, Patrickswell, and Stephen McDonnell, Glen Rovers, in action at the Gaelic Grounds.
After Hickey saved from Thomas O’Brien, Horgan hit a point from play at the other end to kickstart proceedings in the second half, but Aaron Gillane’s point had Patrickswell three clear again.
Rovers dug in and were level at nine points each when Horgan clipped over a 39th minute free.
Patrickswell rallied again to move two points clear on three occasions as the scores began to flow freely but Horgan was the man who pulled them level at 0-3 apiece with eight minutes left.
Hickey was called into action again with five minutes left, pushing away Seanie O’Brien’s effort before Lar Considine pulled on the loose ball and put it wide with the goal gaping.
Those were costly missed as, two minutes from time, Horgan somehow managed to engineer a free for himself despite being surrounded by a posse of Patrickswell players and converted for the lead score, 0-14 to 0-13.
Conor Dorris made it a two-point game with a glorious score from the touchline before Patrickswell gave themselves a glimmer of hope when their leading scorer Gillane was on target with a free in the second minute of stoppage time.
But the clock ran out on Gary Kirby’s charges and Glen Rovers will now aim for a first Munster senior club title since 1976 in a fortnight’s time, when they face Clare kingpins Ballyea in a novel decider.
**Scorers for Glen Rovers: **P Horgan 0-8 (6fs), D Brosnan, C Dorris and D Busteed 0-2 each, D Cronin 0-1.
Scorers for Patrickswell: A Gillane 0-6 (4fs), D Byrnes 0-3 (2 65s, 1f), T O’Brien 0-2, C Lynch, J Kelleher and K O’Brien 0-1 each.
Glen Rovers: C Hickey; C Healy, S McDonnell, G Moylan; D Dooling, B Moylan, G Callanan; D Cronin, D Noonan; D Brosnan, P Horgan, D Cunningham; C Dorris, C O’Brien, D Busteed.
Sub: B Phelan for O’Brien (44).
Patrickswell: B Murray; N Carmody, J Mann, T Nolan; M Carmody, D Byrnes, N Foley; J Kelleher, B Foley; A Gillane, S O’Brien, C Lynch; T O’Brien, K O’Brien L Considine.
Subs: J Flynn for B Foley (48), P Harty for Considine (58).
Referee: R McGann (Clare).
