Limerick players lead way as Munster claim Wheelchair Hurling/Camogie All-Ireland title

LAST Saturday was the culmination of what was a mixed year for the Munster Wheelchair Hurling/Camogie Team. 

Having lost the league to Ulster in September, there was an added urgency to making sure that the M. Donnelly Interprovincial Wheelchair Hurling/Camogie All-Ireland Title would remain in Munster for 2024.

The venue for the All-Ireland Final Series was announced as SETU Carlow from 2023 to 2026 inclusive.  The panel of thirteen players, two coaches and a group of supporters left home early Saturday morning with Munster’s first game being Ulster. 

Knowing they were facing a very strong Ulster side, there was high intensity hurling being played. There were more than just points at stake in this game, as a victory here would also give a psychological advantage to the winner. A superb goal by Darren Dineen, clinched the win for Munster, on a 2 -1 to 1 -1 scoreline.

Having only a short break before taking on Leinster in what was another back-to-back game for Munster, the level of intensity did not waiver and despite some excellent performances by the team, Leinster proved to be the stronger, coming out victorious on a 4-0 to 2-2 final score.

Going into the last round of the day for Munster it was still all to play for against Connacht and nothing short of a sizeable win here for Munster would put them in the shake up for either first or 2second place in the All-Ireland final.

With a nine-goal victory and following Leinster's game with Ulster, the All-Ireland final pairing was Munster against Ulster with Leinster taking third place on the day.

Munster knew what they had to do and the only thing between them and three All-Ireland titles in a row was a formidable Ulster side with an intention of doing the double, something that they had not done since 2015.

The defensive units held the upperhand with the goal line being broken just once by both teams. The half-time score was 1–0 to both sides. Nothing between them. The second half began as if their lives depended on it, a goal each, to make it 2-0 apiece.

Another goal for Munster put them one goal ahead and with the clock ticking down, it looked like a win was on the cards. In what was a most certain score for Ulster to level the game, the sliotar came sailing in towards Kieran Bennis in goals and in what can only be described as the save of the century, with his hurley, himself and his wheelchair in the air, Kieran blocked the sliotar. 

The clock was stopped to give Kieran an opportunity to get back into his chair and the clock ticked slowly down.

With the score at 3-0 to Munster and 2–0 to Ulster, a penalty given to Ulster which was buried in the back of the next and the final whistle went. It was a draw game, 3-0 each.

Five minutes of extra time was to be played and if there was no winner, it would go to next goal wins.

With nothing between the sides, extra time began and the exhibition of Wheelchair Hurling/Camogie given by both teams will go down as one of the finest games anyone has ever witnessed.

Sporting and fierce at the same time, two sideline balls, taken expertly by Maurice Noonan, ensured that the victory at the end of extra time was Munster’s, winning the All-Ireland on a scoreline of 3–2 to 3–0.  To the victor go the spoils and thrilled to receive the trophy on behalf of the Munster team were Captain Cian Horgan and Vice-Captain Darren Dineen.

Munster Team: Kieran Bennis, Steven Casey, Darren Dineen, Cormac Downey, Sean Hassett, Cian Horgan, Sultan Kakar, Paul Kelly, James McCarthy, Edel Morrissey, Maurice Noonan, Caroline O’Halloran, Gary O’Halloran and Ellie Sheehy.

Coach:  John Carey, Dave Fitzgerald.