Kildimo-Pallaskenry hold firm to claim nail-biting Munster Junior 'B' hurling series final win

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY secured the Munster club Junior 'B' hurling series title after recording a dramatic 3-8 to 1-13 victory over Cappawhite, of Tipperary, in the provincial final played at Raheenagh on Saturday afternoon. 

Powered on by skipper Rodger Ryan, who blasted home three goals and Aaron O'Donovan who sent over seven frees between the posts, the Limerick representatives found their stride coming up to the break after their early goal was overhauled.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry looked like they were well on their way when they took control after the teams changed ends.

However, as in their previous weekend's success over over Clare champions Tulla, they found themselves facing a fierce final quarter rally after they had moved into a substantial lead.

In fact, were it not for an all-or-nothing challenge on a Cappawhite goal chance deep into injury time, the Michael Fitzmaurice Memorial Cup could have been heading off to a different home for the year.

That said, however, Kildimo-Pallaskenry weren't flattered by the outcome as it was they who set the pace for most of the hour and had the greater capacity to move up the gears whenever it was needed.

To their credit, the Tipp club were always game enough to rise to the challenge but, with all but three of their scores coming from sharpshooter Anthony Barry, they just lacked the finishing options to get over the line.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry got the ideal start when Adam Butler outjumped his marker to the long delivery to offload to Ryan who made no mistake with his rasper into the corner.

However, the Tipp team rose to the challenge and, running at the opposing defence, they drew three three quick fouls for Anthony Barry to draw the sides level.

Although Aaron O'Donovan's free immediately restored Kildimo-Pallaskenry's lead and they could have gone ahead had Adam Butler's pull from a tight angle not grazed past the butt of far upright, Cappawhite continued to press forward.

The Tipp side equalised through Michael O'Neill and, after falling behind again to an O'Donovan free, they got their noses in front for the first time when Barry got the better of an aerial challenge on a long delivery and whipped the breaking ball to the net.

The full-forward then extended the West Tipp side's advantage from a free before Kildimo-Pallaskenry recovered their stride coming up to the break.

Despite another Butler attempt on goal being stopped on the line, their late surge yielded an O'Donovan pointed free that narrowed the deficit facing them to 1-5 to 1-3.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry's momentum continued over the interval although it took them five minutes to draw a foul for O'Donovan to punish which they immediately followed up by Ryan collecting off Butler to whack home his second goal on the run.

Although Neil Clancy broke the sequence with a point from distance for Cappawhite, Cathal Downes picked off his side's first point from play and, when that was followed by Ryan pulling on a goalmouth scramble to complete his hat-trick of goals, the Limerick champions were leading by five points approaching the final quarter.

As they took their breath, Cappawhite looked to respond but they kept their distance as Ross Dunne's point was answered by an O'Donovan pointed free.

However, the Premier champions had broken the siege which allowed them to run at their opponents and, after drawing three fouls for Barry to punish with scores, the margin was back to the minimum when he then added a '65' to his tally.

That left seven minutes of regulation time and another six added on for stoppages for Kildimo-Pallaskenry to hold on but they got some relief when O'Donovan sent over a pair of frees.

But going into injury time, back came Cappawhite again with another two pointed frees for Barry to sail between the posts and they looked to have grabbed their win on the death when Barry found himself in possession and in space before the posts.

However, Evan Considine recovered from nowhere to dispossess him just as he was about to pull the trigger. Having come so near, Tipperary hearts just couldn't lift themselves for one last effort before referee Ciarán Murphy finally called time.

SCORERS: KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Rodger Ryan 3-0, Aaron O'Donovan 0-7 (7 frees), Cathal Downes 0-1. CAPPAWHITE: Anthony Barry 1-10 (9 frees, 1 '65'), Michael O'Neill, Neil Clancy, Ross Dunne 0-1 each.

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: John Chawke; Séamus Stokes, Evan Considine, Ciarán Downes; Callum Callaghan, Kevin O'Connell, Gary Sheehan; Marc O'Shea, Luke Guinane; Keel Moloney, Cathal Downes, Conor McMahon; Rodger Ryan, Adam Butler, Aaron O'Donovan. SUBS: Dylan Corrigan for Adam Butler (39 minutes), Matthew Lucey for Callum Callaghan (40 minutes), Kieran O'Brien for Luke Guinane (53 minutes), Dylan Moloney for Keel Moloney (60 minutes).

CAPPAWHITE: Darragh Barry; Noel Ryan, Cathal McCarthy, Ross Dunne; Michael P Buckley, Ciarán Ryan, Cian O'Carroll; Paddy Julian, Neil Clancy; Fionn Brady, Michael O'Neill, Eoghan Ryan; Pakie Barry, Anthony Barry, Tommy Coughlan. SUBS: Thomas Costelloe for Paddy Julian (35 minutes), Ciarán Daly for Tommy Coughlan (40 minutes), Ben White for Michael P Buckley (46 minutes), Ger Ryan P for Michael O'Neill (56 minutes).

REFEREE: Ciarán Murphy (Cork).