Resilient Effin end Garryspillane's unbeaten run in Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship

EFFIN earned bragging rights in the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship after a late rally saw them beat Garryspillane by 1-23 to 0-24 in an exciting fifth round clash in Kilmallock on Thursday evening.

Clive Doherty was the hero for Effin after he hit the winning points in added time to move his side onto seven points in the table, greatly boosting their hopes of making the knock-out stages.

Garryspillane remain on topof the table on eight points after the Bouncers suffered first defeat of the campaign.

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The game was tight throughout with the sides level no fewer than 14 times during what was an enthralling contest.

Garryspillane made the faster start thanks to scores from John English and Declan Heavey but Effin soon responded through Patrick O’Donovan and Pierse O’Kelly. Nickie Quaid then set up Brian Clifford to put Effin in front for the first time.

The teams matched each other score for score until the 23rd minute when Effin bagged the only goal of the contest.

Ewan Dillon’s industry created a gap for Clifford and the right half forward flashed a powerful shot to the net that saw his side 1-8 to 0-9 ahead.

Shane Ryan got Garryspillane back on track immediately with a well-taken score that was soon cancelled out by a sublime O’Donovan sideline cut.

The same mad then made it a three-point game but that advantage was back at two at the break with Colin Ryan’s fourth of the half leaving the score at 1-12 to 0-13.

Garryspillane came out with renewed vigour when the game resumed, nailing the first five points in the space of eight minutes. The highlight was Dylan O’Shea’s sideline cut.

However, Effin were not deterred with strikes from O’Donovan and two from Clifford seeing the game level for a ninth time at 1-15 to 0-18 with 44 minutes on the clock.

It remained that way heading into the final 10 minutes but Eoin O’Mahony’s shot from distance putting the ‘Bouncers’ one up, only for O’Donovan to respond.

The game wrestled in Garryspillane’s favour once more after Colin Ryan and Ciaran Sheehan put them two clear but it was Effin that finished the game with a flourish with Dillon, Clifford and Doherty’s double seeing them to victory.

SCORERS: Effin: Patrick O’Donovan 0-9 (6f, 1s/l), Brian Clifford 1-5, Pierse O’Kelly 0-3, Fergal O’Connor and Clive Doherty 0-2 each, Cillian O’Riordan and Ewan Dillon 0-1 each; Garryspillane: Colin Ryan 0-7 (5f), Shane Ryan 0-5, Dylan O’Shea 0-4 (1f, 1s/l), Ryan Tobin 0-3, John English, Declan Heavey, Callum Sheehan, Eoin O’Mahony and Ciaran Sheehan 0-1 each.

EFFIN: Ryan O’Neill; Robert Cagney, Alan Byrne, Mark Mullins; Aaron Moffatt, Nickie Quaid, Sean Canning; Cillian O’Riordan, Fergal O’Connor; Brian Clifford, Patrick O’Donovan, Ewan Dillon; Conor Kearney, Pierse O’Kelly, Frankie Herr. Subs: Enda Kelly for Herr (49 mins), Clive Doherty for O’Kelly (60 mins).

GARRYSPILLANE: Adam Sheehan; James O’Sullivan, Robert Sampson, Roibeard Donovan; Declan Heavey, Dylan O’Shea, Eoin O’Mahony; Josh Dineen, Jamie Morrissey; Cian Ryan, John English, Ryan Tobin; Shane Ryan, Michael Donovan, Colin Ryan. Subs: Ciaran Sheehan for Morrissey (h-t, inj), Callum Sheehan for C Ryan (43 mins), Rossa Stapleton for Dineen (52 mins).

REFEREE: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).