Lorcan Lyons hits last-gasp winner as Monaleen score historic win
There was late drama at the TUS Gaelic Grounds
MONALEEN are into their first ever Limerick Senior Hurling Championship semi-final after a sensational comeback saw them overcome the challenge of Mungret St Paul’s 0-21 to 1-17 in a TUS Gaelic Grounds thriller.
Lorcan Lyons scored the winner in the last minute from over 100 yards out to create history for the Castletroy men who trailed for most of the hour.
Brian Barry got the first two scores of the afternoon - the first after just 22 seconds. The wing back followed up with another from distance as the men in their changed black strip started brightly.
Mungret should have had more to show for their early dominance, shooting three wides in the first five minutes.
Points from Donnacha O’Dalaigh and a Shane Hassett free levelled the game.
Monaleen then should have had the game’s opening goal. Mungret ‘keeper Conor O’Brien did exceptionally well to save from O’Dalaigh before getting back into position quickly to stop Dara Ferland’s rebound effort.
Four points in a row - including another Barry long-ranger saw Mungret regain the upper hand.
Points from Lochlann McHale and a Hassett free kept the Castletroy men in touch but they were playing second fiddle.
Mungret replied through Cian Moloney and Limerick panelist Fintan Fitzgerald to go five points ahead midway through the opening half.
Two more from Barry - both inside his own half - pushed the lead further and brought a huge roar from the Mungret faithful.
They had more reason to cheer in the 19th minute when Killian Begley scored the opening goal of the game. Lynch and Barry Duff were involved in the build up but Begley made no mistake with the finish to put his side 10 points ahead.
Somewhat remarkably, the game went seven minutes without either team scoring. This run was ended by Hassett getting his fourth of the half, his first from play with the interval approaching.
Hassett added a routine free with the last puck of the half to reduce the deficit to eight at the change of ends.
The Tipperary native also got the Castletroy men’s first score of the second half - replying to Rory Duff’s opening score after the restart.
Conor O’Brien was called into action for the second time diving low to stop Andrew La Touche Cosgrave’s effort after a blistering run from O’Dalaigh.
For the first time in the afternoon, the men in changed white strips had a bit of control on the game. Hassett added a free and a wonderful effort from play from a tight angle.
When O’Dalaigh added a score, Monaleen had four in a row to reduce the deficit to five.
La Touche Cosgrave and O’Dalaigh closed the gap further adding to their sides momentum.
Brian O’Meara ended 18 minutes without a Mungret score before Dara Ferland immediately replied.
Ronan Lyons then scored from 60 yards out to reduce the gap to a single point.
A fine Fintan FItzgerald effort kept Mungret ahead inside the last 10 minutes.
County panelists Matthew Fitzgerald and O’Dalaigh then raised white flags to level the game with just over two minutes left in the hour.
Ferland gave his side their first lead on the hour make but up stepped Begley to level again.
But up stepped Lyons to win the game.
SCORERS - MONALEEN: Shane Hassett 0-9 (7f); Donnacha O’Dalaigh 0-4; Andrew La Touche Cosgrave and Dara Ferland 0-2 each; Lochlann McHale, Ronan Lyons, Matthew Fitzgerald and Lorcan Lyons 0-1 each.
MUNGRET ST PAULS: Brian Barry 0-5; Killian Begley 1-1; Liam Lynch (2f), Barry Duff and Fintan Fitzgerald 0-2 each; Mark O’Brien, Cian Moloney, Rory Duff, Brian O’Meara and Rory O’Callaghan 0-1 each.
MONALEEN: Jamie Power; Matthew Fitzgerald, Bryan Canny, Noel Clancy; Darragh Lyons, Lorcan Lyons, Ronan Lyons; Joseph Fitzgerald, Lochlann McHale; Eoghan O’Driscoll, Shane Hassett, Luke Murphy; Donnacha O’Dalaigh, Dara Ferland, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave.
Subs: Ben Hayes for McHale (38 mins); Eoghan Maher for Murphy (57 mins)
MUNGRET ST PAULS: Conor O’Brien; Sean Duff, Matt O’Sullivan, Eoin O’Doherty; Rory O’Callaghan, Brian O’Meara, Brian Barry; Cian Moloney, Rory Duff; Rory Gleeson, Fintan Fitzgerald, Barry Duff; Killian Begley, Liam Lynch, Mark O’Brien.
Subs: Niall Mulcahy for Gleeson (46 mins); Paul O’Brien for M O’Brien (46 mins)
Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).