Crucial Premier IHC win for Croagh-Kilfinny over Glenroe

CROAGH-KILFINNY held off Glenroe's second half recovery to earn a 1-14 to 0-13 win in their Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship fixture in Kilmallock.

James Hall's charges aren't out of the woods yet but they are in a better position than their opponents who are now tailed off at the bottom of the table.

Glenroe are two points or more behind everyone else and and needing to get the better of neighbours and fellow-strugglers Effin in the coming weekend's final round to avoid automatically dropping down a grade.

And given the stakes involved in this basement battle, they will take heart from the manner in which they held out during the torrid final quarter.

When the six-point advantage had shrunk to four within a minute of the restart, it looked as if Croagh's opening efforts might not have been enough.

But, when they picked off the game's only goal soon afterwards, it gave them enough of a cushion to soak up whatever was thrown at them for the remainder of the game.

Croagh's dominance in the middle gave them most of the early possession and took the lead via a Cian O'Carroll 65'.

They followed with Séamus Hickey, Séamus O'Carroll (2) landing further efforts and then Hickey and O'Carroll again putting Croagh six clear.

Conor Lenihan vaulted them into a lead of seven with just nine minutes on the clock. Matters changed, however, when Glenroe moved Cathal Dennehy out to add more beef to their midfield where he stopped the procession with his side's opening score.

Croagh-Kilfinny’s response to the concession of Glenroe’s opening score was emphatic with keeper Dave Lynch landing a monster score from deep inside his own half and Lenihan splitting the posts from the middle of the park.

Glenroe replied with goalie David McCarthy's free, brought out to half-way for dissent, and Daithí Dennehy off a 50 metre.

The remainder of scores came from a pair of Cian O'Carroll frees that were each met in turn by Cathal Dennehy which left Croagh-Kilfinny leading 0-11 to 0-5 at half-time.

Glenroe exploded from the traps at the restart, clipping two off the deficit with Ciarán Kelly's immediate strike and Kyle McCarthy sending the resulting puckout back between the posts.

Cian O'Carroll replied from a free for Croagh only for Dennehy to match it in kind but Glenroe were then hit with a cruel sucker punch that effectively decided the contest.

A defensive clearance was turned over and Cian O'Carroll darted into the opening to collect the lay-off and whip to the net.

Glenroe were up against it once again now trailing by seven. Dennehy landed a free in response and then had a 20-metre placed ball blocked on the goal line.

Shane O'Donoghue picked off their next score and the gap was back to four with another Dennehy free that was immediately met by one from Cian O'Carroll.

Glenroe appeared to have regained the momentum when Kyle McCarthy whacked over his second and was followed by Oisín Browne sending a mighty drive between the posts.

However, Glenroe were unable to find the crucial goal to reel Craogh-Kilfinny in and it was the west Limerick outfit that got the last laugh when Séamus O'Carroll pounced for the game's closing score.

SCORERS - CROAGH-KILFINNY: Cian O'Carroll 1-5 (3f, 1 '65'), Séamus O'Carroll 0-4, Séamus Hickey 0-2, John Wall, Dave Lynch, Séamus Lenihan 0-1 each; GLENROE: Cathal Dennehy 0-6 (3f), Kyle McCarthy 0-2, David McCarthy (1f), Daithí Dennehy, Ciarán Kelly, Shane O'Donoghue, Oisín Browne 0-1 each.

CROAGH-KILFINNY: Dave Lynch; Denis Lenihan, Aidan O'Shea, Owen Dee; Bryan Flynn, TomMcMahon, Conor Lenihan; Jack Lenihan, Séamus Lenihan; Séamus Hickey, Cian O'Carroll, Cian Costello; Séamus O'Carroll, John Wall, Darragh O'Carroll; Subs: Gearóid Lenihan for D O'Carroll (46 mins), Josh O'Connor for Costello (56 mins), Brian Hannon for S O'Carroll (62 mins).

GLENROE: David McCarthy; Daniel Murphy, Pa Holian, Darren Carroll; Kyle McCarthy, Stephen Walsh, Eoghan Fitzgerald; Shane O'Donoghue, Brian O'Connell; Ciarán Kelly, Bob Frewen, Liam Dennehy; Daithí Dennehy, Cathal Dennehy, Adam Frewen; Subs: Seán O'Donnell for A Frewen (44 mins), Oisín Browne for L Dennehy (45 mins).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).