CHARLEVILLE HOLD OUT FOR CLOSE BUT DESERVED WIN


Charleville …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..0-15
Courcey Rovers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………0-14
Charleville hurlers had a close but deserved win over Courcey Rovers in the Co Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final replay at Pairc Ui Rinn on Monday before an attendance of over 3,000 patrons.
Mild rain just before the start made for greasy conditions for a while in a game played in very cold conditions. It was expected on this occasion that Charleville would pull away and have a comfortable win. However, this may have looked that way when ahead by 0-6 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. In the very first minute a foul on Kevin O’Connor produced the opening score, a pointed free by Mark Kavanagh. Courcey Rovers were quick to reply when Tadhg O’Sullivan pointed a free. Good play by Darragh Fitzgibbon led to a point by Kevin O’Connor. Courcey Rovers had two wides. In the 7th minute good play by Jack Doyle led to a great point by Danny O’Flynn 0-3 to 0-1. Dan Lordan had a long range wide for the South East side. In the 12th minute a foul on Darragh Fitzgibbon led to another pointed free by Mark Kavanagh. Courcey Rovers were playing an extra defender but when they made their clearances into the Charleville defence there was always an extra Charleville defender and Courcey’s found it hard to trouble the Charleville rearguard. A foul on Jerry O’Neill led to a pointed free by Tadhg O’Sullivan. Charleville replied with rapid points by Andrew Cagney and Kevin O’ Connor after good play by Jack Meade. Tadhg O’ Sullivan was wide from a free but scored in the 19th minute. In the 20th minute John McCarthy pointed after a four man attack and Courcey’s seemed right back in the hunt. Charleville had two wides before Killian Moloney worked well for Jerry O’Neill who scored a massive point. Courcey’s had two wides with the Rathluirc side also being off target. In the 29th minute Seán Twomey with a very good point levelled at 0-6 each. Charleville hit the front in injury time when Darragh Fitzgibbon and the impressive Jack O’Callaghan worked well for Jack Doyle who pointed and gave the Avondhu side an interval lead, 0-7 to 0-6.
Charleville did well on the resumption. Andrew Cagney pointed in the opening minute. Tadhg O’Sullivan landed a pointed free for Courcey’s with Darragh Fitzgibbon working well for Tim Hawe who struck a great point 0-9 to 0-7. Charleville had two wides before O’Sullivan with another free cut the lead to the minimum. In the 38th minute Seán Twomey struck a very good point that levelled at 0-9 each. By the 42nd minute both sides had 9 wides each. Killian Moloney struck a great lead point for the Rovers. They came close to a second point but a good interception by Jack O’Callaghan proved vital. In the 48th minute Jerry O’Neill pointed a sideline cut, 0-11 to 0-9. Charleville lifted their challenge considerably. They had four pointed frees on the trot by Darragh Fitzgibbon that had them 0-13 to 0-11 ahead. Tadhg O’Sullivan (free) made it 0-13 to 0-12. Coming up to the end of normal time Jack Buckley struck a massive Charleville point to go 0-14 to 0-12 clear. In the 60th minute Andrew Cagney added another. Deep in injury time Stephen Nyhan pointed a free and in the very last play of the game, Courcey’s forced a free about 25 metres out from goal. Stephen Nyhan’s effort for a winning goal went over the bar and the final whistle followed with Charleville being crowned County Premier IHC winners. They will compete in the Co Senior Hurling Championship next year. They have not competed at Senior hurling level since 1952.
On this Saturday Charleville will travel to Lixnaw where they face the local side in the Munster IHC semi final.
Scorers for Charleville: Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-4f, Andrew Cagney 0-3, Kevin O’Connor 0-2, Mark Kavanagh 0-2f, Jack Buckley 0-1, Danny O’Flynn 0-1, Jack Doyle 0-1, Tim Hawe 0-1.
Courcey Rovers: Tadhg O’ Sullivan 0-6f, Sean Twomey 0-2, Jerry O’Neill 0-2 (0-1 s/l), Stephen Nyhan 0-2f. Killian Moloney 0-1, John McCarthy 0-1.
Charleville: Cian Collins, Darren Butler, Jack Meade, Finbarr Cagney, Alan Dennehy, Jack Buckley, Cathal Carroll, Jack O’Callaghan, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Kevin O’ Connor, Jack Doyle, Mark Kavanagh, Andrew Cagney, Danny O’Flynn (Capt) Tim Hawe. Sub: Darren Casey for Mark Kavanagh.
Courcey Rovers: Stephen Nyhan, Kevin Collins, Brian Collins, Billy Mulcahy, Dan Lordan (Capt) David Duggan, Shane McCarthy, Killian Moloney, Gavin Moloney, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Fergus Lordan, Martin Collins, Jerry O’Neill, John McCarthy, Sean Twomey. Subs: Michael O’Donovan for Fergus Lordan, Colm Daly for Gavin Moloney.
Referee: Joe Larkin (Ballinora)