Mulready’s late winner for the ’Bridge

U-21A HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

When Sixmilebridge had a goal disallowed 20 seconds from the end of normal time, it seemed certain that their reign as county U-21 champions was over.

When Sixmilebridge had a goal disallowed 20 seconds from the end of normal time, it seemed certain that their reign as county U-21 champions was over.
After a brief period of consultation with his umpires, referee Seanie McMahon deemed that Alan Mulready had netted from inside the square.
Inagh-Kilnamona celebrated as if they had goaled themselves. You couldn’t blame them. They were on the cusp of a famous win and had played some impressive hurling for much of the hour.
Less than a minute later Clarecastle was the scene of both unparalleled jubilation and devastation. It all depended on where you were from. When Niall Arthur’s shot dropped into Sixmilebridge goalkeeper Stephen Flemings lap, nobody could have envisaged the consequences. Less than half a minute later Alan Mulready goaled again at the opposite side of the field.
This time the score stood and there was just about time for the puck out. Inagh-Kilnamona couldn’t believe it and neither could most of the joyous ’Bridge players.
Inagh-Kilnamona had earned at least a second crack at it but when they didn’t put Sixmilebridge away, there was always a possibility that the champions might unearth a late goal from somewhere.
Goals within a minute of each other from Haulie Vaughan and Damien Lafferty helped Inagh-Kilnamona into a 2-3 to 1-3 interval lead. Full-forward Jamie Shanahan goaled for Sixmilebridge after a diagonal pass from Shane Golden, ten minutes before half time.
Unfortunately, Shanahan dislocated a shoulder two minutes later when competing for possession with Inagh-Kilnamona full-back Dermot Hogan. Shanahan, who had also scored a point from play, had to be helped from the pitch and was replaced by Conor Deasy.
For most of the second period the sides traded points. Inagh-Kilnamona’s Seán O’Driscoll fired over his second impressive score of the hour, while Sixmilebridge’s Kevin Lynch and Brian Corry also picked off an array of excellent points from play. Corry shot three crucial scores and was particularly lively in the second half when Sixmilebridge needed scores.
To underline Inagh-Kilnamona’s gut wrenching loss, Damien Lafferty’s 58th minute point left them 2-10 to 1-11 ahead. They didn’t manage to close out the game though and Mulready’s injury time winner set up a semi-final meeting with the winners of the Kilmaley–Newmarket replay.
While most of the action was on the field, there were a few exchanges on the sideline, including one involving Sixmilebridge manager, Paddy Meehan.
When an Inagh-Kilnamona representative suggested that the Sixmilebridge manager spend more time behind the sideline rather than in the playing area, the ’Bridge man invited anybody who shared that thought to forcibly remove him. Nobody took him up on his offer.  

Sixmilebridge: Stephen Fleming; Noel Purcell, Brian Carey, Eanna Burns; Trevor Purcell, Seadna Morey, Kevin Lynch; Pa Sheehan (captain), Evan McInerney; Alan Mulready, Shane Golden, Brian Corry; Alex Morey, Jamie Shanahan, Cathal O’Connor.
Subs: Conor Deasy for Jamie Shanahan (injured 23 mins); Darragh McNamara for Evan McInerney (half-time); Darragh Fitzgerald for Cathal O’Connor (50 mins).
Scorers: Pa Sheehan (0-4, 0-2f); Jamie Shanhan (1-1); Brian Corry (0-3); Alan Mulready (1-0); Shane Golden, Conor Deasy, Kevin Lynch (0-1 each).
Wides: 9   Frees won: 12   ’65s: 0

Inagh-Kilnamona: Cathal McDonagh; Sean Mahoney, Damien Hogan (joint-captain), Alan Mullins; Cathal McConigley, Brian Foudy, Chris O’Looney; Haulie Vaughan, Seán O’Driscoll; Paul O’Looney, Damien Lafferty, Cathal Malone; Barry Keating, Niall Arthur, Gerry Coote.
Scorers: Niall Arthur  (0-5f, 0-2 ’65); Damien Lafferty (1-1); Haulie Vaughan (1-0); Seán O’Driscoll (0-2).
Subs: Jamesie McConigley for Keating (52 mins).
Wides: 6   Frees won: 11   ’65s: 2

Referee: Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus).