Fitzgerald magic helps Monaleen to Premier U20 hurling title

Monaleen are champions once again with the clubs’ Premier U20 hurlers beating Bruff by 0-15 to 1-11 in today’s final at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock.

In what was an extremely tight contest throughout, Matthew Fitzgerald’s free in the 64th minute proved to be the winning score.

Extra time was looming large before Fitzgerald stepped up to send the free high into the sky and into the strong breeze to land the title. This group of players have now won the U17, U19 and U20 titles in the last three years.

Bruff’s Charlie Cronin matched Fitzgerald’s eight points total but it wasn’t to be for the south Limerick side that fought until the very end.

The game was nip and tuck for large parts with Michael O’Riordan’s goal in the eighth minute putting Bruff in front for the first time. He got the final touch to Owen Meany’s long range free for the only goal of the contest.

Fitzgerald was the scorer in chief and was effectively the difference between the sides. He popped up at crucial times when Monaleen needed him most. His superb sideline cut saw Monaleen to a 0-8 to 1-4 half time advantage.

It was a similar story after the break. Bruff had the chance to go ahead late on but Cronin’s free sailed left of the posts.

Fitzgerald made no mistake moments later with the free that sealed victory for a Monaleen club that are very much on the up.

Scorers: Monaleen: Matthew Fitzgerald 0-8 (5f, 1 s/l), Dara Ferland, Mark Field and Eogan Maher 0-2 each, Conall Purcell 0-1; Bruff: Charlie Cronin 0-8 (4f, ’65), Michael O’Riordan 1-0, Paudie Hennessy 0-2, Owen Meany 0-1.

Monaleen: Muiris Ó Dálaigh; Sean McKeon, Tom McCarthy, Darragh Clifford; Ben Murnane, Joseph Fitzgerald, Cian Scully; Conall Ó Dionn, Matthew Fitzgerald; Ben Hayes, Dara Ferland, Conall Purcell; Eogha Maher, Luke Ryan, Mark Field. 

Subs: Barry Griffin for Ryan (49), Eoghan McHale for Purcell (55), Ben Mansfield for Maher (65).

Bruff: Jack Hogan; Donnacha O’Rahilly, Daire O’Brien, Adam Cusack; Evan Daly, Sean Casey, Conor Hayes; Owen Meany, Gavin Bracken; Barry Callinan, Charlie Cronin, Jack O’Neill; Paudie Hennessy, Michael O’Riordan, Jack Fitzgerald.

Subs: Ben Noonan for O’Rahilly (40), Alex Mulcahy for O’Neill (51), Colm O’Loughlin for Fitzgerald (60).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).