Goals fire Newcastle West to Premier Intermediate glory

Newcastle West will be playing senior hurling next year after they earned a 2-12 to 1-11 win over Garryspillane in the Premier IHC decider at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Second half goals from Diarmaid Kelly and Eoin Hurley saw the Magpies home a game that failed to really ignite due to massive rainfall.

Newcastle West played the conditions better and will play top level hurling for the first time in over 30 years next year as a result.

Garryspillane made the better start with Bryan Heavey, Hugh Flanagan and Colin Ryan seeing them to 0-3 to 0-1 advantage with eight minutes played.

Newcastle West eventually grew into the contest with scores from Con Hayes and Eoin Hurley levelling the contest.

Flanagan put the Bouncers back in front on 20 minutes but efforts from Eoin Hurley, Mike Quilligan and Brian Hurley saw Newcastle West 0-6 to 0-4 clear at the break.

Quilligan landed a second monster free early in the second half and Hayes followed suit to put four between the teams.

Garryspillane got the next two points to close the gap but when Kelly pounced on an error in defence for the first goal, there was no way back for the Bouncers.

Eoin Hurley scored the second goal on 52 minutes and that effectively ended the game as a contest.

Flanagan netted for Garryspillane late on to give them some hope but Newcastle West ran out worthy winners.

Scorers – Newcastle West: Eoin Hurley 1-5 (4f, ‘65), Diarmaid Kelly 1-0, Con Hayes and Mike Quilligan (2f) 0-2 each, Ethan Hurley, Brian Hurley and Cathal Hayes 0-1 each.

Scorers – Garryspillane: Hugh Flanagan 1-6 (5f), Bryan Heavey 0-2 (1f), Colin Ryan, Eoin O’Mahony and Dylan O’Shea (s/l) 0-1 each 

Newcastle West: Mike Quilligan; Maurice Murphy, Seamus Hurley, Aaron Neville; Michael Cremin, Ethan Hurley, John Whelan; Diarmaid Lyons, Brian Hurley; Diarmaid Kelly, Con Hayes, Eoin Hurley; Brian Foley, Mike McMahon, Bryan Nix.

Subs: Cathal Hayes for McMahon (46), Willie Hurley for Foley (51).

Garryspillane: Adam Sheehan; James O’Sullivan, Robert Sampson, Ciaran Sheehan; Declan Heavey, Mark Quinlan, Jamie Morrissey; Josh Dineen, Dylan O’Shea; Ryan Tobin, Bryan Heavey, Eoin O’Mahony; Shane Ryan, Colin Ryan, Hugh Flanagan.

Subs: Kieran Hickey for S Ryan (46), Peter Morrissey for O’Mahony (46), Roibeard Donovan for J Morrissey (56).

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Doon)