Monaleen and St Kierans seal Munster Club Hurling Final places

The two had to battle Clare outfits for provincial final berths in testing conditions on Saturday afternoon.

Both Monaleen and St Kierans ensured passage to the Munster Club Hurling Championship finals on Saturday as they overcame Clare opposition.

Monaleen proved too strong for St Joseph’s Doora Barefield as goals from Donnacha O’Dalaigh and Mark O’Dwyer saw them past the Clare champions and into the Munster Intermediate final.

In the end it finished 2-13 to 0-16 in the Limerick’s sides favour as they led for the majority of the contest.

Meanwhile, St Kierans needed extra time to see off The Banner as they claimed a 0-17 to 0-16 win after 80 minutes in Cusack Park.

In Kilmallock, Donnacha O’Dalaigh gave Monaleen the perfect start as he fired a shot into the roof of the Doora Barefield net. Monaleen were able to maintain this lead to the break as they held a 1-6 to 0-5 advantage at the interval.

Slowly, the Clare outfit began to eat into that advantage and eventually leveled on 51 minutes with Alan O’Neill and Cathal Ruane combining. St Joseph’s briefly took the lead before O’Dwyer struck for the games crucial second goal as Monaleen held out their visitors to secure a final berth.

The win ensures they will meet Roscrea of Tipperary in the decider after they overcame Inniscarra in the other last four tie.

In Cusack Park, wides were the story of the early exchanges as the sides battled in difficult conditions. After notching 2-12 in the quarter-final, Shane Meehan was well marshalled by the St Kierans defence limiting him to just 0-4 between play and frees. Meanwhile, Kierans had scores from all over the pitch to lead 0-8 to 0-4 at the turn of ends.

Kierans started the brighter in the second with two out of the first three scores before the Clare outfit began to dominate proceedings. However, it wasn’t until the final minute of the game that Shane Meegan levelled to bring the game to extra-time. But Kieran’s eventually outscored the Clare men 0-5 to 0-6 in the additional time to return to final after a decade.

They will meet either Ballygiblin or Colligan in the final with those to meet in the last four on Sunday afternoon.

Also on Sunday, Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner do battle in a mouthwatering Munster Senior Club semi-final in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.