Monaleen claim Munster Intermediate Honours with second-half surge against Roscrea

The City side became the first Limerick team to claim the Munster Intermediate title since Effin in 2011.

Monaleen are the 2022 Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Champions after beating Roscrea 1-22 to 0-18 in the Pairc Ui Rinn decider.

A powerful third-quarter surge pulled the Limerick side clear before Ed Doyle put the gloss on the win with a late goal. They led by the minimum at the break but buoyed by 0-15 from Mark O’Dwyer the City outfit upset the odds to claim the title.

They can now look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final with Trim/Bray Emmets on the weekend of December 17/18.

In Pairc Ui Rinn, it was a slow start from both sides with wides the early order of the day. Evan Fitzpatrick eventually broke the deadlock before Donnacha O’Dalaigh levelled as both began to grow into the contest.

The teams went score for score with teenager Joe Fitzgerald bringing them level once more after 15 minutes. A couple from O’Dwyer and one from Lochlann McHale had Monaleen two clear for the first time after 20 minutes.

Roscrea drew level shortly after with a pair in succession but Monaleen had the final say of half with Andrew La Touche Cosgrave giving them the 0-11 to 0-10 advantage at the turn of ends.

Four unanswered from the City men followed after the restart with the Tipperary champions unable to claw back that advantage. Three O’Dwyer frees and an Ed Doyle score from play put Monaleen five clear after 35 which was extended to 0-18 to 0-11 with twenty to play.

Roscrea did reduce the margin to five but couldn’t beat Jamie Power in the Monaleen net before Doyle had the final nail in the coffin with a well taken goal following brilliant work from Cosgrave in the 59th minute.

Scorers for Monaleen: Mark O’Dwyer (0-15, 11 frees), Ed Doyle (1-1), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (0-2), Ronan Lyons, Joe Fitzgerald, Lochlann McHale, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave ( all 0-1).

Scorers for Roscrea: Luke Cashin (0-11, 9 frees), Evan Fitzpatrick, Conor Sheedy (both 0-3), Sam Conlon (0-1).