Monaleen make swift return to Senior Hurling ranks as they hold off Bruff in PIHC Final

The City side return to the top tier at the first time of asking with just one season in the premier intermediate ranks.

Monaleen secured an immediate promotion back to the senior championship of Limerick hurling as they held off the Bruff challenge in the Premier Intermediate Hurling final.

Goals from Mark O’Dwyer and John Nicholas powered the City outfit to the PIHC title with a 2-16 to 0-16 win in Kilmallock.

The sides were level at 1-6 to 0-9 at the interval with Monaleen guilty of inaacuracy in front of goal.

O’Dwyer found the net with the first score of the game after three minutes following a couple of wides. But Bruff responded with six unanswered, two coming from long range Sean Finn frees.

That had Bruff three clear after ten minutes but O’Dwyer helped Monaleen back into the contest with Lorcan Lyons ensuring parity at the change of ends.

They continued in this vein with four of the first five scores of the second half. Bruff hit back with a couple to reduce the margin to a single point before Nicholas struck for their second goal.

Bruff got within one score on a number of occasions but Monaleen didn’t let them in with a sight of a badly needed goal with the City side able to introduce All-Ireland winner Andrew La Touche Cosgrave late on as he also found the target.

And with Bruff chasing a goal, Monaleen were able to keep the scoreboard ticking at the other end as they secured their return to the top tier at the first time of asking.

They will now face Causeway (Kerry) or Doora Barefield in the Munster Interemdiate semi-final on November 19.