GAA
The Balbec came from seven points down with ten to play to seal a one point victory.
It will be a replay of the 2017 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship as Kilmallock booked their place in the 2022 final to face Na Piarsaigh in two weeks time.
The reigning champions were made to work for their spot in the last two with a thrilling encounter against Doon ending 1-13 to 2-9 in Kilmallock’s favour on Sunday.
The game was sealed by a last minute goal courtesy of Robbie Egan when he latched on to a loose ball with his foot after a goalmouth scramble.
Kilmallock manager Fintan O’Connor reflected on the game in his post-match interview and hailed his side for their massive effort that got them over the line.
“I think we were six points down at one stage there in the second half and it took a real effort there from the lads to dig deep and get us over the line,”
“Semi-finals, I said it to the lads during the week, it’s not about how you win it’s just about winning and getting over the line and look we would’ve took a point this morning, we would’ve took your hand off, so we’re delighted.”
Not only was the game a battle against Doon, but the sides had to deal with adverse weather conditions with torrential wind and rain on the day.
O’Connor acknowledged the struggle for both sides with the weather with the conditions abolishing any tactics that may have been pre-planned.
“This time of year you’re going to get any kind of conditions, but in fairness to both sets of players it was a very hard game to play out there. I was giving out when they dropped it (sliotar) or when they made a mistake and when I walked across the pitch, I was like you’d have to understand where they made the odd mistake!”
“It was just about sheer will to win and in fairness to Doon, they matched it, the same as us all the way along and it was just, as I said, Robbie Egan just kicking the ball over the line and look, we’re just delighted to get out of here with a win.”
Watch the interview in full below:
Kilmallock will face Na Piarsaigh in the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship Final at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on October 30th.