Munster proved too strong for an all Galway Connacht selection, when running out ten point winners of this afternoon’s M Donnelly Interprovincial Hurling Final, at Cusack Park in Ennis.
A 26th minute goal from Paudie O’Sullivan set the Southern province up for victory, and in claiming their first title since 2007, they made it forty five wins in total. Despite the small turn out for the match, both sides served up a great game of hurling, and Munster captain Brendan Maher raised the trophy aloft after his side took the spoils. Galway tried out a number of fringe players and manager Anthony Cunningham will have been reasonably happy with the performance, if not the final result.
Joe Canning got the first score of the match for his side, but points from Pat Horgan (two) and Shane Dowling saw Munster establish an early 0-4 to 0-3 lead after 16 minutes. Ten minutes after, the game was over as a contest, when Graeme Mulcahy set up O’Sullivan for the decisive score of the match. Pa Cronin added another point for Munster, and at 1-11 to 0-9, Liam Sheedy’s side had a commanding interval lead.
Cork’s All Star goalkeeper Anthony Nash performed heroics for his side, as he made saves from both Niall Burke and Niall Healy during the course of an exciting opening half. The Galway side kept up the pressure and never gave up the fight but on the afternoon, it was all to no avail.
With Munster scoring the first three points of the second half, it was always going to be a bridge too far for Connacht. The latter hit back with four in succession, and they always had an answer when Connacht attempted to close the deficit. Two late points from the losing side put a little more gloss on the final score, but in truth, this was a game in which Munster always held all the aces.
