All-Ireland Club IHC semi-final
Watergrasshill 1-21 Carey Faughs 0-8
There was to be no fairy tale ending for Carey Faughs in what has been a superb season when they lost to hot favourites, Watergrasshill of Cork in this All Ireland Intermediate Hurling club championship semi-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday
The Ballyvoy side have set the pace in Antrim and into Ulster this season and have collected a league and championship double in their own county before going on to claim the Ulster title with a good win over a strong Swatragh side.
The loss of James ‘Rocket’ Black to what looked like a serious shoulder injury before half-time certainly didn’t help the North Antrim men’s cause and the headed to the dressing room trailing 1-11 to 0-5 despite having the benefit of the breeze in the opening half.
They would add only three further points in the second half as their short game broke down too often with the superb Cork champions turning the screw in the second half.
In the end victory was as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests as Watergrasshill produced a top class display and had all but booked their final spot when leading 1-11 to 0-5 after playing into a stiff breeze in the opening half.
The Antrim champions started with two pointed frees from Conall McGlynn, but should have had a few more in that opening ten minutes. They were made to pay Cork champions hit back right away after the second point with a goal from full forward Sean Desmond which gave them a lead for the first time. Eddie Enright’s charges settled into the game and played some superb hurling to which the Faughs really had no answer.
Their superior physically was evident throughout the pitch and their ability to create and take scores left Carey Faughs on the back foot after a close opening quarter.
Watergrasshill hit three wides before full forward Sean Desmond set them on their way after grabbing possession, turning his marker and blasted to the net on 11 minutes to give the Leesiders a lead they never subsequently relinquished.
With power and pace in attack Watergrasshill stretched the Carey Faughs defence throughout the half with Desmond adding two points, Brendan Lehane accounting for three and Adam Murphy hitting four, including three from frees.
Eight successive points in a 10 minute spell in the second quarter helped open up a 1-10 to 0-4 lead.
Caolan McCaughan and Connor McBride both pointed from play while McGlynn added another point to his tally from a free for the Glensmen in that first half. However they never seriously troubled a Watergrasshill rearguard where Daire O’Leary, Dylan McCarthy and Kevin O’Neill were outstanding.
The Leesiders resumed where they left off in the opening half with a brace of points from Desmond and one each from Ian O’Callaghan and Adam Murphy before McGlynn converted another free for Carey Faughs on 40 minutes.
In total control of proceedings Watergrasshill could afford to empty their bench in the final quarter as they set up a final meeting with Galway champions Tynagh Abbey Duniry.
The outstanding Desmond took his tally to 1-5 before the finish while Murphy accounted for eight points. Carey Faughs only score from play for the second half came from Connor McBride close to the finish.
Defeat will be hard to take but when the dust settles the Faughs will look back favorably on what has been a great season. They won the Division 2 league title, the Antrim and Ulster titles with a series of top performances and the fans who made the journey to Navan on Sunday showed their appreciation as they rose to clap them off the field on Sunday. A year of great highs and great lows, but one which will never be forgotten. Lets hope the Rocket’s shoulder injury is not as serious as it looked at the time and we all wish him a speedy recovery.
Scorers for Watergrasshill: S Desmond (1-5), A Murphy (0-8, 7fs), B Lehane (0-3), P O’Leary, S O’Regan, A Cronin, D O’Leary, I O’Callaghan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Carey Faughs: C McGlynn (0-4, 4fs), C McBride (0-2), C Kane (f), C McCaughan (0-1 each).
WATERGRASSHILL: A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, I O’Callaghan; D Roche, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; A Cronin, A Spriggs; S O’Regan, A Murphy, C O’Leary; B Lehane, S Desmond, P O’Leary. Subs: J Foley for A Foley (38), L Foley for C O’Leary (42), J Gowen for Spriggs (47), P Cronin for O’Callaghan (48), J McCarthy for Murphy (54).
CAREY FAUGHS: McGinn; Z McCaughan, S McBride, P Gillan; J McBride, J McCouaig, S Hunter; P Butler, M McVeigh; C McGlynn, C McCaughan, C McBride; J Black, C McKinley, C Cane. Subs – F McVeigh for Black (29), E Hill for Gillan (42), E McKinley for C McBride, C McKiernan for Hunter, S Mathers for C McKinley (all 59).
Referee: C Daly (Kildare)
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