Interpro hurling semi-final: Leinster survive Munster fightback
February 19, 2012
Leinster's Joe Bergin with support from Eoin Larkin is tackled by Paul Curran of Munster ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
The winners led by 3-8 to 0-8 at the break, with goals from Michael Fennelly, Joe Bergin and Richie Power (penalty).
There was a small crowd at Nowlan Park, where eleven Kilkenny players were included for Leinster. With the sun shining down, Joe Dooley's charges led by 1-5 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.
Brian Hogan opened the scoring and Cork's Patrick Cronin replied. Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly registered the opening goal in the second minute and Shane McGrath replied before Shane Dooley (2) and Richie Power put the hosts in control again.
And it was 2-8 to 0-7 after 29 minutes. Clare's John Conlon and Rebel duo Pa Horgan and John Gardiner had closed the margin but then Joe Bergin found the net to put Leinster in control again.
Power's penalty goal ensured that there would be no way back for Munster after the restart.
Brendan Maher placed Clonlara clubman Conlon for a Munster goal and Gardiner converted a free to close the gap to six points, 3-9 to 1-9.
Suddenly, Munster took control and Gardiner, Horgan, Conlon (bringing his tally to 1-3), Patrick Donnellan and Michael Walsh were all on target, closing the margin to just a single point, 3-10 to 1-15, with six minutes left.
But the 'home' side grabbed four of the last five points - Power, Dooley and Colin Fennelly all on target - to win by four.
Leinster - G Maguire; P Murphy, N Hickey, J Tyrrell (capt); T Walsh, B Hogan (0-1), JJ Delaney; M Fennelly (1-0), M Rice; J Bergin (1-1); R Power (1-5); R O'Dwyer (0-1); S Dooley (0-3), E Larkin, R Hogan. Subs: D Stamp for B Hogan, W Hyland for R Hogan, C Fennelly (0-1) for O'Dwyer, R Hanniffy for Bergin, R Jacob for Rice.
Munster - D Óg Cusack; T Condon, P Curran, M Cahill; J Gardiner (0-3); Padraic Maher, P Donnellan (0-1); S O'Sullivan, S McGrath (0-1); P Cronin (0-1), M Walsh (0-1), B Maher; P Horgan (0-3), E Kelly (0-1), J Conlon (1-3). Subs: D O'Grady for McGrath, S Molumphy for Cronin, G Ryan for Kelly, Patrick Maher (0-2) for Gardiner, K Moran for Donnellan.
Ref - A Kelly (Galway). Tweet
