The Nire are back in Munster Final

The Nire have advanced to a third Munster Senior Club Football Final in the clubs history after they over turned a six point second half deficit to beat Carbery Rangers after Extra Time at Clonakilty.

After thirty minutes things were not looking good for the side that won an eight county senior football championship last weekend, as they trailed the side playing a short distance from their home ground 1-6 to 0-4, and six minutes into the half, things were looking worse as they trailed 1-8 to 0-5, but lead by the brilliant Conor Gleeson they fought back to send the game to two extra ten minute periods at the end of the hour.

The first score of the game came on five minutes and went to the home side as Brian Hodnett put the size five over the head of Tom Wall in The Nire goal.

They added a goal three minutes later. A long clearance by Tipperary footballer Robbie Kiely broke to John Hayes who rolled the ball into the corner of Tom Wall’s net.

Brian Wall pulled a point back for The Nire on nine minutes from a free, but Brian Shanahan put four between the sides once more a minute later.

Points from Brian Wall and Conor Gleeson left two between the sides but points from Kevin McMahon and Brian Shanahan in a three minute spell had four between the sides once more.

Points from Brian Shanahan and Dylan Guiry followed and just as the half was about to draw to a close, John Hayes from another free put five (1-6 to 0-4) between the sides at the break.

Brian Wall and Kieran Fitzpatrick swapped early second half scores before a Jerry O’Riordan effort on thirty six minutes put six between the sides and it was looking that the Cork side would be appearing in their first senior provincial decider in two weeks’ time.

But The Nire had other ideas and on thirty eight minutes they hit the first of their goals.

A sweeping movement up field resulted in Conor Gleeson crashing the ball off the crossbar and from the rebound Liam Lawlor made no mistake in expertly finishing to the net to leave his side trailing 1-8 to 1-5.

Points from Brian Wall and Conor Gleeson followed to leave just one between the sides, but at the end of the third quarter Brian Hodnett made it a two point game when he split the posts.

Brian Wall on forty six and Conor Gleeson on fifty minutes followed to level matters and not all the momentum was with The Nire as they began to call on and show all their experience.

Brian Wall edged them in front for the first time when he put over a free but two minutes from time John Hayes put a similar effort over for Cork Champions.

The Brilliant Conor Gleeson looked as if he had given victory to The Nire with just a minute to play but two minutes into stoppage time Seamus Hayes after he was picked out by his brother John, fisted over the head of Tom Wall to send the game to extra time.

Brian Shanahan gave Carbery Rangers the lead in the first minute of extra time but the effort was quickly cancelled out with an effort from a Darren Guiry free now on free taking duty in the absence of the withdrawn Brian Wall.

Jake Mulcahy put his side one up in the seventh minute of extra time and the game began to look as if it was going to be The Nire’s when Shane Walsh pounced on a mistake in the home sides defence and he slotted home to give his side a 2-13 to 1-12 lead.

Before the sides would turn around however, The Nire would add to their tally when the brilliant Conor Gleeson pointed.

Darren Guiry put over his second of the afternoon two minutes into stoppage time. Kieran Fitzgerald looked as if he was going to make things a little uncomfortable for The Nire late on as he looked to finish to the net, but Tom Wall made a great save to keep the ball out but in the process picked up a facial injury that forced him to be replaced for the final minutes of the game.

Neither side created any further chances in the time that remained after this but John Hayes put over a late free to put a gloss on the score board for Carberry Rangers.

The Nire: Tommy Wall; Tom O’Gorman, James McGrath, Jamie Barron; Shane Ryan, Justin Walsh, Dermot Ryan; Shane Walsh, Dylan Guiry; Brian Wall, Séamus Lawlor, Craig Guiry; Conor Gleeson, Liam Lawlor, Darren Guiry. Subs: Keith Guiry for Craig Guiry (51), Jake Mulcahy for Liam Lawlor (57), Liam Lawlor for Brian Wall (60), Conal Mulcahy for Justin Walsh, (77), Diarmuid Murphy for Tommy Wall (77), Kenny Brazil for Liam Lawlor (80).

Scorers: Brian Wall 0-6 (0-5 frees), Conor Gleeson 0-5, Liam Lawlor, Shane Walsh 1-0 each, Darren Guiry 0-2 (0-1 free), Dylan Guiry, Jake Mulcahy 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: Ronan Milner; Jerry O’Riordan, Thomas O’Rourke, Micheál Kelly; Stephen Murray, Robbie Kiely, Pádraig Hodnett; Brian Shanahan, James Fitzpatrick; Alan Jennings, Kevin McMahon, Brian Hodnett; Chris O’Donovan, Cathal O’Rourke, John Hayes. Subs: Rob Hegarty for Murray (15), Kieran Fitzpatrick for Cathal O’Rourke (h.t), Séamus Hayes for Chris O’Donovan (44), Michael Mennis for Alan Jennings (45), Anthony Roche for Michéal Kelly (49), Mark Ronan for Thomas O’Rourke (58), Micheál Kelly for Pádraig Hodnett (68), Alan Jennings for Brian Hodnett (h-t. et), Chris O’Donovan for Michael Mennis (72, bc)

Scorers: John Hayes 1-3 (0-3 frees), Brian Shanahan 0-4 (0-2 frees), Brian Hodnett 0-2, Jerry O’Riordan, Kevin McMahon, Kieran Fitzpatrick, Séamus Hayes 0-1 each.

Referee: Pádraig O’Sullivan (Kerry)