St. Marys Clonmel are through to the Final of the FBD Insurance County Under 19A Hurling Championship following their three-point victory over West Champions, Cashel King Cormacks at Dr. Morris Park Thurles on Tuesday evening. 

Played before a big crowd, on an evening conducive to good hurling, both sides served up a hugely entertaining game. From the outset St. Marys set the pace, running into a three-point early lead, before being hauled back to level terms by the ninth minute.

The period between the ninth and thirtieth minute was Cashel’s best period over the 60 minutes plus. They hit 1-8 to 0-3 in that time and had a commanding eight-point advantage as the game entered added time at the end of the first half. 

Their defence mopped up anything that Marys threw at them and supplied quick quality ball to an attack who took their chances well, the goal coming from Davy McGrath on 20 minutes, following a good build-up.

The concession of two goals in two minutes coming up to the half-time whistle harmed their second-half performance. The concession of the first goal was the real turning point as their defence were in total control but failed to clear their lines and it was St. Marys who were certainly the happier side at the break, having cut the deficit from eight to two in added time.

Three minutes after the restart, the South champions were back on level terms, as Cashel found it hard to get into any kind of rhythm. 

Their attack was completely on the back foot, scores dried up and midfielder Oisín O’Donoghue was the only real threat on the scoreboard, his goal on 42 minutes keeping them in contention.

Despite St. Mary's second-half superiority, the game was still in the melting pot, with the sides on level terms, with eight minutes remaining. Harry Lawlor was introduced to the Marys attack and on his first touch drew a valuable free and then followed up with a point from the right. 

In those vital last few minutes, Joe Higgins was to the fore, using all his power, strength and skill to fire over two wonderful points. Try as they might, the West champions were unable to breach a solid defence for the goal that would bring the game to extra time, as Marys held out to advance to the final.

St. Marys were off the mark early on when Niall Deely got the non-existent scoreboard moving. This advantage was doubled when Aaron Cagney put over the first of his six points from placed balls, after two minutes. 

Cashel then hit two wides in succession before Joe Higgins found the range on five minutes, putting Mary’s into an early three-point advantage, as Cashel had yet to find their rhythm.

Cashel upped the intensity and Aiden Skeffington opened their account before Andrew Irwin closed the gap to the minimum from long range. 

The Cashel attack were now getting quality ball from their defence and midfield and in a good interaction move between Oisín O’Donoghue and Davy McGrath, the full forward tied the game on nine minutes. Darragh O’Connor and James Power combined to restore Mary's lead before the alert Niall Deal stretched the lead out to two.

Oisín O’Donoghue began to exert his influence on the game, converting his opening placed ball of the evening, and then setting up Davy McGrath for a point from play from out near the touchline.  

He next set up his brother Brian for a huge effort from midfield. Cashel were certainly firmly in the driving seat and transferring their possession onto the scoreboard.  

A point from Aiden Skeffington, his second of the evening, eased them into a four point advantage by the 17th minute.

The Cashel defence were winning most of the battles as Marys tried hard to get back into the game. Joe Higgins showed all of his agility in shaking off three defenders to hit his second of the half, but following the puck out Cashel moved the ball up-field and Oisín O’Donoghue found Davy McGrath after good work. McGrath gave Cian Corcoran no chance from close-in to record the opening goal of the game. 

Brian O’Donoghue again found the range from midfield, before brother Oisín put seven between the sides after 27 minutes. By the thirtieth minute Cashel were eight up when Oisín O’Donoghue pointed a placed ball with St. Marys floundering. 

What happened as the game went into added time would have a huge bearing on the eventual outcome of this contest. The Cashel defence, who had been very composed and their ball distribution excellent, failed to clear their lines directly. 

They instead tried to work the ball out of defence and when an attempted hand pass was intercepted, it paved the way for Niall Deely to blast the ball past Eoghan Dunne. Further agony was to follow when the ball was worked up the wing to Aaron Cagney, whose run at the defence set up James Power for the second goal in as many minutes. 

St. Marys were back from the dead, having cut the deficit to two points with the half-time score, Cashel King Cormacks 1-11, St. Marys 2-6.

Would the Mary's comeback continue after the half-time break? 

This was the question being asked during the interval. The answer was partly addressed when Aaron Cagney and Niall Dealy tied the game for the third time three minutes after the restart.  

Marys now had their tails up and the Cashel attack were beginning to play second fiddle, while their defence was coming under severe pressure.

Oisín O’Donoghue split the posts from a 65-meter free before Eoghan Dunne pulled off a save from Darragh O’Connor who had raced through the defence from midfield. 

Cashel got back in the game, if only for a brief period, when a long ball into the attack was won first time by Denis O’Callaghan, who laid off to the in-running O’Donoghue, who then fired passed Corcoran. They were now four to the good, while not being over-impressive. 

St. Marys recovered and hit the next five points, from Aaron Cagney, James Power, Alex Creed and cornerback Max O’Dwyer, to go one up again by the fiftieth minute. 

The introduction of Harry Lawlor had a huge bearing on this revival as with his first touch he drew a free and then went on to register a minor from an acute angle. His running was also causing problems to the Cashel defence

A Davy McGrath point, with three minutes of normal time remaining, cut the deficit to the minimum but in those last few frantic minutes, St. Marys held firm and will now go on to contest the final.

St. Marys: Cian Corcoran; Max O’Dwyer (0-1), David McSweeney, Thomas Charles; Jack Lawlor, Tadgh Sheehan, Darragh Landers; Darragh O’Connor, Jamie O’Keeffe; James Power (1-2), Niall Deely (1-3), Alex Creed (0-1); Finn Napier, Joe Higgins (0-4), Aaron Cagney (0-6). 

Subs used: Harry Lawlor (0-1) for Finn Napier (43); Daniel Charles for Alex Creed (56).

Cashel King Cormacs: Eoghan Dunne; Kyle Cully, Kieran O’Dwyer, Cormac McInerney; Brian Manton, Anthony Walsh, Andrew Irwin (0-1); Oisín O’Donoghue (1-6, 0-4f), Colm Ryan; Lee O’Riordan, Brian O’Donoghue (0-2), Callum Byrnes; Denis O’Callaghan, Davy McGrath (1-3), Aiden Skeffington (0-3). 

Subs used: Tudar Macaree for Lee O’Riordan (35); Tommy O’Connor for Callum Byrnes (46).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)

Report by John O'Shea.