Mullagh cruise past Skehana Mountbellew Moylough in PIHC semi-final
After nearly three years that included nine consecutive championship losses, and two group defeats this term, Mullagh have hit form at the right time and continued with this emphatic 2-26 to 1-14 victory over Skehana Mountbellew Moylough in Duggan Park on Saturday to qualify for the Premier intermediate hurling final.
Ten weeks after falling to Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough in the opening round, Gerry Spelman’s produced arguably their best performance since winning the Senior B competition in 2023 with a dominant second half display to run out 15-point victors.
Liam Curley and substitute Cian Daly got the goals, but their appetite and work rate was evident from the opening whistle while four points before the interval made a telling difference as they secured three knockout wins on the trot.
Davy Glennon got the first point after just 55 seconds before Conor Dolphin added a free. The north Galway team finally opened through Liam Gormally in the second minute. And they added two Cillian Roche frees, Oisin Colleran and Oisin Lohan to lead 0-5 to 0-2 on nine minutes.
Conditions were perfect for hurling on a sunny day with minimal wind. Mullagh responded with five points of their own through Dolphin (3), Davy and Ronan Glennon to lead 0-7 to 0-5 entering the second quarter.
This was expected to be a close affair and nothing from the opening 30 minutes changed that viewpoint. Roche reduced arrears before Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough made the breakthrough.
Jason Fahy Hansberry lofted a ball towards the danger area that was plucked by Darragh Newell, and he spotted Sean McDonagh to his right. The former All-Ireland winning minor held off stiff resistance to get the goal and Dessie O’Brien’s side were 1-6 to 0-7 ahead.
Two Curley points by the 25th minute saw the green and white back on level terms for the fourth time.
Scores from Roche and McDonagh sandwiched a Dolphin free giving Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough the advantage. But Ronan Glennon (2), Curley and Dolphin put Mullagh 0-14 to 1-8 up at the interval.
Roche registered on 32 minutes, but Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough were losing touch. Dolphin (2), Stephen Cahalan, Curley, Keith Coen and Ronan Glennon made it 0-20 to 1-9 clear before Roche responded. Curley’s goal on 42 minutes had Mullagh in the driving seat.
Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough got back on the scoreboard through McDonagh, Roche and Lohan but couldn’t close the gap as Dolphin (4), Cathal Kennedy and Cathal Dervan made it 1-26 to 1-13 before Tiernan Lohan concluded Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough’s account.
The result was rubberstamped with Daly’s goal for Mullagh on 63 minutes. And despite the best efforts of Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough’s Fahy Hansberry, Ronan Glennon and Mullagh keeper Eric Ward made two late saves as they advanced to the final in Kenny Park on Saturday week.
Mullagh were best served by Ward in goal; Curley, Dolphin, Kennedy, Ronan and Davy Glennon and Coen. Padraig Glynn, Fahy Hansberry, McDonagh, Roche and Oisin Lohan were most influential for their opponents.
Mullagh: E Ward; L Kennedy, S Glennon, S O’Brien; R Glennon (0-4, 4f), S Hardiman, O Coen; C Kennedy (0-1), S Cahalan (0-1); D Finnerty, L Curley (1-4), D Monaghan; D Glennon (0-2), C Dolphin (0-12, 8f), K Coen (0-1).
Subs used: E Gaffney for D Glennon (40-43, blood), A Rocke for Monaghan (52), C Dervan (0-1) for Finnerty (57), C Daly (1-0) for Curley (57), S Callanan for Dolphin (62), F Coen for O’Brien (63).
Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough: B Murphy; O Colleran (0-1), P Glynn, L Tully; S Hansberry, J Fahy Hansberry, B Horgan; L Gormally (0-1), M Burke; J Jordan, O Lohan (0-2), T Lohan (0-1); D Newell, S McDonagh (1-2), C Roche (0-7, 7f).
Subs used: D Higgins for Colleran (21), M Lyons for Jordan (38), A Cummins for Newell (44), D Cunningham for Roche (56), G Flahive for McDonagh (61).
Referee: S Hynes