AIB Munster Club SHC: Éire Óg Ennis battle past Loughmore-Castleiney

AIB Munster SHC semi-final

Éire Óg 2-20 Loughmore-Castleiney 1-16 AET

By Eoin Brennan

Clare champions Éire Óg maintained their dual momentum-fuelled charge, eventually seeing off Loughmore-Castleiney after extra-time to garner a Munster Senior Club Final berth against Ballygunner.

A 1-5 unanswered finish saw the Ennis side complete a 14th consecutive championship victory in 2025, with their footballers set to take on St. Finbarr’s in the football semi-final equivalent in Supervalu Páirc Ui Chaoimh next Sunday (3.30pm).

There was an unexpected journey this time too after a burst water main in Ennis saw the fixture switched at the eleventh hour to a delayed throw-in time in Sixmilebridge.

That alteration only heightened the attritional nature of the tie that saw the sides deadlocked no fewer than 13 times over the 80 minutes, led by chief marksmen Danny Russell (1-14) and John McGrath (0-12).

A low-key opening period finally sprang to life in injury-time when Loughmore-Castleiney raided for the opening goal of the game when Ed Connolly’s teasing delivery over the top was added to by captain Liam McGrath past onrushing goalkeeper Darragh Stack at 1-4 to 0-6 by the break.

Successive National Hurler of the Year recipients Shane O’Donnell and John McGrath twice swapped points on the resumption before the former cleverly spotted Danny Russell in space to fire past Aidan McGrath and give Éire Óg a 1-9 to 1-6 advantage by the 40th minute.

Loughmore-Castleiney’s response was perfect though as they answered with five of the next six points including three for the McGrath brothers John and Noel to snatch back the ascendency entering the final ten minutes.

However, they just couldn’t shake off their obstinate hosts, with Danny Russell levelling matters three more times to deservedly force extra-time at 1-13 to 1-13.

That seesaw pattern would continue into the additional periods as on three more occasions, they would be locked together by the 70th minute mark.

However, with Loughmore-Castleiney appearing increasingly war-weary, Éire Óg capitalised fully with a blistering final flourish.

A monster Rian Mulcahy free put four points between the sides for the very first time by the 75th minute while fellow teenager Darren Moroney raided for the clinching goal after great work from David Reidy as Éire Óg returned to their first Munster Senior Club Hurling Final in 35 years.

Scorers for Éire Óg: Danny Russell 1-14 (12f, 1’65); Darren Moroney 1-0; Shane O’Donnell, Marco Cleary 0-2 each; Tom Kavanagh, Rian Mulcahy (f) 0-1 each

Scorers for Loughmore-Castleiney: John McGrath 0-12 (4f, 2’65); Liam McGrath 1-0; Ed Connolly, John Ryan, Noel McGrath, Brian McGrath 0-1 each

Éire Óg: Darragh Stack; Fionan Treacy, Ciaran Russell, Jarlath Collins; Robert Loftus, Aaron Fitzgerald, Lliam Corry; Oran Cahill, David Reidy; David McNamara, Darren Moroney, Darren O’Brien; Shane O’Donnell, Danny Russell, Marco Cleary

Subs: Tom Kavanagh for O’Brien (HT), James O’Dwyer for Moroney (52), Rian Mulcahy for McNamara (55), Aidan McGrath for Collins (57), Eoin O’Regan for Cahill (60+2), Moroney for McGrath (70), Cahill for O’Regan (70)

Loughmore-Castleiney: Aidan McGrath; Lorcan Egan, Ed Meagher, Brian McGrath; Eoin O’Connell, Willie Eviston, John Ryan; Noel McGrath, Ciaran Connolly; Tommy Maher, Tomas McGrath, Ciaran McCormack; Ed Connolly, John McGrath, Liam McGrath

Subs: Ciaran McGrath for McCormack (39), Liam Treacy for Maher (49), Philip O’Connell for C. McGrath (51-52, BS), Paul McCahey for E. Connolly (60+3), McCormack for T. McGrath (75, inj)

Referee: Nicky O’Toole (Waterford)