AIB Munster Club SHC: Inagh-Kilnamona advance

AIB Munster Club SHC Quarter-Final

Inagh-Kilnamona 1-21 Glen Rovers 1-14

By Stephen Barry at Páirc Uí Rinn

Aidan McCarthy guided Inagh-Kilnamona to a perfect Munster debut with a seven-point victory over Glen Rovers, which sends them into a home semi-final against Thurles Sarsfields.

Three weeks after lifting the Canon Hamilton Cup, their captain slotted 0-14 (four from play) for a deserved victory in front of 2,890 supporters at Páirc Uí Rinn. The wide count of 10-4 in Inagh’s favour underlined the dominant nature of their performance.

A late Glen change headlined the pre-match team news. Michael Tadhg Brosnan isn’t yet old enough to play in the Cork senior championship, but the Munster and All-Ireland championships are governed by different rules. The towering teenager, who played for the Cork minors in 2025 and the U20s this year, was thrown into the fray at centre-forward.

Micheál Mullins was revealed as the late absentee from the Glen team just before throw-in. The Cork senior was brought on for the final quarter.

Robert Downey was detailed to mark David Fitzgerald, while Eoin Downey initially tagged McCarthy, but he shifted to centre-back and later further forward as the game began to turn against the Glen.

Brosnan displayed a neat pick-up to assist an early Patrick Horgan point, but the Glen otherwise failed to steer their deliveries past Inagh centre-back James Hegarty and didn’t match the Clare champions’ intense tackling.

Inagh, playing with the wind, had 10 of the first 11 shots of the afternoon, converting seven. McCarthy had the first four before Fred Hegarty and the fit-again Conner Hegarty, capitalising on a poor puck-out, got in on the act.

Brosnan released Robert Downey for a point, but Seán Rynne’s quick response maintained Inagh’s impetus.

The Glen couldn’t put together consecutive points in the entire opening half, while a huge Fred Hegarty score was followed by McCarthy punishing another Glen giveaway.

There were 10 points between the sides when David Mescall turned past Adam Lynch and spooned the sliotar for Fitzgerald to lash home.
But Horgan went for broke from a stoppage-time free, thumping the sliotar to the roof of the net for a 1-12 to 1-5 deficit.

Two further Horgan frees continued the Glen resistance after the break before showing a sharp touch to assist Lee Quilligan.

The second half was dominated by frees, but fine play by Rynne helped to create a standout Mark Callinan point.

Half-time substitute Zach Lynch could’ve made it a one-score game, but Éamonn Foudy was equal to his drive.

Brosnan and Eoin O’Leary had points, but the Glen never closed the arrears within four points. When they did get that close, Inagh came strong with the next three. Fitzgerald arrowed over an acute score before regaining the sliotar for McCarthy’s 12th.

The Glen went for goals down the stretch, with Foudy saving the best chance from a Horgan free.

Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: Aidan McCarthy 0-14 (9f, 1 65), David Fitzgerald 1-1, Fred Hegarty 0-2, Mark Callinan, Seán Rynne, David Mescall, Conner Hegarty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: Patrick Horgan 1-8 (1-6fs, 1 65), Lee Quilligan 0-2, Robert Downey, Eoin Downey, Eoin O’Leary, Michael Tadhg Brosnan 0-1 each.

Inagh-Kilnamona: Éamonn Foudy; Shane Woods, Keith White, Conor Rynne; Kevin Hehir, James Hegarty, Darren Cullinan; Mark Callinan, Seán Rynne; David Fitzgerald, Kealan Guyler, Fred Hegarty; David Mescall, Aidan McCarthy, Conner Hegarty.

Subs: Jack Mescall for S Rynne (1-4, blood), Jason McCarthy for Hehir (45, inj), Niall Mullins for F Hegarty (48), Josh Guyler for D Mescall (50), Gearóid Barry for C Hegarty (52), J Mescall for Guyler (60+2).

Glen Rovers: Cathal Hickey; Eoin Varian, Eoin Downey, Adam Lynch; Luke Horgan, Liam Coughlan, Robert Downey; Rhys Dunne, Conor McCarthy; Dean Brosnan, Michael Tadhg Brosnan, Lee Quilligan; Simon Kennefick, Patrick Horgan, Eoin O’Leary.

Subs: Zach Lynch for McCarthy (h-t), Brian Moylan for Quilligan (45), Micheál Mullins for Brosnan (46).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary).