Familiar pairing to meet in senior hurling championship final
Jack Lohan (right) grabbed St. Dominic's second goal against Tremane to help his side reach this year's county senior hurling final against Four Roads. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
This year's Kepak Senior Hurling Championship final will be a repeat of the 2024 decider as Four Roads and St. Dominic's came through their semi-finals in Ballyforan on Sunday afternoon.
St. Dominic's, who last won the title in 1999, scored three goals, and they were crucial in securing a 3-14 to 0-15 victory against Tremane.
Tremane had wind advantage in the opening half but they were only on level terms at the break.
Evan Murray and Peter Kellehan kept the scoreboard ticking over for them, but Naos Connaughton's early goal alongside an eyecatching 22nd minute score from Mikey Joe Egan left Martin "Thady" Beirne's side all square at the break, 1-4 to 0-7.
Tremane made a bright start to the second half, as Kellehan, Murray and John Brennan found the target.
But when Jack Lohan found the net with 11 minutes remaining, it was the catalyst for St. Dominic's to kick for home.
Egan found the net for a third goal, and when goalkeeper Mark Miley nailed a few late frees from range, Dominic's could relax in the knowledge that they were back in the final.
Earlier in the day, Four Roads has Conor Morris to thank for securing a dramatic 2-18 to 1-20 victory against Oran in a brilliant game of hurling.
Extra-time loomed when Paddy Fallon brought the sides level in the fourth minute of injury time with his 11th point of the afternoon.
But there was still time for one more play, and when a stray Oran leg felled Cormac Mulry out near the right sideline, Morris held his nerve to secure a dramatic victory.
Micheál Kelly's side, who are now on the cusp of five-in-a-row, led by six points at the break, having played with a strong wind at their backs.
Darragh McCormack and Adam Donnelly exchanged early goals, but Liam Óg Coyle's 21st minute goal was pivotal in establishing a 2-11 to 1-8 interval buffer for the Tisrara men.
To Oran's credit, they pushed the champions to the pin of their collar in the second half, with Declan Leonard and Eamon Kenny outstanding in defence.
Rory Coyle grabbed a couple of rousing scores for Four Roads, but inspirational points from Micheál Hussey and Cathal Kenny gave Oran every chance of an upset.
They would have gladly settled for extra time but Morris kept his cool to leave his side's "Drive for Five" very much alive ahead of the final in two weeks' time at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park.
