Morris and Mulry catapult Four Roads to another senior hurling title

Four Roads 2-18

Oran 0-15

Kepak Senior Hurling Championship Final

Four Roads came good in the second half as Conor Morris and Conor Mulry hit 2-11 between them to ensure their side retained the Mickey Cunniffe Cup and complete four-in-a-row at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon.    

The defending champions were only two points ahead at the break but Morris’ couple of goals inside six minutes alongside Mulry’s continued excellence allowed Micheál Kelly’s side to cruise home.

Mulry had scored four of his six points from play inside the opening 13 minutes as Four Roads made the better start.

But Paddy Fallon’s accuracy from frees and play, alongside a good point by Micheál Hussey after a barnstorming run, allowed the pre-match underdogs to stay in touch.

Joseph Henry was causing problems for Four Roads on the edge of the square, and his persistence yielded a 23rd minute point to leave just a point between them.

But Conor Morris’ first point of the afternoon from a free left Four Roads 0-10 to 0-8 ahead at the break.

A point by David McDermott gave Oran further encouragement on the resumption, but once Morris found the net in the 38th minute, Four Roads never looked back.

A second goal followed six minutes later when Mulry picked out his team-mate brilliantly, and Morris didn’t need a second invitation to rattle the net as he produced an emphatic finish.

Four Roads were dominant all over the pitch now, and even though Cathal Kenny, Eoghan Grady, substitute Gary Concannon and Paddy Fallon responded with fine individual efforts for Oran, the defending champions were never in any danger as they confirmed their status as the undisputed kingpins of Roscommon hurling for a 38th time.

Four Roads scorers: C Morris 2-5 (5f), C Mulry 0-6, C Kelly, L Óg Coyle 0-2 each, N Fallon (1f), T Morris, J Cunniffe 0-1 each.

Oran scorers: P Fallon 0-8 (5f), C Kenny 0-2, M Hussey, J Henry, D McDermott, E Grady, G Concannon 0-1 each.

*Report, reaction and analysis in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald