Munster 3-21 Ulster 0-15
Seamus Callanan played a captain’s role as Munster cruised into the GAA Interprovincial hurling final.
Callanan, All-Ireland final man-of-the-match against Kilkenny in September, collected 1-7 as Munster scored a 15-point victory over Ulster in front of 100 spectators in Thurles.
Munster’s facile win sets up a final clash with Leinster – a fixture that is expected to go ahead under lights on Thursday evening at a venue to be confirmed, but expected to be Semple Stadium or O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
Mikey Breen’s first-half goal helped to separate the sides at the break before Munster, managed by former Clare star Anthony Daly, pulled away in the second period.
Callanan netted in the 40th minute following a defensive error before Waterford’s Bennett brothers combined for a goal in stoppage time, Shane providing Stephen for the finish.
Munster led by 1-10 to 0-07 at half-time, two Barry Nash points after his introduction opening up a six-point interval margin approaching the break.
For much of the first half, it was Breen’s third-minute goal that effectively separated the teams as Ulster battled gamely.
They had a fine first half performance from Armagh’s Conor Corvan, a late call-up to the starting line-up, who registered three points from play before the break.
But Munster, overall, had the more classy operators and had little difficulty in keeping their opponents at arm’s length.
Callanan, operating at full-forward Munster team, had four pointed frees in the first half, with Tipperary team-mate Breen adding a point to his early goal.
Aside from Corvan, Antrim’s Ciarán Clarke was another to show up well for Ulster in the first half, scoring three of his four points from placed balls.
Munster had little difficulty after the break– outscoring Ulster by 2-11 to 0-8 to book their place in this week’s decider.
Munster: A Nash (Cork); B Coughlan (Waterford), J Barry (Tipperary), N Connors (Waterford); D Byrnes (Limerick) (0-01), C Dillon (Clare), S Fives (Waterford); M Breen (Tipperary) (1-01), J Barron (Waterford); S Dowling (Limerick) (0-01), Shane Bennett (Waterford) (0-01), D McCormack (Tipperary) (0-01); J O’Dwyer (Tipperary) (0-02), S Callanan (Tipperary) (1-07, 0-06f), D Reidy (Clare) (0-01).
Subs: A Shanagher (Clare) for Dowling (25), B Nash (Limerick) (0-04) for Shane Bennett (25), Tom Murnane (Kerry) (0-01) for Barron (h.t.), P Maher (Tipperary) (0-01) for Fives (h.t.), Stephen Bennett (Waterford) (1-00) for McCormack (h.t.), Dowling for O’Dwyer (45), Shane Bennett for Reidy (45), McCormack for Breen (51), Fives for Coughlan (55), Barron for Dillon (55).
Ulster: S Keith (Down); S McCrory (Antrim), P Burke (Antrim), J McManus (Down); N McAuley (Antrim), C Woods (Down) (0-01), C Taggart (Down); E Campbell (Antrim), Ciarán Johnston (Antrim); C Corvan (Armagh) (0-03) N McKenna (Antrim) (0-01), D Toner (Down); Conor Johnston (Antrim), J Dillon (Antrim), C Clarke (Antrim) (0-07, 6f).
Subs: C O’Prey (Down) (0-02, 1f) for Ciarán Johnston (26), D Cullen (Donegal) (0-01) for Toner (33), J Corvan (Armagh) for Taggart (46), A Grant (Derry) for C Corvan (47), P Henry (Derry) for Conor Johnston (49), C O’Connell (Antrim) for Keith (52), C Devlin (Armagh) for Dillon (52), S Renaghan (Armagh) for Cullen (55), Ciarán Johnston for J McManus (56).
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny)
