Kilmallock (Limerick) 1-32 Cratloe (Clare) 3-18 (Aet)
Kilmallock were crowned Munster senior club hurling champions for a third time after a gripping extra-time victory over Cratloe in the Gaelic Grounds.
Kilmallock lost Limerick star Gavin O’Mahony to a red card in the second half but still managed to take the game to extra-time.
And after the sides finished level at the end of the regulation 60 minutes, 3-15 to 1-21, Kilmallock outscored their Clare opponents by 0-11 to 0-03 in extra-time to claim the provincial silverware for a third time.
Kilmallock, who last won the Munster title in 1994, will now play Ulster champions Portaferry in February for a place in the All-Ireland final on St Patrick's Day.
Kilmallock came good in extra-time with a clinical run of scores to take the game beyond Cratloe, who were appearing in their very first Munster club final, before a 6,365 crowd.
Having returned to their full complement of players for the extra period, after O’Mahony was sent off for an off the ball incident following the concession of a goal to Cathal McInerney, Kilmallock turned up the heat.
The sides had been deadlocked at the end of a tumultuous hour of hurling when Graeme Mulcahy’s injury-time point looked to have won it for Kilmallock.
But there was still time for Martin Ogie Murphy to salvage extra-time for Cratloe with a sensational long-range equaliser.
Murphy’s score was a fitting end to a final 12 minutes that was pendulum-like in its flow.
O’Mahony’s red card had handed the advantage to Cratloe, less than a minute after Cathal McInerney had applied a one-handed finish to Liam Markham’s delivery for Cratloe’s second goal.
The next major turn was back in Kilmallock’s direction when sub Robbie Hanley provided Jake Mulcahy with the pass for a 56th-minute goal.
Sean Collins and Jake Mulcahy traded points but Cratloe were ahead again when Conor McGrath converted his side’s third goal, at the second attempt, with two minutes left.
Jake Mulcahy levelled matters again with a point before brother Graeme slotted over what appeared to be the winner.
But Murphy would ensure an extra 20 minutes with a superb point and the gripping climax drew a standing ovation from both sets of fans when referee Fergal Horgan blew for full-time.
Kilmallock held a 0-12 to 1-06 lead at the end of the first half of regular time, coming from five points down with a stunning run of scores.
Gearoid Considine netted for a Cratloe team seemingly obsessed with goals in the tenth minute, taking a pass from Cathal McInerney before flashing a shot across the boughs of ‘keeper Barry Hennessy.
Kilmallock appealed for a free in the build-up, insisting that Conor McGrath had taken too many steps, but referee Horgan, who let the game flow from start to finish, allowed play to continue.
Cratloe created three other goal chances in that opening half but a combination of poor decision-making and heroic Kilmallock defending ensured that they would score just the one before the break.
Kilmallock rallied from that early setback, coming from 0-01 to 1-03 behind to outscore Cratloe by 0-11 to 0-03 for the remainder of the half.
Cratloe: G Ryan; S O’Leary, M Hawes, D Ryan; S Chaplin, C Ryan, E Boyce; M Ogie Murphy (0-01), L Markham (0-03, 1f, 1'65); S Gleeson, P Collins (0-01), S Collins (0-03); C McGrath (1-06, 0-03f), G Considine (1-00), C McInerney (1-03).
Subs: D Collins (0-01) for Gleeson (ht), D Browne for Considine (58).
Kilmallock: B Hennessy; A Costello, M O’Loughlin, L Hurley; L Walsh, P O’Loughlin, K O’Donnell (0-01); B O’Sullivan (0-07), P O’Brien (0-04); J Mulcahy (1-06), G O’Mahony (0-01), R Egan; K Kennelly (0-01), G Mulcahy (0-06), E Ryan (0-05, 4f, 1'65).
Subs: R Hanley for Kennelly (52), P O’Loughlin (0-01) for O’Mahony (60; following red card).
Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary).
