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Midleton's Seamus O'Farrell and James Nagle with Seadhna Morey of Sixmilebridge. INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Bridge Rule

Sixmilebridge reach Munster senior hurling final with win over Midleton

The Clare club will face Na Piarsaigh in next Sunday’s Munster hurling final.

Sixmilebridge (Clare) 1-17
Midleton (Cork) 1-13

SEVEN DAYS AFTER they won the Clare county final, Sixmilebridge maintained their winning ways with a deserved success in today’s AIB Munster club SHC semi-final.

The journey to Cork proved a rewarding one for the Clare side as they defeated Midleton by four points at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

They advance to the Munster final next Sunday against 2011 champions Na Piarsaigh in what will be Sixmilebridge’s first provincial decider since they lost the 2002 final to Mount Sion.

And there will be spice added to the occasion by the fact that Na Piarsaigh manager Sean Stack is a former Sixmilebridge playing great.

Their win was achieved on the back of a strong first-half display when they took a grip on the game. Midleton did recover to be only a point adrift at half-time, 1-7 to 1-6, and they drew level at 1-9 apiece by the 36th minute.

But they never lead during the second-half as Sixmilebridge finished strongest. They have some excellent scoring displays from young guns Jamie Shanahan and Alan Mulready while veteran Niall Gilligan chipped in with three points.

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Sixmilebridge’s John Fennessy and Paidi Fitzpatrick celebrate at the final whistle
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Crucially Sixmilebridge managed to limit the influence of Conor Lehane, who had struck 2-10 for Midleton in their recent Cork county final win over Sarsfields.

Lehane still shot 1-5, that featured a superb goal before half-time after Sixmilebridge had been surging ahead on the scoreboard as they were aided by Alan Mulready getting in for a goal in the 17th minute.

Jamie Shanahan and Seadna Morey stretched Sixmilebridge’s lead to four points – 1-14 to 1-10 – with 13 minutes left.

Midleton hit back with Aidan Ryan pointing and Lehane nearly grabbed a goal but his shot hit the side-netting.

The teams traded two points apiece before a Shanahan free at the death sealed Sixmilebridge’s victory.

Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Jamie Shanahan 0-6(0-4f), Alan Mulready 1-1, Niall Gilligan 0-3 (0-2f), Pa Sheehan 0-2, Kevin Lynch, Caimin Morey, Shane Golden, Seadna Morey, Conor Deasy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Midleton: Conor Lehane 1-5 (0-1’65, 0-3f), Paul Haughney, Aidan Ryan 0-2 each, Cormac Walsh, Peter Dowling, Luke O’Farrell, Tommy Wallace (0-1f) 0-1 each.

SIXMILEBRIDGE: Derek Fahy; Brian Carey, Paidi Fitzpatrick, Aidan Quilligan; John Fennessy, Caimin Morey, Noel Purcell; Kevin Lynch, Seadna Morey; Rory Shanahan, Shane Golden, Alan Mulready; Jamie Shanahan, Niall Gilligan, Pa Sheehan.

Subs: Conor Deasy for Rory Shanahan (52), Derek Morey for Sheehan (58), Brian Corry for Mulready (61).

MIDLETON: Tommy Wallace; Killian Burke, Patrick O’Mahony, Aylwin Kearney; Seamus O’Farrell, Finbarr O’Mahony, James Nagle; Paul Haughney, Peter Dowling; Padriag O’Shea, Conor Lehane, Aidan Ryan; Cormac Walsh, Luke O’Farrell, Brian Hartnett.

Subs: Declan Ryan for O’Shea (20), Padraig O’Keeffe for Walsh (59).

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