Well done to the senior hurlers who beat Murroe/Boher by 2-17 to 1-19 in Caherconlish on Sunday last to make the quarter finals for this year’s championship. They also have the added bonus of topping Group B meaning they gain promotion to Group A for next year’s championship.

Ahane knew a win would ensure they made the quarter finals at a minimum and they indeed started the game with great intent, rattling off four quick points through Tom Morrissey, Ronan Fox and Niall Moran (2). While the hurling was sharp and scores flowing during that early period, we unfortunately lost wing back Jeff Enright to injury after 15 mins and one of last year’s minors Conor Heffernan replaced him. Murroe reeled off a few good scores of their own before Ronan Fox was pulled down close to goal under a high ball winning a penalty for Ahane. Unfortunately Tom’s well struck penalty was equally well saved by the Murroe keeper, but Ahane still reacted on the rebound and Tom slotted over for a valuable point.

While Ahane’s defence and midfield were hurling well, the star man during the first half was centre forward Niall Moran who struck 5 superb points from a range of angles, causing havoc for his marker Seamus Hickey.

While we were now a point to the good, Dan Morrissey ghosted in down the left side of the attack to finish low to the corner of the net. When we followed up with another score on the puck-out right on the half time whistle, Ahane were leading comfortably by 1-12 to 0-10.

After scoring two early points in the second half, the game looked like only going one way until a Murroe goal brought the scored back to 1-16 to 1-12 ten minutes in. From here on, the Ahane scores dried up a little and Murroe continued in the ascendancy for much of the remainder of the game. On 24 minutes, the scores were level at 1-16 each and indeed Murroe took a two point lead with four minutes to go. Ahane’s only points in that second half came from three Tom Morrissey frees and two more from Niall Moran, taking him to a personal tally of 0-7 points on the day. With Ahane a point behind as we reached injury time, just as he had done two weeks previous against Knockainey, Dan proved to be the man again as he goaled to sneak Ahane into the lead at the death, 2-17 to 1-18. Again, the skilful finish from Morrissey belied thoughts of him as a defender, as he weaved around the last line of Murroe defence on the end-line to “bat” the ball the net from the tightest of angles to delight of the large Ahane following. Despite Murroe adding one final score to proceedings, the lads held out and secured the win and quarter final progress and due to Monaleen getting a trimming by Ballybrown in the other group game, promotion was also secured.

Well done to all involved. They now play the quarter final – opponent and date to be confirmed.

Team: A. O’Brien, M. Foley, E. Enright, P. Morrissey, J. Enright, C. Barry, M. O’Halloran, P. O’Halloran, P. Harnett, T. Morrissey, N. Moran, D. Morrissey, R. Fox, W. Brennan, C. O’Mara

Subs: A. Shanahan, D. Laing, A. Rowesome, C. Heffernan, D. Minihan, C. Carroll, C. Morrissey, T. Doheny, P. O’Grady, D. Madden, R. Reale, G. Harnett, P. Minihan, M. Power, K. Enright

Ahane top Group A