AFTER CRACKING THE Cork senior hurling championship code in 2015, Glen Rovers have now gone one step further.<\/p>\n
From 1989 until last year, the Glen hadn\u2019t won a county title but that 26-year wait came to an end with victory over Sarsfields.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And now Rovers have ended another famine, as yesterday\u2019s gritty win against Patrickswell\u00a0has propelled them into a first AIB Munster senior club final in 40 years.<\/p>\n
Rovers ruled the province in\u00a01964, 1972 and 1976 and now have the chance to add a fourth crown when they face off against surprise packets Ballyea from Clare on November 20, a fixture that\u2019s expected to be pencilled in for Semple Stadium in Thurles.<\/p>\n
There were some big moments that got them there at the Gaelic Grounds, as county star Patrick Horgan and goalkeeper Cathal Hickey played key roles.<\/p>\n
Hickey\u2019s saves from Thomas O\u2019Brien and Seanie O\u2019Brien in the second half were crucial and Horgan showed incredible leadership to win and convert a free in the 58th minute that put his side ahead for the first time in the game.<\/p>\n
Horgan\u2019s radar was off in the first half as he registered three wides. He missed another effort in the second half but the ace forward still finished with eight points, including six frees.<\/p>\n
How he managed to win that late free, with three or four Patrickswell players competing for possession, is anybody\u2019s guess but Rovers manager Richie Kelleher has his own views on it.<\/p>\n
\n Source: Tommy Dickson\/INPHO<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an inter-county player and he\u2019s very strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows where the posts are and he\u2019s going for the jugular.\n<\/p>\n
\nHe doesn\u2019t care what is front of him. The opposition know if they let him go, he\u2019ll put it in the back of the net. That is why he is fouled so often.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\u201cIf he was a slighter player, he\u2019d probably get more frees. But because he is so strong, he doesn\u2019t get as many frees as he should. We are mad about him.\u201d<\/p>\n
So they should be and at a time when Cork\u2019s inter-county fortunes are at a low ebb, the progression of Glen Rovers to a provincial club final is a timely boost.<\/p>\n
\n Cathal Hickey made big saves at crucial times.<\/p>\n
Source: Cathal Noonan\/INPHO<\/p>\n
Indeed, their victory on Sunday was the first time since 2009 that a Cork team had won a game in the AIB Munster senior club campaign.<\/p>\n
Since Newtownshandrum lifted the title seven years ago, the tale of woe read as follows:<\/p>\n
\n
- 2010 \u2013 De La Salle (Waterford) 0-22 Sarsfields 2-15 (semi-final)<\/li>\n
- 2011 \u2013 Crusheen (Clare) 0-19 Carrigtwohill 1-10 (semi-final)<\/li>\n
- 2012 \u2013 Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) 2-20 Sarsfields 2-15 (semi-final)<\/li>\n
- 2013 \u2013 Sixmilebridge (Clare) 1-17 Midleton 1-13 (semi-final)<\/li>\n
- 2014 \u2013 Kilmallock (Limerick) 3-22 Sarsfields 3-20 (semi-final, a.e.t.)<\/li>\n
- 2015 \u2013 Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-19 Glen Rovers 1-9 (semi-final)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Kelleher added: \u201cI\u2019m thrilled, to be honest. It wasn\u2019t a great spectacle.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get into a Munster final is just unbelievable. It is something I never thought about. I never dreamt about being in a Munster final. It is just unreal for a club like ourselves.<\/p>\n
\nA few years ago, our club was at a serious crossroads. Financially, we were in a huge hole. We didn\u2019t know where we were going as a club hurling-wise.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\u201cTo turn all that around and be in a Munster final is just brilliant. We\u2019ve an older parish, a win like this brings young kids in. It brings the club forward. It is magic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glen Rovers hit 9 wides in the first half but were still very much in touch at the break, trailing by 0-4 to 0-7 after playing into the teeth of an icy breeze.<\/p>\n
\n Dave Moriarty takes Glen Rovers through their pre-match warm-up routine.<\/p>\n
Source: Tommy Dickson\/INPHO<\/p>\n
They hung in there and after getting level twice through that man Horgan, he put them ahead at a critical juncture late on.<\/p>\n
Kelleher said: \u201cWe have left a lot of matches late. We make things difficult for ourselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had nine wides in the first-half. We do make it very, very hard on ourselves, but we refuse to give in or give up. We always play till the very end. Today we did that and we got over the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Kelleher reserved a very special word of praise for Hickey\u2019s heroics.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been doing that for us all year. He did it for us in last year\u2019s (county) final.<\/p>\n
\nCathal Hickey is a serious goalkeeper. I thought they were two certain goals the way they came through at us. For him to stop both shows his calibre.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\nIn less than a fortnight, Rovers will need Hickey at his best again when they face a Ballyea side that registered 4-18 against Thurles Sarsfields over the course of 80-plus minutes but in Horgan, they have a bona-fide matchwinner at the other end of the pitch.<\/p>\n
For now, though, it\u2019s time to celebrate. And rightly so.<\/p>\n
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