TWO PROVINCIAL TITLES were decided this afternoon as Ballintubber, Corofin, Cratloe and Kilmallock all bid to be the pride of their parish.
We had minute-by-minute updates of the Connacht SFC final in Castlebar and an absorbing Munster SHC final in the Gaelic Grounds, as well the Leinster SFC semi between Rhode and Moorefield.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the action. Email niall@thescore.ie, tweet @TheScoreGAA, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
You may need to manually refresh for embedded content to display correctly.
Good afternoon and welcome to one of many, many club GAA liveblogs we’ve got lined up for this afternoon.
If you’re looking for the latest on the Connacht senior football final, or the Munster senior hurling final, you’ve come to the right place.
Both games throw-in at 2pm, as does the Leinster senior football semi between Rhode and Moorefield. We’ll have updates on the whole lot.
While you’re counting down to throw-in, here’s some light reading:
A quick look at the betting while we count down the last few minutes to throw-in.
Corofin are the 4/9 favourites in Connacht while Ballintubber are 9/4 outsiders.
In Limerick, Cratloe are slight favourites (4/5) with Kilmallock at 5/4.
Anthony Daly is speaking on TG4. His old team-mate Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin is the Kilmallock boss but Dalo still feels that Cratloe are one of the best teams to come out Clare in a long time.
Two late changes for Corofin — Gary Delaney and captain Michael Farragher both start. Ballintubber are as named.
We’re underway in Castlebar and in the Gaelic Grounds.
Kilmallock 0-1 Cratloe 0-0: Just 10 seconds on the clock and Graeme Mulcahy puts the Limerick men into an early lead.
Kilmallock 0-1 Cratloe 0-2: Conor McGrath levels it up with his first of the day and then Liam Markham points a long free.
Rhode 0-1 Moorefield 0-1
Rhode 0-2 Moorefield 0-1: Anton Sullivan points to give the Offaly men the lead
Cratloe 0-3 Kilmallock 0-1: Cathal McInerney points again. Good save by Barry Hennessy to deny Sean Collins just before that.
That’s even better by Barry Hennessy in the Killmallock goal! Super save to deny Sean Collins for the second time in as many minutes
GOAL FOR CRATLOE! Cratloe 1-3 Kilmallock 0-1: Barry Hennessy is good but he’s not superman. McGrath and McInerney combine to set up Gearoid Considine who buries the chance.
Corofin 0-3 Ballintubber 0-1: Corofin have taken an early lead in Castlebar thanks to three points from Ian Burke. Cillian O’Connor has Tubber’s only score so far.
Cratloe 1-4 Kilmallock 0-4: Great work by Podge Collins, great finish by Conor McGrath. Jake Mulcahy responds to keep Kilmallock within a goal.
Rhode 1-5 Moorefield 0-1: All too easy so far for the Offaly champs. Anton Sullivan’s goal has them well in control.
Cratloe 1-4 Kilmallock 0-6: Fine response by the Limerick men and they knock over a free to reduce the deficit to one.
Corofin 0-4 Ballintubber 0-2: Cillian O’Connor points a free to bring Ballintubber back to within two. Micheal Lundy hit his first of the day for the Galway men before that.
The Irish Independent’s Donnchadh Boyle is in Tullamore:
Cratloe 1-5 Kilmallock 0-7: Cratloe’s backs can’t clear the ball down the field and Brian O’Sullivan points for Kilmallcok. At the other end, Considine has a great chance for his second goal but scuffs his shot.
Corofin 0-6 Ballintubber 0-2: Martin Farragher and Ian Burke point. The Galway champions are in control so far.
Corofin 0-7 Ballintubber 0-3: Cillian O’Connor points another free but Corofin respond through Mike Farragher.
Kilmallock 0-10 Cratloe 1-5: The Killmallock revival continues. Brian O’Sullivan slots over his third of the day from play and Kevin O’Donnell adds another from out on the left touchline.
Kilmallock 0-11 Cratloe 1-6: Fast and furious scoring here but Kilmallock have a two-point lead as we close in on the break.
Rhode 1-8 Moorefield 1-1
Corofin 0-7 Ballintubber 0-4: Cillian O’Connor points another free. They’re into added time now in Castlebar.
Kilmallock 0-12 Cratloe 1-6
Corofin 0-7 Ballintubber 0-4
Rhode 1-9 Moorefield 1-1
They’re back underway in Castlebar. Corofin lead by three.
Jerome O’Connell of the Limerick Leader is in the Gaelic Grounds
Corofin 0-8 Ballintubber 0-4: Kieran Fitzgerald for the Galway men.
Back underway between Kilmallock and Cratloe. David Collins is on for Cratloe.
Kilmallock 0-12 Cratloe 1-7: Cathal McInerney with a fine, fine score for the Banner men.
What a let-off for Kilmallock! Conor McGrath has the goal at his mercy and looks set to bury Cratloe’s second goal but he drops the ball. One of the Cratloe defenders caught him on the hand with his hurl though and that should have been a penalty.
GOAL FOR COROFIN! Corofin 1-8 Ballintubber 0-4 It’s a long way back for Ballintubber now. Gary Sice gets a goal for Corofin and there’s seven between the sides now.
GOAL FOR COROFIN! Corofin 2-9 Ballintubber 0-4 That’s that surely? Ian Burke scores Corofin’s second with his hands and the Galway side are on the cusp of a sixth provincial crown.
Rhode 1-09 Moorefield 1-03
Corofin 2-10 Ballintubber 0-4: Corofin are slicing Ballintubber open now and they could have had another goal but settle for a Burke point instead.
Kilmallock 0-14 Cratloe 1-7: Four-point game.
GOAL FOR BALLINTUBBER! Corofin 2-10 Ballintubber 1-4: It’s all happening out in Castlebar now. Alan Dillon throws the Mayo men a lifeline but, nine points down with 15 minutes to play, surely it’s too little too late.
Kilmallock 0-15 Cratloe 1-8: Eoin Ryan has a simple free in front of the posts, admittedly a bit of a way out, but puts it wide. Still four between them.
Kilmallock 0-15 Cratloe 1-9: Mistake by Kilmallock keeper Barry Hennessy and David Collins punishes it with a point. Robbie Egan has another bad miss for Kilmallock at the other end. They’re leaving the door open here.
Kilmallock 0-15 Cratloe 1-10: A free brings Cratloe back within two now. This has been a belting game so far and it hasn’t let up in the second half.
GOAL FOR CRATLOE! Cratloe 2-10 Kilmallock 0-15: Markham fires a dropping ball in on goal, Cathal McInerney leaps and doubles on it from the edge of the square. Great finish – Cratloe lead!
RED FOR O’MAHONY! There was an off-the-ball incident in there somewhere and O’Mahony is shown a straight red. Kilmallock down to 14.
Cratloe 2-11 Kilmallock 0-17: Kilmallock aren’t giving up and this is perfectly poised for a barnstorming finish.
Corofin 2-12 Ballintubber 1-7: Not long left in Castlebar and Corofin have one hand on the cup.
Cratloe 2-12 Kilmallock 0-17: … but Eoin Ryan has a chance to level it up.
Cratloe 2-12 Kilmallock 0-18: And he takes it. All square with six to play.
GOAL FOR KILMALLOCK! Unbelievable running by Robbie Egan and Jake Mulcahy bats it to the net. The 14 men lead by two!
Kilmallock 1-19 Cratloe 2-14
GOAL FOR CRATLOE! Cratloe 3-14 Kilmallock 1-19 Oh holy Moses as Marty would say. Incredible determination by Conor McGrath – Hennessy makes an incredible save but he bundles it home at the second attempt. Cratloe a point up again, and it’s just about over.
Cratloe 3-14 Kilmallock 1-20: JAKE MULCAHY! They’re level!
Two minutes added
Kilmallock 1-21 Cratloe 3-15
Woah woah woah. Remarkable drama at the death here. It looks for all the world as though Graeme Mulcahy has won it for Kilmallock but the ball breaks for one last Cratloe attack and Ogie levels it for Cratloe with the final puck!
We’ll have extra time. Just as soon as I catch my breath.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Corofin 2-13 Ballintubber 1-7: Amidst all that, I forgot to tell you that Cratloe are the Connacht SFC champions for the first time since 2009. They beat Ballintubber by nine points in Castlebar.
Rhode 1-15 Moorefield 2-4: Rhode will play either St Vincent’s or Garrycastle in the Leinster SFC final.
We’re back underway although, to be honest, I’m still recovering.
Kilmallock 1-22 Cratloe 3-15: Jake Mulcahy scores inside the first 20 seconds of extra time.
Kilmallock 1-22 Cratloe 3-16: Conor McGrath levels with a free.
Kilmallock 1-24 Cratloe 3-16: Paudie O’Brien scores and Kilmallock lead by two.
Kilmallock 1-24 Cratloe 3-17: Podge cuts that gap to one.
Kilmallock 1-25 Cratloe 3-17: Brian O’Sullivan has scored again. That’s seven now for the midfielder by my count – remarkable return.
Kilmallock 1-26 Cratloe 3-17: Kilmallock lead by three now as Eoin Ryan points a 65.
Kilmallock 1-27 Cratloe 3-17: Is this getting away from Cratloe? Paddy O’Loughlin stretches Kilmallock’s lead to four.
Kilmallock 1-27 Cratloe 3-18: Conor McGrath free. Back to three as we near half-time in extra time.
Kilmallock 1-27 (30) Cratloe 3-18 (27)
Conor Cusack is full of praise:
Here we go again – 10 minutes to settle this one.
Kilmallock 1-28 Cratloe 3-18: Eoin Ryan with the free. Kilmallock are doing just enough to keep Cratloe at arm’s length.
Kilmallock 1-29 Cratloe 3-18: Five-point game. Cratloe could really do with another goal.
Kilmallock 1-30 Cratloe 3-18: Cratloe are getting frustrated and giving away silly frees. Eoin Ryan doesn’t mind how they come and it looks like this one is in the books. Kilmallock by six.
Kilmallock 1-31 Cratloe 3-18: Another for Jake Mulcahy. He’s been superb today.
Kilmallock 1-32 Cratloe 3-18: Paudie O’Brien ices the cake
Kilmallock 1-32 Cratloe 3-18
Kilmallock are the Munster club senior hurling champions!
Absolutely breathless stuff in the Gaelic Grounds but after 80 minutes of pure heart, it’s Kilmallock who will be leaving with the Munster title.
It’s heartbreak again for Cratloe but they left very little behind them in an incredible performance.
We’ll more reaction and analysis from around the country later today. Thanks for reading.
