Following their impressive win over Kerry’s Glenbeigh last Monday night at the quarter final stage team Mallow within the space of three days faced Limerick’s Hospital in the Junior B semi-final of this year’s All-Ireland Inter-club championship. Hospital a renowned Mecca of the 60×30 code had a formidable line up for this year’s event.

First in was Ryan Harkin who faced the reigning 60×30 All-Ireland minor champion Paudi Quish.This was a game Mallow needed to get a good start and following recent performances Ryan was due a good one and a good one was what he got. From a blistering start Ryan went into an early lead and never gave Paudi a chance to recover. For every good shot Paudi made Ryan made three and manage to win the first game 21-8.The second game was almost a carbon copy of the first with Paudi trying to reel back Ryan but to no avail and also this game ended 21-8.
This gave Mallow a healthy lead going into the doubles pairing with Ken O’Neill & Darren Whelan facing Mike O’Connor & Paul Kerr. The Hospital lads in the opening game began well and at one stage had managed a 15-5 lead over the Mallow lads who looked in a spot of bother, however they battled hard and continued to try different avenues to break down the Hospital boys eventually finding a serve that troubled them. With a couple of quick aces on the trot the comeback looked on the cards and Mallow managed to finish out the first winning by a slim margin of 21-19.The second game again was a mammoth battle with both pairings giving it all. Fatigue had begun to set in during this game which made the affair a more intense battle. With each side exposing the other’s weakness it was a game in which the lead changed hands many times with Mallow winning by the narrowest of Margins 21-20.
It looked like Mallow had secured their place in this year’s Munster final as going in to the last game Hospital had a massive lead to pull back. John Paul O’Connor had absolutely nothing to lose facing Mallow’s Ciaran Buckley, but like so many sporting occasions that had went before there was to be a twist in the tale. They say the last few aces are the hardest to make and this wasn’t going to be any different. John Paul opened up a lead of 9 unanswered aces to begin the match and was playing like his life depended on it. Controlling the center of the court he dominated the game from start to finish winning by 21-4.The second started as the first did with John Paul again dominating Ciaran. Ciaran to his credit soaked up the pressure and mid way through the second begun to gain his composure and started to pick off scores. The biros were out in the gallery with spectators trying to figure out how many scores were needed for the win or draw and as Ciaran managed to start securing scores it looked like the unthinkable defeat with such a healthy lead going in to the third match was gladly to remain unthinkable. As Ciaran secured the winning ace there was a deep exhale from the crowd and Mallow secured their place in this year’s Munster final which is set to take place in Cappagh Co Limerick next Monday night against Broadford.