Sixmilebridge took the Canon Hamilton Cup home from Cusack Park today as they overcome 2012 title holders Newmarket on Fergus in the Senior Hurling Championship County Final.
It ended 1-10 to 0-11 in a game that was a battle to the final whistle.
Niall Gilligan, who top scored for the Bridge yet again today, opened the scoring with a goal from a penalty in the second minute.
Newmarket hit back with points through a Colin Ryan free and Shane Liddy, before the Bridge hit three more points through Shane Golden, Seadna Morey and Niall Gilligan to bring their advantage to 1-03 to 0-02 after 13 minutes.
The Blues settled however, and Steven Kelly, Ronan Goode and Ryan pointed, before Jamie Shanahan pulled one back to leave it 1-04 to 0-05.
The opening half ended in momentum for Newmarket, with three pointed frees from Ryan and a Martin O’Hanlon point from play, putting them ahead for the first time in the 29th minute, and at the half time whistle 0-09 to 1-04 up.
However in a game of two halves, if Newmarket owned the first, Sixmilebridge made their mark on the second, and deciding thirty minutes.
Jamie Shanahan pointed from play after the resumption, and then Niall Gilligan asserted his dominance on the score sheet, with four more points, three from placed balls.
Newmarket registered their first score of the second half on the 26th minute mark through Mikey McInerney.
Colin Ryan added another free to end their scoring, before his free taking counter part Niall Gilligan ended scoring with a point from play.
Final score in Cusack Park 1-10 to 0-11
John O’Meara’s charges lifted the Canon Hamilton for the just the eleventh time in the Clubs history, ending an eleven year wait for the honors.
Sixmilebridge will be back in action next Sunday with the Munster Club Championship semi final against Cork champions Midleton.
The winners of that tie will meet Na Piarsaigh of Limerick in the final. The Sean Stack trained side beat Passage of Waterford this afternoon 0-20 to 3-09.
