Knockainey shock champions

Knockainey 4-10 Patrickswell 1-12

Promoted to senior ranks three years ago, Knockainey enjoyed the perfect start with a goal from Pat Kirby inside two minutes. Though they trailed by three points (0-8 to 1-2) at the interval, they quickly drew level thanks to a Michael Ryan goal.

They went on to open a two points gap, but when Eoin Foley rifled a 42nd minute penalty to the net for the ’Well, it seemed that the champions would progress.

All changed again in 47 minutes after Tom Moloney set up John Leo for goal number three, and with Brian O’Shea and Anthony Kirby keeping their opponents to just one point from play, Knockainey were clearly not in the mood to buckle. Kirby assured victory with a stunning fourth goal near the end of a hectic battle.

Scorers: Knockainey: P. Kirby 2-1, J. Leo 1-2, D. O’Brien 0-5, M. Ryan 1-0, B. O’Shea, E. Mulcahy 0-1 each.Patrickswell: B. Murray 0-6, E. Foley 1-0, P. O'Grady 0-3, B. Geoghegan 0-2, B. Mann 0-1.

KNOCKAINEY: Kieran Madden; K. Mulcahy, W. O’Brien, G. O’Shea, B. O’Shea, A. Kirby, P. Davoren; Kevin Madden, E. Mulcahy; D. O’Brien, P. McNamara, M. Cleary, M. Ryan, J. Leo, P. Kirby. Sub. T. Moloney for M. Cleary.

PATRICKSWELL: E. Murphy; C. Murray, A. Foley, P. Earls, T. O’Brien, E. Foley, Paul O’Reilly; B. Mann, P. O’Grady; Peter O’Reilly, D. O’Grady, B. Foley, B. Geoghegan, B. Murray, T. Sheehan. Sub. R. Bennis for O’Brien.

Referee. M. Ryan (Askeaton).

Croom 1-15 Doon 1-14

A 56th minute goal from Liam Ryan powered Croom to the semi-finals of the Limerick SHC.

In a low key opening period, Doon, with a series of minors from Michael McKenna, led 0-12 to 0-10, with Marcus Cregan chief marksman at the other end.

Victory was within Doon’s grasp when Pat Coleman goaled in 42 minutes, to leave it 1-13 to 0-11, but they managed just one more point to the finish. Croom, with Patsy Cahill home from Australia, snapped back with further points from Cregan and John Cahill. Then Ryan produced the dramatic finish to secure their place in the last four.

Scorers; Croom: M. Cregan 0-8, L. Ryan 1-1,N. Riordan 0-3, J. Cahill 0-2, N. Lenihan 0-1. Doon: M. McKenna 0-9, P. Coleman 1-1, T. Hayes 0-2, D. Stapleton, D. Anderson 0-1 each.

CROOM: G. Flynn; K. Cregan, M. Cregan, P. Cregan, S. Lawlor, S. Lucey, P. Cahill; H. Flavin, M. Cregan; J. Cahill, P. Reidy, N. Riordan, N. Lenihan, L. Ryan, M. Cregan.

DOON: M. Fitzgerald; D. Ryan, F. Kiely, S. Barry, T. Hayes, E. Stapleton, D. Moloney; D. Ryan, J. Ryan; R. Ryan, B. Crowe, D. Stapleton, M. McKenna, P. Coleman, D. Anderson.

Referee: M. O'Connor (Na Piarsaigh).