Limerick SHC final: Adare steal it as Ahane collapse in final minutes

Adare 0-14 Ahane 0-12

Using their experience, their greater size and strength, they succeeded in fracturing the fast and fluid play of the reigning champions, held them in a vice like grip from front to back. A couple of mad minutes around that point, however, and this game turned completely, leading eventually to Adare shooting six points without reply, three of those in added time, to retain their crown and set up a possible senior double next Sunday, when their footballers play Monaleen at the same venue.

For 50 minutes, even while playing with great physicality, Ahane had kept their discipline admirably, impressive referee Declan O’Driscoll barely having to resort to his whistle. Then came the first major breakdown.

A late hit by intercounty star Clem Smith on Adare corner-back Peter Lavin saw the first yellow card of the day, in the 49th minute; two minutes later, it was red, for another inter-county player, Sean O’Connor. There was more than an element of misfortune in that red card; O’Connor anticipated that JP Healy would pull on a ball that was headed over the sideline, but the Adare full back merely shepherded the ball out of play, and O’Connor’s uncontested swing caught him high and hard across the shoulder.

Referee O’Driscoll had no choice and, just as Adare were beginning to lift their effort, it left Ahane a man down, a difference that proved critical.

Critical also was the fact that, as Adare coolly set about reducing the deficit, the earlier discipline that Ahane had displayed collapsed and, as the game moved into injury time, they gave away a series of frees in their own half which, while not scored directly, all led to points at the other end.

Afterwards, their supporters complained bitterly about those frees, but only one, that which was called against Niall Moran and which led to the equaliser, two minutes into injury time, could truly be argued.

Despite the dramatics at the close, this was not a good game. On an ideal afternoon for hurling , neither side looked impressive, but Adare in particular struggled to get into their stride.

It was 0-6 to 0-2 after 14 minutes, the mighty Moran brothers Ollie and Niall (full-forward James was to thunder into the fray also, ending with a hat-trick to his credit) with a brace apiece, O’Connor and John Meskell with the other two for Ahane, with Con Murphy and Conor Fitzgerald replying for Adare.

Ahane had started the combative Clem Smith at centre-forward on Mark Foley, Adare’s captain and most influential player and, in that opening quarter, he wasn’t in the game. But a shrewd switch to midfield with brother Jack saw an end to that and, with the two Foleys operating well, Adare began to make their presence felt.

Five unanswered points before the break, including one apiece from the flying Stephen Lavin and full-forward Brian Foley, the third member of that family, saw them take the lead in the 22nd minute, 0-7 to 0-6. James Moran tied it up again just before the break, and 0-7 apiece was a fair reflection of what had been a poor half of hurling.

Ten seconds after the restart and Sean O’Connor had Ahane back in the lead, the game taking on the look of the first half, as Ahane frustrated the Adare men at every turn, while painstakingly building their own advantage.

James Moran and Johnny Meskell took it in turns to pop over the points but, even at this stage, noticeable was the increasing number of frees being conceded by Ahane.

No sign yet, however, of what was to come and, when Adare keeper Timmy Houlihan left his line to make a brave save off Padraig Ryan in the 49th minute, it looked like merely a postponement of the inevitable, with Ahane 0-11 to 0-8 ahead.

Two minutes later, free taker Meskell had added to that lead with another point and, in a contest as close and controlled as this, four points looked like an unassailable advantage.

Then came the unfortunate sending off, unfortunate for both O’Connor and Ahane. Credit to Adare, however, for the manner in which they kept their heads, and the intelligent way in which they used the extra man advantage. With captain Ollie Moran a commanding figure, corner-back Declan Fitzgerald also outstanding, Ahane did their damnedest to stem a rising Adare tide, but every ball that came out the field was hoovered up by Jack Foley and company in a now dominant half-back line, the frees were conceded, and the points duly came. Conor Fitzgerald, Donncha Sheehan (well watched on the day by Alan Collins), Brian Foley, then Fitzgerald again, to tie it up at 0-12 apiece.

Two minutes into injury time, Adare on a roll, Ahane beginning to panic and, with all the stoppages, still time. Time for Mark Foley, playing at centre-forward for the last quarter, to hit the lead point, a looping, high, hanging effort from the left wing and time for sub Brendan Heffernan to hit the insurance score in the 34th minute.

Daylight robbery, because Ahane did not deserve to lose. They can cry about the referee, but truth is, they have only themselves to blame. As for Adare, credit for a cool and heady finish, in which they proved worthy champions.

Scorers for Adare: C. Fitzgerald 0-5 (0-3 frees); B. Foley 0-3; S. Lavin, M. Foley, C. Murphy, B. Sexton, B. Heffernan, D. Sheehan (free), 0-1 each.

Ahane: J. Moran 0-3; J. Meskell 0-3 (2 frees, 1 65); N. Moran 0-2; O. Moran 0-2 (0 1 free); S. O’Connor 0-2.

ADARE: T. Houlihan; P. Lavin, JP Healy, J. O’Brien; M. Clifford, M. Foley (c), E. Fitzgerald; J. Foley, A. O’Rahilly; S. Lavin, C. Murphy, C. Fitzgerald; B. Sexton, B. Foley, D. Sheehan. Subs: B. Heffernan (Sexton 42); C. Cribben (O’Rahilly 53).

AHANE: F. McCarthy; A. Collins, M. Fitzgerald, D. Fitzgerald; B. Meskell, C. O’Reilly, A. Smith; J. Meskell, O. Moran; S. O’Connor, C. Smith, N. Moran; J. O’Grady, J. Moran, P. Ryan. Subs: T. Herbert (O’Grady 46); B. Healy (Ryan 64).

Referee: D. O’Driscoll (Ballinacurra Gaels)`.