Fitzgerald the ace for Adare

0-14 Croom 0-7

They watched their side register a total of 21 wides in a 0-14 to 0-7 defeat by Adare in the second series of games in the Limerick County SHC.

Adare, managed by former Tipperary player Liam Sheedy, deserved to take the honours, but their opponents weren't seven points inferior to them.

Adare, favourites to recapture the county title, had most of the hard work done in the first-half when six points from Conor Fitzgerald had them 0-11 to 0-2 in front.

It might even have been more but for a brilliant save by Ger Flynn from Tony Houlihan after 16 minutes.

Croom, even though they had a good deal of possession when playing into the elements, were unable to get past the solid central defensive pairing of John Paul Healy and Mark Foley.

And when they did they squandered some glorious scoring opportunities.

Fitzgerald opened the scoring for the winners after two minutes and Croom looked like making a contest of it when Marcus Cregan levelled. However, they added just one more point from the same player eight minutes later.

Fitzgerald, Stephen Lavin and Tony Houlihan took most of the chances presented to them and it was the latter's brother Timmy between the posts who denied Marcus Cregan a goal after 25 minutes.

Inspired by Stephen Lucey on the change of ends, Croom made it much more difficult for Adare, who over 30 minutes managed to tack on just three more points, with Fitzgerald now held scoreless.

John Cahill, the county goalkeeper, but operating at right full-forward, caused quite a few problems for the Adare rearguard and carved openings for Niall O'Riordan and Liam Ryan to narrow the gap but they were unable to make any significant dent into Adare's advantage. Again, wide followed wide, much to the frustration of the Croom bench and supporters.

Scorers: Adare: C. Fitzgerald 0-6, S. Lavin 0-3, M. Noonan 0-2, P. Keane, T. Houlihan, A. O'Connell 0-1 each. Croom: M. Cregan 0-3, M. O'Riordan, N. O'Riordan, J. Cahill, L. Ryan 0-1 each.

ADARE: T. Houlihan; J. O'Brien, J.P.Healy, P. Lavin, A. O'Rahilly, M. Foley, E. Fitzgerald, J. Foley, C. Cribbin, P. Keane, C. Fitzgerald, S. Lavin, T. Houlihan, A. O'Connell, M. Noonan. Sub: S. O'Connell for T. Houlihan.

CROOM: G. Flynn; P. Reidy, M. O'Riordan, N. Cregan, S. Lawlor, S. Lucey, P. Cregan, N. O'Riordan, S. Moore, T. Carmody, M. Cregan, M. Mangan, J. Cahill, L. Ryan, S. Cahill. Subs: K. Cregan for Moore; S. Dunworth for Mangan.

Referee: E. Phelan (St. Patrick's).