Battling Kilmallock march on

KILMALLOCK held off a late Garryspillane fightback to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Limerick senior hurling championship.

Five minutes into the second-half in Bruff on Saturday evening, goals from Paudie O’Dwyer, Eoin Ryan and Bryan O’Sullivan had Kilmallock 3-10 to 0-8 ahead.

Led by an 11-point return (9 frees) from TJ Ryan, the Bouncers fought back but couldn’t find the necessary goal and fell two points short — 3-13 to 0-20.

Garryspillane now enter the backdoor route, where they will be joined by Patrickswell.

Doon were surprise 1-16 to 0-15 winners over the Well in Bruff.

Free-taker Niall Maher was their scoring hero with 10 points to his credit, but the east Limerick men had heroes all over the field, including Limerick senior Denis Moloney, who contributed two points from midfield.

Doon led 1-10 to 0-10 with Micheal Ryan grabbing their goal.

Champions Adare are safely through to the quarter-finals after a 1-9 to 0-10 win over Murroe/Boher in a repeat of last season’s semi-final.

Missing six of the starting team from last years county final for varying reasons, Adare can thank a fortuitous first-half goal from centre-back Mark Foley for their two-point win.

Foley’s goal came on nine minutes, when the unfortunate Willie Tobin saw a long delivery fall through his hands and into the net.

Adare led 1-3 to 0-5 at the break and Murroe/Boher proved to be over-reliant on the frees of Kevin Tobin to snatch a win.

Last season’s beaten finalists Croom will have to journey through the backdoor to the quarter-finals after their 2-15 to 0-15 defeat to neighbours Granagh/Ballingarry. The sides were level three times until captain Michael Clancy got the winners goal in the 22nd minute of the first-half.

Despite playing against the wind in Kilmallock, they led 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time. Croom battled back, thanks to a nine-point return from John Barry.

However, an Eoin Chawke goal early in the second-half gave Granagh/Ballingarry enough breathing space.

Ahane kick-started their championship with a 1-17 to 0-10 win over intermediate champions, Dromin/ Athlacca in Caherconlish.

Powered by Niall and Ollie Moran, Ahane now await the ‘backdoor’ draw, while Dromin/Athlacca face into a relegation dogfight. Also in the relegation battle are 2006 champions Bruree, who lost 1-16 to 1-8 to Na Piarsaigh in Bruff last evening.

Damien Quigley scored the first-half goal for the City side.

Elsewhere an injury time goal from a 21-metre free from Hoel Horgan gave Tournafulla a 3-13 to 2-13 win over Claughaun, last evening in Kilmallock. Tour led 2-6 to 2-4 at half-time with Pat Ahern and Chris O’Connor getting their goals.

Divisional side Western Gaels overcame Knockainey as part of the Kilmallock double-header.

Four points from Limerick senior football full-back, Johnny McCarthy helped them to a narrow 0-14 to 0-12 win.