Foley seals final ticket for champions Adare

AN opportunist goal by centre-forward Brian Foley, after a goal-mouth mix-up just three minutes into the second-half, proved decisive as champions Adare overcame Kilmallock in a disappointing Limerick Live 95FM SHC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

Kilmallock, who had promised so much in the preliminary rounds of the competition, came off a slow if not disastrous start to rattle the champions with two well taken first half goals.

They appeared happy to sit back as Adare took an early command of the game and were six points up without reply before Kilmallock opened their account.

It took all of 17 minutes for Kilmallock’s first score and while it was frustrating for fans it was well worth the wait. A piercing attack presented corner forward Graeme Mulcahy with the golden opportunity but his point blank shot was saved brilliantly by Timmy Houlihan who could only watch in dismay as the inrushing full-forward, John Kelly, provided the perfect finishing touch.

Andrew O’Shaughnessy for Kilmallock and midfielder Aidan O’Rahilly from long range for Adare exchanged points as the game stepped up a gear and then came Kilmallock’s second goal in the 25th minute.

Andrew O’Shaughnessy was back to play a hand in the move that sent John Kelly racing through again. Kelly flicked the ball to Bryan O’Sullivan on his right and, with Timmy Houlihan totally unsighted, the wing forward flicked the sliotar to the net to level the scores.

Graeme Mulcahy gave Kilmallock the lead for the first time and when Eoin Ryan came on to add two more points, it appeared as if they were about to fulfil their promise.

Adare battled on, however, and there was just two points between the sides at half time 2-4 to 0-8.

It was just after Andrew O’Shaughnessy had stretched Kilmallock’s lead from a free that Brian Foley made his vital contribution to Adare’s campaign. A high ball was blocked down by a jittery defence and Foley’s ground shot through the melee ended up in the net.

Ciaran O’Dwyer, Andrew O’Shaughnessy (free) and Eoin Ryan from long range restored Kilmallock’s lead but they lost their way, Andrew O’Shaughnessy faded and Adare’s Mark Foley, who started the game with a heavily bandaged thigh, got more involved when he moved into his customary centre-back position.

Conor Fitzgerald, Wayne McNamara and Paul Keane capitalised with points to tie the scores again and, as the game went into injury time, wing forward Michael Noonan snatched the point that kept Adare’s title defence alive.

Scorers for Adare: C. Fitzgerald 0-5 (0-3 frees), B. Foley 1-0, M. Noonan 0-2, P. Keane, A. O’Rahilly, W. McNamara, D. Sheehan, A. O’Connell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilmallock: J. Kelly and B. O’Sullivan 1-0 each, E. Ryan and A. O’Shaughnessy (frees) 0-3 each, G. Mulcahy and C. O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

ADARE: T. Houlihan; S. O’Connell, J. P. Healy, S. Lavin; R. Kennedy, W. McNamara, M. Foley; A. O’Rahilly, P. Keane; M. Noonan, B. Foley, C. Fitzgerald; D. Sheehan, L. Costello, A. O’Connell.

KILMALLOCK: B. Hennessy; L. Hurley, M. Cronin, K. O’Mahony; B. Carroll, G. O’Mahony, R. Murphy; P. O’Dwyer, C. O’Dwyer; P. O’Brien, G. O’Sullivan, B. O’Sullivan; G. Mulcahy, J. Kelly, A. O’Shaughnessy.

Subs: P. O’Loughlin for B. Carroll (14 mins), E. Ryan for G. O’Sullivan (26 mins), S. O’Donnell for P. O’Brien (50 mins).

Referee: Denis Richardson (Murroe/Boher).