Newcastle West are safely through
The Magpies had to kick a free in the fourth minute of injury-time to snatch a draw against Ballylanders in Feenagh to maintain their unbeaten record. But the draw, coupled with their three previous round wins, is enough to see them into the last four with a round to spare.
Aside from the opening minute when Limerick senior James Kelly opened the scoring, Newcastle West were never in front in this thrilling 0-15 apiece draw.
Indeed they found themselves 0-11 to 0-4 in arrears three minutes before half time and by this stage they had lost another inter-county man, Stephen Kelly to injury.
For their part Ballylanders had Kieran O’Callaghan in fine form and he helped himself to five points as they led 0-11 to 0-7 at the interval.
Jamie Lee, Shay Lyons and Shane Kelly had pointed on the resumption for Newcastle West but Ballylanders always maintained the lead and were 0-15 to 0-13 ahead with five minutes to play.
Michael Quilligan then reduced it to the minimum in the first minute of injury time and three minutes later his free booked a place for his side in the semi-finals.
Also in this group, St Kierans were 0-13 to 1-7 winners over St Senans in Newcastle West. The sides were level 1-4 to 0-7 at the break.
Former champions Dromcollogher-Broadford continued their challenge with a 1-10 to 2-5 win over Ballysteen last evening in Newcastle West.
Drom-Broadford were 1-6 to 1-5 ahead at the break but in the end needed two late points from Micheal Reidy to secure the win.
Champions Monaleen were beaten in their city derby by St Patrick’s in Clauaghun.
St Pat’s also defeated Monaleen last season and in this encounter it was an injury time point from John Mullane that lowered the champions.
Mullane kicked seven points in total but it was two first-half goals that paved the win for a 2-9 to 0-14 win.
The sides were level 0-4 each when the goals arrived in a four minute spell before half-time.
The first came from Jason Mullins and the second from Dermot Phelan to secure a 2-4 to 0-4 intreval lead.
On the resumption scores from Mike Crowley, Ger Collins and Muiris Gavin helped Monaleen back into the game and they looked to have earned a draw, until Mullane popped up in the second minute of injury-time.
Last season’s beaten finalists Adare suffered a surprise 1-9 to 0-11 defeat to Pallasgreen in Claughaun.
An Alan Wallace goal helped Pallasgreen to a 1-5 to no score lead after the opening quarter hour with Willie Griffin finally getting Adare off the mark in the 20th minute.
Conor Fitzgerald points helped Adare cut the lead to 1-6 to 0-5 by half-time.
Trevor Cosgrave maintained the advantage but the lead was down to a single score inside the final five minutes. Adare had chances to level but Pallasgreen held firm for a first win of the season.
Elsewhere in this group Fr Caseys defeated Galbally 2-11 to 0-9. The Abbeyfeale men led 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time. But goals from James Riordan and a penalty from Billy Quirke helped Fr Casey’s to the win, which secures a place in the quarter finals at the least.
James Ryan, Patrick O’Donnell and Vinny O’Connell had led the way for intermediate champions Galbally in the opening half, but scores from Padraig McEnery and Derry O’Connor and Donagh Kelly had the eventual winners in command.
