Patrickswell snatch win in thriller

KILMALLOCK were sensationally dethroned as Limerick senior hurling champions last evening by former kingpins, Patrickswell.

An injury-time goal and a point from the O’Brien brothers looked to have snatched a draw for Patrickswell, but then a free from Mark Carmody in the fourth minute of added time sealed a dramatic victory, 1-15 to 0-17.

Kilmallock looked on course to advance to the semi-finals when five points up with five minutes to play.

But then Thomas O’Brien goaled in injury time to kick-start the late fight back for the Gary Kirby and Brian Lohan managed Patrickswell

The champions settled quickest with Jake Mulcahy and Kevin O’Donnell scoring in the opening minutes.

Two points from Lar Considine had Patrickswell up and running and Barry Foley added another score as the sides were level five times in the opening half. Then minor player Mark Carmody finished the half with three successive frees to snatch the lead for The Well at the interval (0-8 to 0-7)

Kilmallock emerged a more determined outfit in the second half and Eoin Ryan, O’Donnell and Andrew O’Shaughnessy were among the scores as they opened a 0-13 to 0-9 lead in the third quarter.

But back came Patrickswell with brothers Seanie and Thomas O’Brien on the scoresheet to reduce the gap to 0-15 to 0-12 with five minutes to play. Late points from Graeme Mulcahy and Paudie O’Brien appeared to ease the champions to the win but not until there was a late twist.

On Saturday evening in the Gaelic Grounds, Ahane overcame Adare 2-16 to 0-18 having led 2-9 to 0-8 at half time.

Underdogs Ahane got the ideal start when Ollie Moran goaled in the eighth minute for a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after John Meskell had opened the scoring with two early frees.

By the midway point of the opening half, Ahane were still ahead 1-5 to 0-4 with Donnacha Sheehan and Aidan O’Rahilly among the scorers for Adare.

Two further points from both Moran brothers stretched the advantage to five points with 10-minutes to play.

But Ahane regained the initiative when Sean Madden flicked to the net in first half injury time.

Five second half points from Willie Griffin looked to kick-start the Adare fight back in the second half but two early points from distance from Niall Moran steadied the Ahane nerves.

However, entering the final quarter, the lead was down to 2-12 to 0-15 with Fitzgerald and Brian Foley scoring.

Then a great score from Daniel Morrissey and another from Niall Moran reopened a two-goal advantage.

The lead was seven points with just over seven minutes to play but then Adare almost staged a grandstand finish.

Wayne McNamara, Griffin and Sheehan all pointed in quick succession, but they couldn’t produce the crucial goal.

Na Piarsiagh were the biggest winners of the quarter-finals with a 4-13 to 0-16 win over Doon in the first of a double header in Kilmallock yesterday. Doon played with the wind in the opening half but three goals in the opening 10-minutes of the second half powered Na Piarsaigh back into the semis.

Despite the aid of the wind, Doon trailed 1-9 to 0-11 at the break.

The sides were level six times in the opening half until the crucial score arrived in the 29th minute with David Breen goaling. Breen also added three first half points from play.

Four points from Niall Maher led the way for Doon in the first half with Micheal Ryan adding scores from play.

At the start of the second half, Na Piarsaigh got the crucial goals from evergreen Shane O’Neill (2) and their fourth from sub Kieran Kennedy.

O’Neill’s first goal came after 30 seconds of the restart and when they scored their fourth in the 40th minute the scoreboard read 4-9 to 0-13.

Doon needed goals of their own to reply, but they never came, with Micheal Ryan frees accounting for their scores.

Another big quarter-final winner were last season’s beaten finalists, Emmets.

The divisional side from south Limerick overcame last season’s intermediate champions Hospital-Herbertstown 1-23 to 1-14 in Fitzgerald Park in Kilmallock on Sunday afternoon.

The amalgamation side were 0-13 to 0-3 ahead at half time after playing with the wind in the opening half.

Dermot McCarthy and Paudie Leahy helped themselves to two points, while Eoin Walsh hit three as Emmets set a hot tempo. They raced into a four-point lead before Mark Deegan opening the scoring for the underdogs. Indeed free-taker Deegan was the only scorer for Hospital-Herbertstown in the opening half as they failed to score from play. Frees from Stephen Walsh and Paul Neenan kept Emmets ticking over in the opening 30-minutes as Fintan Leahy’s men stamped their authority on the tie.

But on the change of ends, Hospital-Herbertstown rallied when Donie Reale goaled in the 39th minute.

Two ‘65s from Mark Deegan now had the lead down to eight points.

But Emmets then upped the tempo once more with McCarthy and Eoin Walsh adding further points before Walsh sealed the win with a goal in injury time.