Na Piarsaigh power on

Limerick club hurling side Emmets could only muster up 13 players for the start of yesterday’s Limerick SHC game against Adare.

They subsequently lost the final round group game by 18 points and yet they qualified for the quarter-finals as group winners!

The south Limerick amalgamation of intermediate and junior clubs lost to Adare 5-19 to 0-6 yesterday in Ballyagran but previous wins over Bruree and Granagh-Ballingarry assured them of a place in the knockout stages.

The 2010 county finalists started minus two players but were up to their full compliment within minutes of the start and thus fulfilling the official requirement of having 15 players for the commencement of the second-half.

However, they failed to stop a landslide victory for the Ger O’Loughlin-managed Adare, who had a hat-trick of goals from John Fitzgerald and two from Paul Keane.

The win snatched a dramatic quarter-final place for Adare, who only edged out the Pat Bennett-managed Bruree on scoring difference.

While Adare were coasting to the win over Emmets, Bruree were 3-10 to 1-14 winners over Granagh-Ballingarry.

Also through to the quarter-finals are Na Piarsaigh, who were 3-27 to 0-14 winners over Croom in the Gaelic Grounds, with Shane Dowling and David Breen among their goal scorers. Despite the 22-point defeat, Croom still advance.

Ahane shocked Kilmallock 4-11 to 2-16 to join the latter in the last eight. Kilmallock led 2-13 to 1-8 10-minutes into the second-half but late goals from McDara Butler sealed the win for Ahane.

Patrickswell booked their quarter-final spot with a 1-16 to 0-13 win over Garryspillane, who still advance to the last eight. Lar Considine scored the ‘Well goal.