Rampant Liberties send Garryspillane through trap door

Two-goal Barry Nash leads the way in clash that effectively became a relegation final to send Bouncers down to Intermediate

CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Ben O'Donoghue,South Liberties under pressure from Kieran Hickey Garryspilane in the Senior Hurling Championship Round 5 in Adare. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

Limerick SHC: South Liberties 7-13 Garryspillane 2-18 

Goal-crazy South Liberties secured their Limerick Senior Hurling Championship status for 2023 after a stunning performance gave them their first competitive victory of any sort this season. The result relegates Garryspillane, who were far too porous in what was effectively a relegation final.

Semi-finalists 12 months ago, the famous club have struggled with the loss of some key personnel and arrived with five disappointing losses on the spin. The result was greeted with huge relief from all those supporting Liberties.

Two-goals from star player Barry Nash led the way, while the Souths also had leading lights in Barry Cooney, Tom Ryan and Darragh Godfrey. At the back, they were a lot tighter than they had been in other outings, with Anthony Nash returning between the posts having been unavailable since round one.

It was the former Kanturk man’s penalty which rubber stamped the victory – he rifled to the top corner for their sixth goal. Before that, they had led 4-7 to 1-9 at half-time with two Barry Nash goals key.

Garryspillane can have few complaints. As well as being the more inaccurate outfit, they left far too much room for their opponents who appeared to hunt goals throughout the sixty minutes.

Played in the superbly resurfaced and now floodlight Adare, a fast start in the slippery conditions was key. An early goal, in the 5th minute, from former county man Tom Ryan, put Liberties 1-1 to 0-1 ahead. They wouldn’t be headed, and despite being pegged back by a poacher’s effort from Callum Sheehan, Brian Foley’s men were composed throughout.

That 19th minute Bouncers goal arrived when Sheehan was sharpest to a Bryan Heavey effort which hit the upper post – but Barry Nash quickly replied. He tucked a 20m free beneath the black and amber cover to start a run of 3-1 to 0-3 in the final 10 minutes of the half.

The third goal was Nash’s also, this off a near Cooney pass after a driving run. There was time for Darragh Godfrey to put clear daylight between the sides. His low shot bouncing to the net in first-half stoppage time.

There was no quick reply from the Knocklong outfit in the second half, with Jack Fitzpatrick, Nash and Godfrey combining for three points of the first four points inside just two second half minutes.

By the time Callum Sheehan received a red card for a reckless pull, it was 5-13 to 1-16, as Tom Ryan netted the fifth. He cleverly flicked home Nash’s mishit shot and that appeared to be that.

Late goals from Anthony Nash and then Cooney added gloss, with Colin Ryan getting a consolation for Garryspillane. The Bouncers return to Premier Intermediate, a grade they won in 2018.

Scorers for South Liberties: B Nash 2-5 (1-3f); T Ryan 2-2; B Cooney 1-2 (0-1f); D Godfrey 1-2; A Nash 1-0 (penalty); D Garry, J Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

Scorers for Garryspillane: C Ryan 1-7 (0-6f); B Heavey 0-4 (0-3f); Calum Sheehan 1-1; J English 0-2; M Bourke, D O’Shea, D Barry, R Tobin 0-1 each.

South Liberties: A Nash; B O’Donoghue, E Quilty, A Keyes; D Garry, S Kilcoyne, J Hickey; S Brosnahan, K Byrnes; J Fitzpatrick, B Nash (C), B Cooney; D Godfrey, B Garry, T Ryan.

Subs: B Aherne for D Garry (54), E Meaney for Fitzpatrick (58), B McSweeney for D Gordfrey (60), R O’Mahoney for Cooney (60), B Compton for B Garry (60).

Garryspillane: A Sheehan, R Tobin; M Quinlan (JC), R Donovan; B Heavey, E O’Mahoney, R Sampson; D Barry, M Burke; C Sheehan, D O’Shea, J English; C Ryan, Hickey, C Sheehan.

Subs: C Shanahan for Barry (34), S Ryan for Hickey (45), P Morrissey for Burke (59), G Power for O’Shea (60).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola)