Patrickswell overcome Ballybrown in tricky derby to reach semi-finals
SEMI-FINAL: Aaron Gillane and Tom O'Brien, , Patrickswell protecting the sliotar against Ballybrown in the Senior Hurling Champion Quarter Finals. Pic: Brendan Gleeson
Limerick SHC quarter-final
A 55th minute goal by Cian Lynch helped Patrickswell come through this tricky derby to seal a semi-final place against Kilmallock on Sunday week.
Lynch and Aaron Gillane had difficult days at the office but the former weaved a bit of magic to turn the tide in the blue and gold team’s favour in LIT Gaelic Grounds.
Minutes earlier, Patrickwell had seen a seven-point lead eroded by Ballybrown but Lynch was able to break down a Jason Gillane puck-out to himself, solo and strike low to the corner.
Further goals followed from John Kirby and Aaron Gillane but Lynch’s three-pointer was sweet relief for Patrickswell who had dozed off having gone into a 1-14 to 0-9 lead three minutes into the second half.
Luke O’Connor’s goal a minute later stirred the Ballybrown revival and they were within a point of Patrickswell nine minutes later before they twice went level through Aidan O’Connor frees.
The first half was distinctly average, the teams’ aggregate wide count of 16 and two shots dropping short marginally better than their combined points total of 20.
Patrickswell contributed most in both departments, 11 points and nine wides, as well as Tom O’Brien’s 24th minute goal. The corner-forward was impressively elusive in finding the space on his solo to take on the shot and he finished well.
That sent Patrickswell into a five-point lead, which did them more than justice for what they have provided up to that point. Hurler of the year favourite Aaron Gillane was starved of ball and had to come out looking for ball by the start of the second quarter while two-time winner Cian Lynch was crowded out every time he threatened to take the ball into his hand.
Only 2022 hurler of the year Diarmaid Byrnes, with two points from long-range, was giving a good account of himself but the best inter-county player on show was his colleague Colin Coughlan who helped himself to four points Save for a block by Byrnes, the pair didn’t meet too much on the Patrickswell 45-metre line but Coughlan was a constant target for puck-outs and presented himself well as an outlet for a couple of the scores he converted.
Patrickwell led from the outset, going three points up to no score inside the first four minutes. Their advantage was twice whittled down to a point and they could have been caught but for the erratic shooting of their neighbours.
Three Ballybrown points on the trot did bring them level in the 19th minute, though. However, they managed just two more points in the half as Patrickswell began to take control.
Evan Fitzgerald and Byrnes were converting from distance and after O’Brien’s savvy goal Gillane posted a couple of points, one of them from play. Up 1-11 to 0-9 at half-time, Patrickswell were slightly flattered by the difference and would be again before the end.
: A. Gillane (1-4, 0-3 frees); T. O’Brien, C. Lynch (1-1 each); J. Higgins, D. Byrnes (1 free) (0-3 each); J. Kirby (1-0); E. Fitzgerald (0-2); J. Kelleher, J. Kirby, C. Fitzgerald (0-1 each).
: A. O’Connor (0-9, 6 frees, 1 65); C. Coughlan (0-6, 1 free); L. O’Connor (1-2).
: J. Gillane; J. Carrig, M. Carmody, J. Flynn; E. Fitzgerald, N. Foley; D. Byrnes; C. Lynch, J. Kelleher; J. Higgins, K. O’Brien, C. Fitzgerald; J. Kirby, A. Gillane (c), T. O’Brien.
: P. Kirby for N. Foley (42); J. Considine for J. Kelleher (49); C. Carroll for K. O’Brien (59).
: J. O’Reilly; M. Sheehan, M. Kiely, S. O’Reilly (c); J. Adams; N. Quinn, D. Hartnett, K. Power; L. Doolan, M. Gavin; R. Griffin, C. Coughlan, L. O’Connor; A. O’Connor, R. Kenny.
: B. Adams for R. Kenny (43); K. Foster for M. Gavin (51); L. Doran for D. Hartnett (59).
: E. Stapleton (Doon).
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