Barry and O'Farrell goals ensure comfortable victory for Kildimo-Pallaskenry over Adare
Shaun Barry of Kildimo-Pallaskenry
Kildimo-Pallaskenry earned victory over Adare in their Limerick Senior Hurling Championship Group Two clash on a 2-21 to 0-19 scoreline at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale.
Goals in either half from Shaun Barry and Robert O’Farrell ensured a comfortable win for Natal O’Grady’s charges.
Aided by a strong breeze in the first half, Jack O’Keeffe and Kyle Hayes in the Kildimo-Pallaskenry full forward line were a constant danger that Adare failed to curb.
Adare notched six points on the bounce at the beginning of the second stanza to cut the deficit to four but O’Farrell’s powerful finish from distance saw any hope of an Adare comeback evaporate.
It was the first win for the city division outfit since they earned promotion to Group One in 2022. They suffered five defeats from five games at the top table, but O’Grady, their manager, says the year was a 'huge learning experience'.
Declan Hannon set up John Fitzgibbon to get Adare on the board after just four seconds, however, it was one way traffic for most of the first half.
O’Farrell’s mazy run caught the Adare defence off guard moments later and Barry provided a devastating finish for the opening goal.
Points from O’Keeffe and Liam Griffin soon had Kildimo-Pallaskenry a goal in front and O’Farrell then made it a four-point lead with an excellent strike from the right flank.
Liam Griffin and Barry added further scores to put their side 1-5 to 0-2 in front by the 12th minute mark.
Hannon and Willie Griffin soon had that advantage back down to four with a point apiece but O’Farrell’s second excellent point of the half had Kildimo-Pallaskenry back in control.
O’Keeffe and Ciaran McMahon added further scores for O’Grady’s men with Willie Griffin looking the most likely for Adare far too often.
Hayes also came to the table with two quickfire points that helped Kildimo-Pallaskenry to a 1-13 to 0-7 half time advantage.
That lead could have been more but O’Keeffe was denied by a brave save by Adare netminder PJ Hall in added time.
Adare came out with renewed vigour at the beginning of the second half with strikes from Paudie Heffernan, Griffin, John Fitzgibbon (two), Hannon and David O’Mahony to cut the deficit to just four.
Barry settled whatever nerves may have been there for Kildimo-Pallaskenry with a free but they need not have worried as O’Farrell’s 39th minute goal effectively put the result beyond doubt.
He glided away from a couple of defenders and hit the net from all of 30 metres with a cracking finish low to Hall’s left to extend their advantage to seven.
Former Limerick star Wayne McNamara provided the immediate Adare response that was soon backed up by a second from O’Mahony.
However, two in a row in the space of 30 seconds from Liam Griffin saw Kildimo-Pallaskenry take a firm hand on the game once again.
Two further points from substitute Seanie Hartigan gave the cherry on top of a performance that was deserving of their eight-point winning margin.
S Barry (3f) and R O’Farrell (1f) 1-3 each, L Griffin 0-5 (3f), K Hayes and J O’Keeffe 0-3 each, S Hartigan 0-2, C McMahon and D Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
J Fitzgibbon (2f), W Griffin (3f) 0-5 each, D O’Mahony 0-3, D Hannon 0-2, P Heffernan, W McNamara, S Hickey and M Keane 0-1 each.
J Mason; C Barry, L O’Leary, J Pomeroy; J Mullane, D Fitzgerald, G Sheehan; E McLoughlin, L Griffin; R O’Farrell, S Barry, C McMahon; S Kavanagh, K Hayes, J O’Keeffe.
D O’Connell for J O’Keeffe (46), S Hartigan for Barry (53), L O’Keeffe for G Sheehan (58, inj).
PJ Hall; E Costello, R Connolly, M Keane; W McNamara, D Gleeson, J Sweeney; D Hannon, J Fitzgibbon; D O’Mahony, W Griffin, S Hickey; P Heffernan, B O’Connor, M Mackey.
S Gleeson for Griffin (35, inj), S Fitzgerald for Costello (42), S Heffernan for P Heffernan (53).
Declan O’Driscoll (Ballinacurra Gaels).
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