Kyle Hayes off as Kildimo Pallaskenry succumb meekly to Ballybrown

Darren O'Connell of Kildimo Pallaskenry under pressure from Kevin Foster of Ballybrown

Limerick SHC: Ballybrown 0-18 Kildimo Pallaskenry 1-7

An eight-point victory over neighbours Kildimo Pallaskenry has put Ballybrown firmly in the driving seat after two rounds of Group 2 of the Limerick SHC.

Played in a continuous drizzle and a strong end-to-end wind, this game failed to match the hype that many would have expected at Mick Neville Park. The talking points were few and far between – Kyle Hayes’ late red card – came purely out of frustration at his sides lack of fluidity, while the Clarina men were just satisfied to have picked up a first victory over their neighbours at the grade, having suffered last gasp heartache in their only other meeting two seasons ago.

Aidan O’Connor was once again in chief scoring form, adding 11 more white flags to the ten he hit in the round one victory over Monaleen. Kildimo Pallaskenry will rue their inability to score from play until the 44th minute, while also only registering just two points against a strong breeze in the opening half.

Luke O’Connor, and his brother Barry, chipped in with five points, but it was the former who hit the ground running with three of those in the opening eight minutes.

When Shaun Barry registered his sides opening score, a free, after 10 minutes, it was nothing but a false dawn. They hit four first half-wides but their inability to retain possession on their own puck out will frustrate Natal O’Grady plenty.

Aidan O’Connor hit his sole point from play, and soon after a brace of 65s and a free from his own half. The gap swelled to 0-11 to 0-2 by half-time with Leigh Doolan providing a rare score from play late in the half.

Kildimo Pallaskenry, who defeated their other neighbours, Adare, last weekend, did get the opening three points of the second half. But a trio of wides from placed balls as well as a lack of shots from play meant that once Ballybrown got back towards parity, there was only one winner.

Barry O’Connor and Barry Adams sandwiched another Aidan O’Connor free and the gap remained a wide one right the way through. Even a late goal from Seanie Hartigan, a second-half sub, did little for the losers, they simply couldn’t reach the levels that saw them win this group two seasons ago.

Hayes got two yellows in the closing half, one for a carless flick, the second for a shoulder to the chest – mistimed, rather than reckless. He was well marshalled by Christy Keyes’ men, who tasked inter-county colleague Colin Coughlan with a man marking role.

The clubs head for a fortnight of football before returning for round three at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, in Thursday’s other clash, also in Group Two, Monaleen proved too strong for South Liberties. A 0-23 to 0-11 victory in Fedamore was made possible by a fine spread of scorers, with youngsters Matthew Fitzgerald, Dara Ferland and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh all on target. Leading 0-10 to 0-6 at the short whistle, the City club withstood a mini-Souths’ revival in the third quarter, but hitting each of the final ten points ensured a maiden win of the five game group stage.

Lochlainn McHale, Ronan Lyons and Fitzgerald were among the late scorers. Barry Nash, Tom Ryan and Ben Compton were all on target for Liberties, who suffer a second defeat in just a week.

Scorers for Ballybrown: A O’Connor 0-11 (0-8 frees, 0-2 ‘65’); L O’Connor 0-3; B O’Connor 0-2; L Doolan, Barry Adams 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildimo Pallaskenry: S Barry 0-4 (all frees); S Hartigan 1-0; L Griffin 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 ’65); R O’Farrell 0-1.

BALLYBROWN: J O’Reilly; K Foster, K Power, K Punch; J Coughlan, C Coughlan, K Loftus; K Gavin, L Doolan; Ben Adams, A O’Connor, R Kenny; L O’Connor, Barry Adams, B O’Connor.

Subs: T O’Connor for Foster (half-time); B Griffin for Ben Adams (39); A Cliffe for B O’Connor (60). 

KILDIMO PALLASKENRY: J Mason; J Pomeroy, L O’Leary, C Staff; E McLoughlin, C Barry, J Mullane; L Griffin, K Hayes; C McMahon, S Barry, D Fitzgerald; S Kavanagh, D O’Connell, R O’Farrell.

Subs: S Hartigan for Kavanagh (47); L O’Keeffe for Staff (50); P Hartigan for McLoughlin (53).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Ballylanders).