Limerick star David Reidy points the way for Dromin-Athlacca 

Second-half goals from Seanie O’Leary and Jack Fitzgibbon also proved crucial for the promoted side

Limerick star David Reidy. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Limerick SHC: Dromin-Athlacca 2-15 Adare 1-16 

Dromin-Athlacca made it two wins from two in Group 2 of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship after seeing off Adare on a 2-15 to 1-16 scoreline in Ballyagran.

Second half goals from Seanie O’Leary and Jack Fitzgibbon proved crucial to the victory for the newly promoted outfit.

The reigning Limerick Premier Intermediate champions were full value for their win and were superbly led by Limerick star David Reidy, who finished with 0-9 from midfield.

Limerick U20 defender Cian Scully also excelled at centre back for a confident and composed Dromin-Athlacca side.

Adare were overly reliant on the free taking prowess of John Fitzgibbon who finished with 0-8 – a skillful mix of placed balls throughout.

The Louis Mulqueen trained Adare side were unable to call on star forward Willie Griffin due to a knee injury which is expected to keep him out for a considerable length of time.

However, they looked to have recovered from their round one loss to Kildimo-Pallaskenry early doors with Fitzgibbon landing an early free that was soon followed up by a Mike Mackey goal.

Mackey collected Wayne McNamara’s delivery and flashed a shot past James Kelleher for the opening goal of the game.

Dromin-Athlacca responded superbly and were ahead on eight minutes with Reidy, Jack Fitzgibbon and Daniel Scully seeing them go 0-5 to 1-1 in front.

It was tit for tat in the opening stanza with Reidy and Fitzgibbon landing the majority of blows for their respective teams.

Darragh Gleeson sent over a score from play to level the game for a second time and that was followed by a sumptuous Fitzgibbon sideline cut.

Reidy countered with a brace of frees and finished the half with seven to Fitzgibbon’s five. The score all square at 1-7 to 0-10.

Dromin-Athlacca made a fast start to the second half with O’Leary pouncing to flick a long range Reidy free to the back of the net.

Adare fought back to level on the 40 minute mark with a fine effort from the left wing courtesy of substitute Shane Gleeson.

David O’Mahony and Brendan O’Connor then put Adare back in the driving seat with two strikes from play that left the score at 1-13 to 1-11 heading into the final 10 minutes.

Reidy and David Breen got Dromin-Athlacca to within one either side of O’Mahony’s third of the afternoon for Adare before the vital blow was struck.

Again, it was a Reidy strike from distance that caused consternation in the Adare defence and Jack Fitzgibbon was on hand to claim a loose ball and nail his shot to the net from close range.

Adare had a 21-metre free late on but John Fitzgibbon’s low shot was saved by Kelleher to seal a huge win for Dromin-Athlacca.

Scorers for Dromin-Athlacca: D Reidy 0-9 (6f), J Fitzgibbon and S O’Leary 1-1 each, D Breen 0-2, D Scully and C Scully 0-1 

Scorers for Adare: J Fitzgibbon 0-8 (5f, 2‘65s, 1 s/l), M Mackey 1-0, D O’Mahony 0-3, S Gleeson 0-2, D Gleeson, M Keane and B O’Connor 0-1 each.

Dromin-Athlacca: J Kelleher; S Fitzgibbon, W Dore, S Scully; P Ryan, C Scully, S Rabbite; D Reidy, M Reidy; P McMahon, D Breen, D Scully; S O’Leary, J Fitzgibbon, P O’Donoghue.

Subs: M Fitzpatrick for S Fitzgibbon (42).

Adare: PJ Hall; E Costello, M Keane, J Fitzgerald; R Connolly, D Hannon, D Gleeson; J Sweeney, J Fitzgibbon; D O’Mahony, W McNamara, S Hickey; M Mackey, B O’Connor, P Heffernan.

Subs: S Gleeson for McNamara (34).

Referee: K Guina (Castlemahon).