Patrickswell seal Limerick SHC semi-final spot

Monaleen came up short against Ciarán Carey’s charges in Bruff. 

Joseph Fitgerald, Monaleen under pressure from Patrickswell's John Murray in the Limerick SHC quarter-final. Picture Brendan Gleeson

Patrickswell 0-20 Monaleen 0-18 

Patrickswell booked their spot in the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship semi-final after seeing off Monaleen on a 0-20 to 0-18 scoreline in Bruff.

Ciarán Carey’s charges were firm favourites heading into the game but were given a mighty scare by an ever improving Monaleen outfit.

Monaleen were two points to the good heading into the final stages but two scores from the vastly experienced Mark Carmody turned things around for ‘The Well’.

Cian Lynch then got the go-ahead score and strikes from Diarmaid Byrnes and Evan Fitzgerald quenched Monaleen hopes late on.

It could have been a very difference outcome if Eoin Brislane’s Monaleen side had navigated the strong first half gale in better. They hit 10 wides in the opening stanza, with the tally at 18 by the full time whistle.

Patrickswell, who now play Doon in the semi-final, opened the scoring through Kevin O’Brien early on with Lorcan Lyons soon levelling for Monaleen.

Aaron Gillane got off the mark with a straightforward free that was soon followed up by a Tommy O’Brien point to make it a two-point game.

However, Monaleen were back on level terms thanks to Andrew La Touch Cosgrave and another Lyons free.

Lyons and Joe Fitzgerald then hit the target for city suburb club to see them 0-5 to 0-3 up after nine minutes.

Monaleen then exerted some dominance with Eoghan O’Driscoll and Lyons stretching their advantage to four. Their fifth and sixth points on the trot.

Patrickswell then came back into the contest after a brace from Gillane and John Kirby before Matthew Fitzgerald got on the board with a free for Monaleen.

That evoked a response from Patrickswell with Byrnes and Kirby cutting the gap to two. Carey’s men kept turning the screw as the half drew to a close with Gillane squaring the game up for a third time on the half hour.

The same man hit the target for the sixth time of the first half in added time to put Patrickswell 0-11 to 0-10 up at the break.

It was expected that Patrickswell would dominate the second half with the elements in their favour but it was their Senior ‘B’ opponents that started brighter.

Firzgerald and La Touche Cosgrave points soon had them back in front but Patrickswell responded through Byrnes and Kirby to take the lead yet again.

However, Monaleen stuck to their daunting task and another from the imperious Lyons saw the game all tied up for a seventh time at 0-14 each with 42 minutes played.

Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, who had been replaced after 20 minutes, returned to put Monaleen into a one-point advantage that was soon doubled thanks to a Lyons free.

Gillane and Fitzgerald traded blows from placed balls as the game headed into the final 10 minutes.

Patrickswell needed a lift and it came in the form of Carmody. He slotted a long range effort to cut the deficit to one and then repeated the trick 30 seconds later to square the game for an eighth time.

Kirby and Lynch then combined to see the latter put Patrickswell in front, with Byrnes and Evan Fitzgerald then stretch their advantage to three.

Darragh Langan did bring Monaleen to within two points deep in added time but it was Patrickswell that edged their way to victory.

Scorers for Patrickswell: A Gillane 0-8 (7f, ’65), D Byrnes 0-3 P, K O’Brien, P Kirby and M Carmody 0-2 each, T O’Brien, E Fitzgerald and C Lynch 0-1 each.

Scorers for Monaleen: L Lyons 0-7 (5f), M Fitzgerald 0-4 (4f), A La Touche Cosgrave 0-2, J Fitzgerald, E O’Driscoll, L Murphy, D Ó Dálaigh and D Langan 0-1 each.

Patrickswell: J Gillane; K Lynch, C Fitzgerald, J Flynn; M Carmody, N Foley, E Fitzgerald; J Murray, D Byrnes; A Gillane, C Lynch, C O’Gorman; K O’Brien, T O’Brien, P Kirby.

Subs: J Carrig for Murray (44), J Kirby for O’Gorman (52), J Carey for T O’Brien (63).

Monaleen: J Power; L Morrison, R Lyons, N Clancy; J Fitzgerald, L Lyons, B Canny; D Langan, L McHale; M Fitzgerald, A La Touche Cosgrave, E O’Driscoll; B Hayes, D Ó Dálaigh, L Murphy.

Subs: D Ferland for Ó Dálaigh (20), Ó Dálaigh for Murphy (38).

Referee: J O’Halloran (Bruree).