Newcastle West make long-awaited return to senior level after holding off Garryspillane
SETTING THE TONE: Limerick panellist Ethan Hurley got Newcastle West on their way. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Newcastle West are Premier Intermediate champions in Limerick. They are heading back to Senior hurling in the county after over 30 years outside of the top tier.
Second-half goals from Diarmaid Kelly and Eoin Hurley were the difference in a slow burner of a final at Limerick headquarters. Overall, the best side won, with a late Hugh Flanagan goal only papering over the cracks in this Garryspillane performance.
The Bouncers were looking to make the immediate return to Senior having been relegated in devastating fashion at the hands of South Liberties 13 months ago, but they turned in a most underwhelming display at a rain-soaked Gaelic Grounds.
Early scores from Bryan Heavey and Colin Ryan sandwiched a tap over free from Hugh Flanagan, to give the men from the south a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes. Limerick panellist Ethan Hurley had opened the Newcastle tally with a long-range effort.
Some poor shooting from both sides meant it was 0-3 to 0-2 by the quarter hour with four wides from the Magpies and three from the Bouncers.
In a scrappy contest, Newcastle forged two ahead at the interval. A very, very scrappy second quarter saw them outscore their opponents four points to one, to leave it 0-6 to 0-4. Eoin Hurley found his range with a brace of frees, with Hugh Flanagan in reply.
Goalkeeper Michael Quilligan landed a monster free from inside his own ’65 and when captain Brian Hurley landed a point from play with the final act, Derry McMahon’s charges looked like they were believing.
They added two more points at the start of the second half to make it a 0-8 to 0-4 with Con Hayes and Quilligan on target once more. The replies from Aaron Considine’s men weren’t enough, with Eoin O’Mahony and Dylan O’Shea both on target.
The crucial first goal came from a Garryspillane mistake, and it was Diarmaid Kelly who pounced and buried low from 12 meters. Kieran Hickey caught a ball just outside the square immediately after being introduced from the bench, but the Garryspillane man was unable to get a strike away.
There was a second goal from Eoin Hurley, this time on 51 minutes, as it suddenly looked near certain where the silverware was headed.
The Bouncers, as is their desire, didn’t throw in the towel, with late scores keeping their interest all the way to the end. However, when Hugh Flanagan buried a rebound in stoppage time, they were still four points behind. Another score from Cathal Hayes sealed the deal with Bryan Heavey’s consolation score leaving four between the sides at the end of the contest.
Eoin Hurley 1-5 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65); D Kelly 1-0; Con Hayes, M Quilligan (both frees) 0-2 each; Ethan Hurley, B Hurley, Cathal Hayes 0-1 each.
H Flanagan 1-6 (0-5 frees) B Heavey 0-2 (0-1 free); C Ryan, E O’Mahony, D O’Shea (sideline) 0-1 each.
M Quilligan; M Murphy, S Hurley, A Neville; M Cremin, E Hurley, J Whelan; D Lyons, B Hurley (C); D Kelly, C Hayes, E Hurley; B Foley, M McMahon, B Nix. Cathal Hayes for McMahon (46); W Hurley for Foley (51).
A Sheehan; J O’Sullivan, R Sampson, C Sheehan; D Heavey, M Quinlan, J Morrissey; J Dineen, D O’Shea; R Tobin, B Heavy, E O’Mahony; S Ryan, C Ryan (C), H Flanagan. K Hickey for O’Mahony (46); P Morrissey for S Ryan (46); R Donovan for Dineen (56).
Eamonn Stapleton (Doon).
