Monaleen hold on to book quarter-final spot in Limerick
LIMERICK SHC: Monaleen secured their spot in the Limerick SHC on Thursday evening, with a nervy victory over previously unbeaten Newcastle West. The victory ensures ‘top six’ hurling for 2026, as promotion is now secured with a game to spare for Eoin Brislane’s side. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Monaleen secured their spot in the Limerick SHC on Thursday evening, with a nervy victory over previously unbeaten Newcastle West. The victory ensures ‘top six’ hurling for 2026, as promotion is now secured with a game to spare for Eoin Brislane’s side.
Boasting the only 100% record at the Treaty’s top table, the city side were a whisker away from having the game drawn with the last puck as Con Hayes speculative effort dipped, but only after it had gone over for a point.
It would have represented a fourth draw in as many games for the Magpies, who will await other results this weekend before knowing what is required in round five. Trailing by as many as 11 points early in the second half, Derry McMahon’s men surged back into the contest, only to be withheld by late scores from Joe Fitzgerald and Matthew Fitzgerald.
Monaleen have put in some credible performances to date but in all three games have seen opposition close the gap during the second half, before they hold on. A second quarter-final in as many seasons will require much greater concentration for the entirety of the contest.
Leading their charge was Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, who which isolated one-on-one with his marker did heavy damage, including three points in as many minutes at the start of the second half.
At this stage, the winners were comfortable, having led 1-10 to 0-5 after playing wind assisted in the opening half.
Early scores from Lorcan Lyons and Ó Dálaigh were matched by Mike Dee and Cathal Hayes, before the 2023 All Ireland Intermediate winners got well on top.
A run of 1-6 to just a point in the final dozen minutes of the opening half gave them that cushion. A lucky goal, as Lorcan Lyons delivered to Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, saw the ball skid off the surface as a damp Sean Finn Park, with the Rathkeale surface unkind to keeper Mike Quilligan.
The Newcastle West stopper had early scored from play while he added three expert frees, in the second half.
When forcing their way back into the game, young Cathal Hayes’ free taking became important, but so too did efforts from Quilligan and Bryan Nix.
A talented former underage player with Limerick, Nix was only introduced at half-time but his trio of second half scores shows the undoubted quality he has.
The gap was back to just a point be the 59th minute, after seven unanswered but midfielder Joe Fitzgerald answered calls for a Monaleen score, before Matthew’s free gave them a three point buffer.
There was gaps though, as the lively Con Hayes searched, but couldn’t find that green flag.
At the weekend, Adare face Dromin Athlacca, while Mungret St. Paul’s meet Kildimo Pallaskenry (Friday). At this juncture, Adare may be slight favourites to grab the other quarter-final spot, though the plethora of draws make that far from certain.
: M Fitzgerald (0-6, 0-5f); L Lyons (1-2, 0-1f); D Ó Dálaigh (0-4); J Fitzgerald (0-2); L Murphy, A La Touche Cosgrave, D Ferland, E O’Driscoll (0-1 each).
: Cathal Hayes (0-6, 5f); M Quilligan (0-4, 3f); B Nix (0-3); Ethan Hurley (0-2, 1f); Con Hayes (0-2); M Dee, Eoin Hurley (0-1).
: J Power; S Griffin, B Canny, N Clancy; R Lyons, D Langan, L Lyons; J Fitzgerald, L McHale; L Murphy (C), E O’Driscoll, A La Touche Cosgrave; D Ferland, M Fitzgerald, D Ó Dálaigh.
B Hayes for O’Driscoll (40); C O Duinn for McHale (44); M Field for Ferland (49); M O’Dwyer for Griffin (54).
M Quilligan; E Sheehan, S Hurley, A Neville; M Cremin, Ethan Huley, T Donovan; R O'Connor, B Hurley; B Foley, Con Hayes, Eoin Hurley; M Dee, W Hurley, Cathal Hayes.
M McMahon for W Hurley, B Nix for Foley (both half-time); D Lyons for Dee (59).
E Stapleton (Doon).
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