Newcastle West take control in extra time to book fourth final Limerick SFC final in five years

Eoin Hurley and substitute Emmet Rigter combined for 1-5 in the first period of extra time to ensure a fourth final in five years

Newcastle West's Eoin Hurley celebrates. Pic: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Limerick SFC semi-final: Newcastle West 2-16 Fr Casey’s 0-14

It took extra time but Newcastle West prevailed over Fr Casey’s to set up a novel Limerick SFC final clash with Mungret St Paul’s.

Trailing by one deep into injury time, Eoin Hurley held his nerve to force an extra innings before the Magpies took full control of this county semi-final.

Hurley and substitute Emmet Rigter combined for 1-5 in the first period of extra time to ensure a fourth final in five years.

“When you equalise, you’re the one coming with momentum,” explained Newcastle West captain Iain Corbett. “Casey’s were seconds away from winning it when they kicked that two-pointer to go a point up and for us to go up (and force extra-time) it was deflating for them.

“We backed our squad, we had good subs to come in.” A two-point effort from Corbett on the stroke of half time saw the teams retire for the interval level at 0-6 apiece, despite a lackluster display for the winners.

County star Adrian Enright scored two impressive points in the first half for a Fr Casey’s side who were conservative in attack despite having the better of the possession and territory in the opening 30 minutes.

Just seconds after Fr Casey’s goalkeeper Shane O’Connell made a superb reaction save to deny Mike McMahon, Newcastle West had the ball in the back of the net. Quick thinking from Iain Corbett forced the turnover, and the recently retired Limerick player made no mistake with the finish. It was the eighth Championship goal of the season.

Remarkably, the 2023 champions wouldn’t score for the next 16 minutes as the Abbeyfeale men got back in contention. Two pointers from Rory O’Brien and Eliah Riordan almost had Casey’s over the line as they led in injury time.

However, up stepped Eoin Hurley after a patient build up to hold his nerve and force extra time.

Newcastle West raced into a five-point lead in extra time as two pointers from Rigter and Hurley pushed them ahead, before Rigter scored again, this time from inside the arc. When Rigter found the back of the net after a strong run from Aaron Neville the game was all but over.

The final will take place on Sunday, November 9 in Mick Neville Park.

Scorers for Newcastle West: E Rigter 1-5 (1x2pt), I Corbett 1-2 (1x2pt), E Hurley 0-5 (1x2pt), T Quilligan 0-2 (2f), B Nix, T Donovan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Fr Casey’s: E Riordan 0-5 (2x2pt), D Quirke 0-4 (4f), A Enright, R O’Brien (1x2pt) 0-2 each, M Kilbridge 0-1.

NEWCASTLE WEST: M Quilligan; M Cremin, D O'Doherty, B O’Sullivan; R O’Connor, S Hurley, A Neville; I Corbett, S Murphy; B Nix, M O’Keefe, B Hurley; T Quilligan, M McMahon, E Hurley.

Subs: L Woulfe for M McMahon (40 mins), E Rigter for T Quilligan (42 mins), T Donovan for M O’Keefe (54 mins), B Foley for B Nix (58 mins), E Sheehan for D O’Doherty (76 mins), B Nix for B Hurley (77 mins).

FR CASEYS: S O'Connell; J Riordan, M O’Connor, M McCarthy; M Kilbridge, S Kilbridge, C Quigley, D Buckley, S Quigley; R O’Brien, E Riordan, D Daly; A Enright, D Ward, D Quirke.

Subs: D McCarthy for D Ward (54 mins), C Boyle for J Riordan (57 mins), E Joy for D Quirke (59 mins), E O’Connor for M Kilbridge (64 mins), D Ward for D Buckley (70 mins), O Woulfe for S Kilbride (73 mins). 

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).