Limerick SHC: Mungret St Paul’s reach quarters, Kildimo Pallaskenry on brink

Garryspillane secured their senior status when bettering Kildimo Pallaskenry, who remain without a point, following a fourth consecutive defeat.

Mungret St Paul's beat Newcastle West 3-17 to 0-17 in Rathkeale. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Mungret St. Paul’s secured the top spot in group two of the Limerick SHC, as they claimed a fourth successive victory. The result sees them into a first quarter-final since 2023, after proving too strong for Newcastle West.

Three second half goals were paramount to a 3-17 to 0-17 success in Rathkeale.

Garryspillane, meanwhile, secured their senior status when bettering Kildimo Pallaskenry, who remain without a point, following a fourth consecutive defeat.

It finished 0-17 to 0-16 in Ballyagran. Both sides had late openings but it was the Bouncers who took theirs to claim the victory.

Hugh Flanagan’s point, as the game inched into stoppage time was the difference. That combination of results renders the Bouncers' meeting and Mungret St. Paul’s a dead rubber in the final group game later this month.

For Kildimo Pallaskenry to force a relegation play-off with Newcastle West, they must defeat Patrickswell in two weeks’ time, while also needing the Magpies to lose out against Adare.

Mungret St. Paul’s delivered a powerful third quarter, bagging goals from Liam Lynch and Mark O’Brien. Those green flags, on 32 and 35 minutes were hammer blows to Newcastle West. The sides had been level 0-9 apiece at half-time.

Cathal Hayes’ placed balls as well as Bryan Nix and Ruadhan O’Connor had helped the Magpies stay in the contest. Fintan Fitzgerald and Liam Lynch were on target for the winners in the opener.

Fitzgerald helped to seal the deal with a goal in the closing stages. Try as they might, Newcastle West couldn’t force a goal and will have to take at least a point to guarantee their spot for a third season at the grade.

Garryspillane, through 0-9 from county man Flanagan, grabbed a vital second victory. In a tense and nervy contest, they prevailed, inflicting a fourth defeat on the Kyle Hayes-captained Kildimo Pallaskenry outfit.

Shaun Barry, Conor Staff and Davy Fitzgerald were key to giving Kildimo Pallaskenry a two-point interval lead. However, having played with the wind, half a dozen wides proved costly.

With both sides playing with an extra defender, goal chances were at a premium, though Flanagan was denied by a flying James Mason stop in the opening half.

John English, Flanagan and Dylan O’Shea all pointed on the way back to level the contest for the Bouncers, while a run of five unanswered put them two up with just five to play.

Shaun Barry held his nerve to level before Flanagan found the space to clip over the winner, just as the clock moved into the red. Kildimo Pallaskenry have been in the grade since 2021, with injuries to key men Cathal Downes and Robert O’Farrell possibly derailing their season.

The remaining game in this group in the penultimate round takes place on Saturday evening, when Patrickswell meet neighbours Adare. Holding identical records, the winner will secure the other quarter-final spot from this second group.

In Group One, Kilmallock can seal a semi-final spot when facing Ahane on Saturday evening, while the winner of Monaleen and Ballybrown will be near to a knockout spot.