Limerick SFC: Adare out as knockout places confirmed in Limerick

Hugh Bourke of Adare. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Adare missed out on a knockout place in the Limerick SFC for the first time since their breakthrough at the grade in 2017. Despite a final round thumping of Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan, the four-time champions finished fourth.

Rathkeale and Kildimo Pallaskenry pipped them to other knockout spots, as they both bagged victories on Friday evening. They join champions Mungret St. Paul’s in emerging from this very tight group.

With the final round of games played across Thursday and Friday, the quarter-final pairings and relegation semi-final matchups are now known.

Mungret St. Paul’s and Rathkeale, both of whom topped their groups with a game to spare, enjoy a five-week break until a semi-final tie (17/18 October).

Newcastle West will meet Kildimo Pallaskenry, while Monaleen will face off against Rathkeale in the two quarter-finals.

In a bid to avoid the drop, Oola will meet ABK, while St. Kieran’s will face off against Ballylanders.

Adare’s facile victory was made possible by a brace of goals from Shane O’Connor, Hugh Bourke and Roy Gleeson. They led by eleven at half-time but the air was let out of their hopes as news filtered through that Rathkeale were well ahead of Mungret at the same time.

Rathkeale, buoyed by a round four draw against Adare, moved to seven points when defeating champions Mungret St. Paul’s, bizarrely played in Adare. Finishing up 0-15 to 1-9 winners, it marks more progress for the 2024 intermediate winners.

Andrew White’s five points, as well as scores from Andrew Meade and two-pointers from Tommy Dillane and Mikey Morrissey, helped them to a third victory.

Despite a goal from Conor Staff, Kildimo Pallaskenry couldn’t shake off Ballylanders. It took their second goal, this from Jake Higgins to pull clear. Five points from Limerick ace Peter Nash were also important to the dual senior club.

Danny Frewen, Eoin O’Mahony and Daithi Dennehy had made it a one-point game down the stretch, only for KP to pull clear to win 2-13 to 0-11.

On Thursday evening, goals from Iain Corbett, Brian Hurley and Lee Woulfe saw Newcastle West to a 3-10 to 1-10 over already qualified Monaleen. The result gave the Magpies second spot, ahead of the city side.

At the same time, Galtee Gaels climbed off the foot of the Group 1 table, as 1-5 from Bob Childs eased them to a 2-16 to 1-10 success over St. Kieran’s – who were four points up at half-time. The result sends Kieran’s into the relegation play-offs.

Joining them are Oola, who failed to get near Fr. Casey’s, losing out 1-18 to 1-8.