Limerick Premier IHC: Breen and Reidy guide Dromin Athlacca into final

Murroe Boher were chasing a remarkable 15th consecutive championship victory, as they looked to move from tier three to the top flight, but Dromin Athlacca had other ideas.

David Reidy, Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Dromin Athlacca 0-19 Murroe Boher 0-18 

Late scores from David Reidy and Jack Fitzgibbon fired Dromin Athlacca to within sixth minutes of an immediate return to the Limerick senior hurling championship when seeing off previously unbeaten Murroe Boher in Kilmallock.

Murroe Boher were chasing a remarkable 15th consecutive championship victory, as they looked to move from tier three to the top flight, but Dromin Athlacca, many people's fancy for this Premier Intermediate hurling title before the championship began, had other ideas.

In an opening half of plenty of quality and no shortage of intensity, it was the easterners who led 0-9 to 0-8 by half-time.

This was in thanks to the final three points from Seanie Tobin, including a pair from play, to give them a first lead since the second minute.

For Dromin Athlacca, Limerick star David Reidy set the tone with a long-range point to cancel out Michael Ryan-Ned’s early score with David Breen a constant out-ball for James Kennedy’s side.

Breen landed three scores from full-forward in the opening half while Tadhg Boddy was also on target. At the other end, Darren Collopy and then a brace from Aaron Kennedy, kept the umpires busy.

The largest lead of the game was only three points as these well-matched outfits battled right to the whistle.

There was scores from Reidy, mainly frees, to keep Dromin Athlacca in touch. They were level entering the final dozen minutes when a first point from Fitzgibbon made it 0-13 each. Then came another for Reidy and a fourth for Breen.

Killian Quaid denied Bobby, which saw Breen blaze over, when a goal looked more likely.

A brace from talisman Tobin levelled the contest, but three of the next four points went to the south Limerick men.

Another for towering full-forward Breen, a free from the reliable Reidy and that second for Fitzgibbon.

Tobin blazed over a free late on, before time ran out in the extra five minutes of stoppage time.

Scorers for Dromin Athlacca: D Reidy 0-11 (9f); D Breen 0-5; J Fitzgibbon 0-2; T Boddy 0-1.

Scorers for Murroe Boher: S Tobin 0-10 (0-5 frees); A Kennedy, M Ryan (N), M Nicholas 0-2 each; D Collopy, D Sheehan 0-1 each.

Dromin Athlacca: R Breen; S Scully, W Dore, S Morrissey; S Fitzgibbon, M Reidy, C Scully; P O’Donoghue, D Reidy; D Griffin, T Boddy, D Scully; J Fitzgibbon, D Breen, S O’Leary.

Subs: P Ryan for O’Donoghue (54); M Quaid for O’Leary (57).

Murroe Boher: K Quaid; S Fitzgerald, D Kennedy (Capt), F Sheridan; E Sheridan, A Kennedy, O Holmes; J Nicholas, D Sheehan; M Nicholas, D Collopy, M Ryan-Ned; Conor Foley, S Tobin, J O’Keeffe.

Subs: C Sheridan for Collopy (inj – 32); J Casey for O’Keeffe (39).

Referee: J Hayes (St. Senan’s).