Kildimo-Pallaskenry dethrone Mungret to reach first Limerick SFC final

Kildimo-Pallaskenry won the county junior B title 12 years ago. They now have the full set of Limerick football titles in their sights

Peter Nash scored eight points for Kildimo-Pallaskenry in their Limerick SFC semi-final victory over Mungret St Paul's. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Limerick SFC semi-final: Kildimo Pallaskenry 2-16 (2-1-14) Mungret St. Paul’s 0-20 (0-4-12) (After extra-time).

Underdogs Kildimo-Pallaskenry dethroned Mungret St. Paul’s and with it booked a maiden Limerick SFC final appearance. A goal in the opening half of extra-time, from Conor Staff, saw them retake the lead, and from there, they held out.

Winning the Junior B in 2014, the club now have the complete set of football titles in their eyeline, with county stars Peter Nash and Tony McCarthy there for every step of the journey.

Those two delivered huge performances, but once again Kyle Hayes caught the eye, with another powerful display at midfield. When the two villages began to merge in the early 2000s, before officially becoming the current club in 2015, few would have dreamt of arriving at the blue riband day of Limerick football.

This victory, which came after an 80-minute battle in Clarina, saw Mungret St. Paul’s fight back from five down late on to force another 20. However, Nash’s frees sandwiched the goal from Staff and Mungret simply ran out of ideas against Declan Nash’s men.

Leading 0-9 to 0-6 by half-time, there was scores from Paudie Hartigan, Jake Higgins and Nash’s frees, while Cathal Downes’ two-pointer was the score of the half.

Kevin O’Hagan’s men had started brightly but for the second time in three seasons, winning the group has been followed by elimination at the last four stage. Diarmuid Hynes’ orange flag was followed by scores from Darragh O’Sullivan and Brendan Giltenane but they were wasteful, especially early on.

When Staff fielded a long kick, advantage for a mark was played. They moved the ball to the unmarked Hartigan who buried low for a 49th minute goal. That had them five ahead, and the same player was adjudged to have fouled on the next play, with the ball again finding the net.

Youngster Jack Dervan sliced that lead with an expertly taken two-pointer while a late John Hutton two-pointer brought them to within a point.

Hutton, imperious all day, punished a 50m advancement and then two subs combined to tie the game. Matt O’Sullivan found teenager Conor O’Longaigh who tied the game in stoppage time.

The returning Darragh O’Hagan missed by inches with the final play, but the momentum was now with Mungret.

Unable to build on this, they allowed Kildimo Pallaskenry the maiden score. Again, it was veteran Nash before Dervan’s orange flag saw the lead change hands.

The game winning goal, which arrived from the impressive Staff, saw Peter Nash’s shot cleared off the line, only for Staff to gather, compose himself and blast to the top corner.

From here, good game management and steady possession sealed the result. Elation at full-time, and a fortnight to prepare for another momentous day in the Kildimo Pallaskenry journey.

Scorers for Kildimo Pallaskenry: P Nash 0-8 (8f); P Hartigan 1-2; C Staff 1-2 (0-1 mark); C Downes 0-3 (1 2p); J Higgins 0-1.

Scorers for Mungret St. Paul’s: J Hutton 0-9 (2 2pf; 3f); J Dervan 0-4 (2tp); D Hynes 0-2 (tp); D O’Sullivan, B Giltenane, J McCarthy, C O’Longaigh, S Barry 0-1 each.

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S: R McElligott; J Hassett, R Hegarty, C Uwatse; K Ryan, O Moss, T Lloyd; J Somers, J McCarthy; D Hynes, D O’Sullivan, B Giltenane; S Barry, J Hutton (Capt), D Bridgeman.

Subs: J Killian for Giltenane (half-time); C O’Longaigh for Moss (37); M O’Sullivan for K Ryan (57); C Mangan for Lloyd (ht-et); C Rochford for Hegarty (inj -77).

KILDIMO PALLASKENRY: K Walsh; S Carroll, D Fitzgerald, C O’Sullivan; J Higgins, D Fitzgerald, T McCarthy (Capt), J Azzopardi; S Barry, K Hayes; G Sheehan, Ciarán McMahon, P Hartigan, P Nash, C Staff, C Downes.

Subs: R Kelly for Sheehan (37); C Barry for S Barry (47); S Kavanagh for P Hartigan (53); S Hartigan for Carroll (extra-time); D Corrigan for Azzopardi (76).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola)