Fr Caseys end 20 year wait for Limerick SFC title with commanding victory over Kildimo Pallaskenry
Fr Casey's celebrating winning the SFC Final in Rathkeale. Pic: Brendan Gleeson
Twenty years, a famine for Fr. Casey’s. It’s over. They never trailed to a strong Kildimo Pallaskenry challenge and with it, collected a ninth Limerick SFC title.
The Fr. Casey Cup, which they share the name, is heading for Abbeyfeale.
A victory built on with six straight wins before the perfect seven was punched in against the surprise finalists. Kildimo Pallaskenry, to their credit, brought this to the wire, and searching for a game winning goal, or a two-pointer to force extra-time. Neither arrived, and despair was seen in one corner, with Fr. Casey’s celebrating like a true breakthrough.
The two decades that have elapsed since they last won their title, as they watched many of their peers collect the silverware. There will be a huge party in the town – as they emerged deserving winners.
They were never behind in Mick Neville Park. Dry conditions, little wind and the Rathkeale venue was rammed to capacity, of in excess of 2,500.
The winners had sterling performances from Ronan Quirke and Adrian Enright in attack while Culann Quigley and brother Sam came up with big plays in the middle third.
They were battling all through against now six-time All-Star hurler, Kyle Hayes, who was influential at times.
Second half goals from Paudi Hartigan and a late effort from Cathal Downes brought about a tense finish. However, Shane O’Connell’s defence stood firm, to see them over the line.
The first half, played at a lower pace at times, had the sides level twice. Michael Kilbridge and then captain Diarmuid Buckley set the tone, before Peter Nash landed a brace of frees for the first time finalists.
By half-time, scores from Quirke, Enright and later Eliah Riordan (two-point free), had them ahead. Nash accounted for all bar one of his sides six, with that coming from Garry Sheehan, their only effort from play.
The new half started with the Fr Casey’s outfit on top. Quirke’s free and a Sam Quigley score had four between them.
However, Paudi Hartigan pounced for a 36th minute goal. Cathal Downes was narrowly off target with a trio of two-point frees, though he did land a 45 to bring them to within one.
Down the closing stages, Enright was colossal for his side. The 32-year-old an obvious outball and he brought his tally to three points late on.
Quirke landed they fifteenth point – moving them five ahead. However, Kyle Hayes’ delivery was slammed to the net by Downes, with just two minutes of regulation to play.
In the stoppage time there was chances at either end. Nash, who has risen from Junior B to the Senior final with the club, had the last of them. His close range free cleared by one of the many Abbeyfeale defenders.
The whistle sounded and they finally added the senior crown to the plethora of underage titles collected in the last two decades.
R Quirke 0-6 (4f); E Riordan (1tpf) and A Enright 0-3 each; M Kilbridge, D Buckley, S Quigley, C Quigley 0-1 each.
P Nash 0-6 (1tpf, 4f); C Downes 1-1 (1 ‘45); P Hartigan 1-0; G Sheehan 0-1.
S O’Connell; D McCarthy, S Kilbridge, M O’Connor; D Daly, D Buckley (Capt), M McCarthy; C Quigley, S Quigley; M Kilbridge, E Riordan, R O’Brien; A Enright, R Quirke, E O’Connor.
J O’Connor for E O’Connor (h-t); C Boyle for Daly (37 mins); L Curtin for M Kilbridge (53 mins); E O’Connell for O’Brien (60 mins).
K Walsh; S Carroll, D Fitzgerald, C O’Sullivan; J Higgins, T McCarthy (Capt), J Azzopardi; S Barry, K Hayes; G Sheehan, C McMahon, P Hartigan; Peter Nash, Conor Staff, C Downes.
R O’Farrell for Barry (h-t); S Kavanagh for Sheehan (36 mins); S Hartigan for Azzopardi (47 mins); C Galvin for McMahon (56 mins); S Kavanagh for P Hartigan (56 mins).
J Hayes (St. Senan’s).
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