Newcastle West 1-11 Adare 2-05 (AET)
It took extra-time, but defending champions Newcastle West captured their fourth Limerick SFC title in eight years after a dramatic game in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock, on Sunday afternoon.
In what was a meeting of the two standard bearers on Shannonside over the past decade - the sides have won seven of the last eight county titles between them - the Magpies' win now puts the West Limerick men level with Oola Monaleen on six senior titles.
In what was the last of all 32 county finals to be played across the island, it was Jimmy Lee’s Newcastle West side that started the brightest and were two points to the good inside the opening eight minutes thanks to scores from Emmet Rigter and Diarmuid Kelly.
Adare were left to rue three early wides as they faced a strong crossfield breeze.
Adare had reduced the losing margin to one midway through the half after Mark Connolly kicked over a close-range free on the 15th minute mark.
From here, Newcastle West added another free – Kelly’s second of the afternoon – before towering full forward Mike McMahon fisted into the net for the game’s opening goal after 20 minutes.
McMahon rose highest above Adare full back David Connelly before punching a long ball past the incoming Jeffery Alfred in the Adare goal. The Newcastle West full forward reacted the quickest as Nix's shot dropped short.
The goal, which opened up a five-point lead, looked like it had set Newcastle West on their way to victory, but Adare had other ideas and a first half injury time Robbie Bourke penalty brought it back to a one-point game at the half time break – 1-03 to 1-02
John Brudair’s Adare side finished the opening 30 minutes without a score from play – a clear sign of the Magpies’ defensive stronghold on the game.
In the second half, Adare outscored Newcastle West by 1-2 to four points to force extra-time in what was a dramatic final quarter in East Limerick.
In a tight affair, it was Adare who levelled midway through the second half as Willie Griffin superbly turned inside his marker Michael O’Keeffe to score the first point of the second half.
Newcastle West had more of the possession in the third quarter but failed to add to their first half return of 1-3 until the 48th minute to go ahead once again.
Adare’s second goal of the game with six minutes of normal time remaining made it a two-point game – 2-03 to 1-04 - a counterattack Shane O’Connor goal after a superb Willie Griffin pass.
A Diarmaid Kelly free and a Thomas Qulligan free drew the sides level for the second time before a late Connolly close-range free put Adare ahead.
A late Darren O’Doherty point brought the sides level yet again and brought the game to extra-time.
Adare started extra-time with 13 players after both Mikey Lyons and substitute Cian Sparling were shown black cards.
Newcastle West had been reduced to 14 in the normal game after James Kelly saw red after two yellow cards.
In extra-time, Newcastle West’s inter-county stars rose to the occasion when needed the most; Limerick stalwart Iain Corbett pointed early before All Star nomination Cian Sheehan set up Shane Stack who kicked over to give Jimmy Lee’s side a two-point advantage.
Mike McMahon scored his side’s third point in-a-row to add to Adare’s woes with a superb outside of the boot point, before a Robbie Bourke free made it 1-10 to 2-05 in favour of Newcastle West at the interval.
As daylight quickly descended, McMahon pointed late to put three between the sides and secure the historic win for Newcastle West.
Newcastle West will face the winner of Nemo Rangers and Clonmel Commercials in three weeks’ time in a Munster semi-final.
Newcastle West: Michael Quilligan; Michael O'Keeffe, Darren O’Doherty (0-01), Brian O’Sullivan; Ruadhán O’Connor, James Kelly, Cian Sheehan; Emmet Rigter (0-01), Iain Corbett (capt.) (0-01); Sean Murphy, Sean Stack (0-01), Diarmaid Kelly (0-02, 0-01f); Eoin Hurley, Mike McMahon (1-03, 0-01m), Bryan Nix.
Subs: Thomas Qulligan (0-02, 0-02f) for Hurley (47), Todd Donovan for Murphy (54), Seamus Hurley for James Kelly (full-time), Hurley for O’Connor (full-time), Aaron Neville for O’Doherty (83), Sean Murphy for Diarmaid Kelly (89)
Adare: Jeffery Alfred; Oran Collins, David Connolly, Jack Fitzgerald; Josh Toomey, Shane Doherty (capt.), Paul Maher; Roy Glesson, Joe Sweeney; Shane Costello, Robbie Bourke (1-01, 1-0 penalty, 0-01f), Davy Lyons; Willie Griffin (0-01), Mark Connolly (0-03, 0-02f), Mikey Lyons.
Subs: Shane O’Connor (1-00) for Davey Lyons (13, inj), Jack English for Gleeson (54), Cian Sparling for Collins (62), Adam Canny for Mikey Lyons (83), Charlie McCarthy for Griffin (89)
Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola)
