Newcastle West 3-05 Adare 0-13
Eoin Hurley starred with 2-04 as Newcastle West secured their third Limerick SFC title in a row with a dramatic one-point win over Adare at a rain-drenched TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon.
In a bizarre game of football played in very difficult conditions, Jimmy Lee's men ground out the result to win their fourth county crown in five years despite only scoring one point from play.
In what was the third time these two sides met in the senior county final in as many years, two first-half goals from Hurley were the difference as the Magpies held the narrowest of winning margins at the break, 2-02 to 0-07, despite not scoring a point from play in the opening 30 minutes.
A third Newcastle West goal, a Bryan Nix effort six minutes into the second half, put the West Limerick men into a strong position before Lee’s charges held off a late comeback, as Adare scored four of the last five points in the final quarter to ensure a nailbiting finish at the Ennis Road venue.
As expected, Lee’s Newcastle West side started the brighter of the two sides and were duly rewarded for their efforts when Hurley kicked over a sixth-minute free to give the county champions an early lead.
Limerick inter-county star Hugh Bourke had Adare level by the 10th minute amid several minutes of sustained pressure and a solid defensive display from the men in red and back.
Two minutes later, Adare were ahead for the first time as Bourke slotted over his second of the afternoon – a close-range free kick into the city end.
The momentum was with the men from Adare at this stage and a flurry of quick-fire points followed.
Points from Ronan Connolly, Robbie Bourke, and David Connolly had given Adare a four-point lead.
By the time Hugh Bourke pointed his third point - his second free - in the 20th minute, Adare were five points ahead, 0-06 to 0-01.
Newcastle West, who had yet to score from play, got their much-needed goal five minutes before the half-time break. It was suddenly a one-point game when lively corner forward Hurley was quickest to react to a mis-hit shot from towering full forward Mike McMahon to palm into the back of the net.
On the stroke of half-time, the county champions took full advantage of Adare’s decision to use goalkeeper Jeffery Alfred as an extra man outfield when Newcastle West captain Iain Corbett won the ball in midfield before passing off to Hurley who slotted into an empty net.
After the restart, Adare drew level for the second time as Hugh Bourke slotted over his third free of the afternoon.
Adare’s mini resurgence didn’t last long however as Byran Nix took full advantage of a stretch Adare defence, directly after the kickout, to slot the ball past Alferd after collecting a superbly timed and excellently weighted Corbett handpass.
When corner back Michael O’Leary burst forward and slotted over the bar in the 38th minute, it was Newcastle West’s first and only point from play.
As the rain poured down on the Ennis Road, Newcastle West started to pull away and opened up a four-point lead midway through the final half hour, 3-04 to 0-09.
Adare, however, had other ideas and the 2020 champions scored four of the next five months to make it a one-point game.
Reminiscent of Mayo goalkeeper Rob Hennelly on the very same ground in the All-Ireland semi-final replay in 2014, Jeffery Alfred rushed forward to take a late free. Just like his Mayo counterpart, the Adare 'keeper came up short and moments later referee John O’Halloran sounded the final whistle as Newcastle West held out for the one-point win.
Newcastle West will now face Tipperary champions Clonmel Commercialsin the Munster quarter-final in Thurles next Sunday.
Newcastle West: Michael Qulligan; Michael O’Keeffe, Darren O’Doherty, Michael O’Leary (0-1) Cremin; Ruadhán O’Connor, James Kelly, Brian O’Sullivan; Iain Corbett, Sean Murphy; Aaron Neville, Emmet Rigter, Bryan Nix (1-0); Eoin Hurley (2-4, 0-4f), Mike McMahon, Thomas Qulligan.
Subs: Seamus Hurley for Corbett (46th minute), Steven Brosnan for Kelly (49th minute), Lee Woulfe for Thomas Qulligan (56th minute), Brian Foley for Neville (62th minute)
Adare: Jeffrey Alfred (0-2, 0-2f); Cian Sparling, David Connolly (0-1), Jack Fitzgearld; Ronan Connolly (0-1), Shane Doherty (capt.), Paul Maher; Jack English (0-1), Joe Sweeney; Shane Costello, Robbie Bourke (0-1), Davey Lyons; Shane O’Connor, Hugh Bourke (0-7, 0-6f), Adam Canny
Subs: Josh Twomey for English (45th minute), Willie Griffin for Canny (46th minute)
Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree)
