Newcastle West 1-05 Mungret St Pauls 0-12
Mungret St Pauls are Limerick senior football champions for the first time after a shock four-point final win over Newcastle West.
In what was a novel decider, it was village club Mungret, making only their second county final appearance, who led by two points at half time – 0-05 to 0-03.
From there, the new Limerick champions outscored their West Limerick counterparts by 0-7 to 1-02 in the final half hour to bring home the Fr Casey Cup for the first time, two years to the week after they returned to senior football.
Favourites Newcastle West were in search of their fifth senior title in seven years, but Mungret, who last made the final in 2001, had other ideas.
Mungret were the more patient in their build up play and took full advantage of their dominance and turnovers in midfield to build on their early lead, despite Newcastle West coming back into the game after an Eoin Hurley goal midway through the second half – their first score from play in 35 minutes of play.
After three early wides from Newcastle West, it was Mungret St Pauls who opened the scoring as captain John Hutton slotted over a free in the fifth minute before the city side doubled their lead through a well-taken James Killian point two minutes later.
A determined Newcastle West eventually broke down a resilient Mungret defence with efforts from former Limerick captain Iain Corbett and Eoin Hurley drawing the sides by the 10th minute.
However, once man of the match Darragh O’Sullivan handpassed over the bar minutes later, Mungret held the lead until the final whistle.
The first half was a tetchy affair, blemished by missed chances. Newcastle West had six misses inside the opening half hour, including a scorable free and a 45’ from goalkeeper. Mungret captain John Hutton struck two frees at the other end.
On the verge of half time, O’Sullivan was denied a certain goal as Seamus Hurley blocked the Mungret centre forwards effort on the line.
After the restart, Oisin Moss and a Brendan Giltenane (two-pointer) put five between the sides, but an Eoin Hurley goal midway through the second half brought Newcastle West back into the game.
The Magpies first score from play since the tenth minute gave a much-need lift to Brian Fitzgerald’s men but when the flawless John Hutton slotted over his three free of the evening with eight minutes to go, it was Mungret’s game to lose.
They got even better. Diarmaid Hynes’ first and a Frank Corcoran effort either side of a Hurley free put four between the teams before Mike McMahon pulled one back for Newcastle West.
Hutton added his fourth free to ease Mungret into a four-point lead again and that was enough for history to be made.
Mungret now face Kerry champions Dingle in the Munster semi-final in Tralee in two weeks’ time.
Newcastle West: Michael Quilligan; Micheal Cremin, Darren O’Doherty, Brian O’Sullivan; Ruadhán O’Connor, Seamus Hurley, Arron Neville; Iain Corbett (capt.) (0-01), Sean Murphy; Mike O’Keefe, Bryan Nix, Brian Hurley; Thomas Quilligan, Mike McMahon (0-01), Eoin Hurley (1-03, 2f)
Subs: Emmet Rigter for Thomas Quilligan (36 minutes), Lee Woulfe for O’Connor (39), Todd Donovan for Murphy (43), Brian Foley for Brian Hurley (52)
Mungret St Pauls: Ronan McElligott; Jason Hassett, Robert Hegarty, Ciaran Uwatse; Frank Corcoran, Oisin Moss (0-01), James Garvey; Darragh O’Hagan, Jack McCarthy; Killian Ryan, Darragh O’Sullivan (0-01), James Killian (0-01); John Hutton (capt.) (0-04fs), Shane Barry (0-01), Brendan Giltenane (0-2, 1tp)
Subs: Tom Lloyd for Garvey (39), Diarmuid Hynes (0-01) for Giltenane (43), Darragh Bridgeman for Killian (52), Jack Somers for Barry (56)
Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola)
