Limerick SFC Final

Newcastle West 3-5 Adare 0-13

By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds

Newcastle West made history by securing a Limerick SFC three-in-a-row, the first in their history, after a narrow, one-point victory over familiar foes, Adare. A brace of goals from Eoin Hurley, as well as a third from Bryan Nix were key scores for Newcastle West.

Iain Corbett collected the Fr. Casey Cup for his town, the third year on the bounce, as they became the first side to do so since Treaty Sarsfields in 1975. It is a seventh title in all for the Magpies. 

While perhaps marginally better than Adare, it was the clinical nature of their display which would have pleased manager Jimmy Lee. He is set to take charge of the county side for 2024, with opposite number in this final, John Brudair, will join his management team. 

There was little to separate these side sin their 2021 and 2022 finals, but once again, the Magpies came up with the answers. They punished the mistakes made by Adare after the losers started much the brighter.

Trailing to a Hurley free early on, Adare rattled off six points in 10 minutes to lead 0-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. Points from Ronan and David Connolly complimented Hugh Bourke's double, as they were extremely accurate early on. 

But a quickfire 1-1 from Hurley cut the gap to just a point. The goal arrived rather fortuitously, as Mike McMahons shot, which was intended for a point, dropped nicely for Hurley to palm to the net. They would get a second goal nearing the half-time whistle. Jeffrey Alfred, the Adare keeper, was caught up-field by Iain Corbett. He fed Sean Murphy who found Hurley who had a gaping goal, and he made no mistake in finding the net.  

Half-time saw Newcastle leading 2-2 to 0-7. Adare would level the game when Bourke knocked over a 32nd minute free but Adare didn't score from play in the second half.

Corbett again forced a mistake and he raided through to feed Bryan Nix who finished with aplomb. A further point from Michael O'Leary had the champions in control. They were able to defend deep and deny Brudair's men many shots from play, as they had do so well in their semi-final win over Monaleen. Despite losing Corbett to injury, the showed their experience down the stretch as the rain bucketed down on Shannonside. 

A combination of Bourke and Alfred frees cut the gap late on, but Alfred couldn't find his range with a long range free in the dying seconds and Magpies ran clear to collect the silverware. They have now lost three in a row since winning the 2020 edition. 

They will now face Clonmel Commercials in the Munster Senior Club Championship, next weekend. It is a repeat of the clash which the Limerick side won in Thurles 12 months ago. 

Scorers for Newcastle West: Eoin Hurley 2-4 (4fs), Bryan Nix 1-0; Michael O’Leary 0-1.

Scorers for Adare: Hugh Bourke 0-7 (6fs), Jeffrey Alfred 0-2 (2fs), Ronan Connolly; Robbie Bourke, David Connolly, Jack English 0-1 each.

Newcastle West: Michael Quilligan; Mike O’Keeffe, Darren O’Doherty, Michael O’Leary; Ruadhán O’Connor, James Kelly, Brian O’Sullivan; Iain Corbett (C), Seán Murphy; Aaron Neville, Emmet Rigter, Bryan Nix; Eoin Hurley, Mike McMahon, Thomas Quilligan.

Subs: Seamus Hurley for Corbett (Inj – 46), Steven Brosnan for Kelly (49), Lee Woulfe for T Quilligan (55), Brian Foley for O’Connor (blood – 56 – 58), Brian Foley for Neville (60), Iain Corbett for Rigter (blood – 62).

Adare: Jeffrey Alfred; Cian Sparling, David Connolly, Jack Fitzgerald; Ronan Connolly, Shane Doherty ©, Paul Maher; Jack English, Joe Sweeney; Shane Costello, Robbie Bourke, Davey Lyons; Shane O’Connor, Hugh Bourke, Adam Canny.

Subs: Josh Twomey for English (45), Willie Griffin for Canny (46).