Limerick SFC: Adare defeat Fr Caseys:
Limerick SFC Final
Adare 1-10 Fr Caseys 0-8
By Tom Clancy at Mick Neville Park
Adare collected their fourth Limerick Senior football title, at the expense of a Fr. Casey’s side who were contesting their first final since 2006. A first crown since 2020, and a fourth since making the breakthrough in 2017.
It was a record equalling 25th Limerick final appearance for Casey’s, but as they trudge back west following defeat, a more worrying number of 17 defeats will haunt them.
Adare had amassed plenty of experience in the last decade and with Harry Gleeson back on the sideline, they had their winning formula back again.
A cagey start saw Adare into an early lead through Paul Maher. Casey’s needed a score to settle, but it didn’t arrive.
An early goal chance arrive when David Ward knocked a Dylan Quirke delivery into the path of Martin Scannell but his effort was saved by the legs of Jeffrey Alfred.
This was punished very soon at the other end, when the formidable Hugh Bourke evaded the cover and buried low beneath Shane O’Connell. A hammer blow to the Abbeyfeale side.
Shane Costelloe and Bourke (free) compounded the misery for those in blue and a six-point margin was opened up after eighteen minutes. The experience of Adare was apparent in their build up; patient and measured.
Finally, after 18 minutes, Diarmuid Buckley opened the Casey’s account, racing onto a Scannell pass before curling over off his left foot. Scannell was a surviving member of their last success, in 2006.
At half-time it was 1-5 to 0-2, with a couple of wasted possessions as well as two efforts for points which hit the post. That, and five wides were really hurting Eoin Joy’s charges.
They did slot a wonderful free to open the second half, with Eliah Riordan on target but this was answered by the experienced Davy Lyons.
Fr. Casey’s had a great goal chance when sub Cormac Roche burst through to find David Ward – his effort for goal – appeared to cannon back off Roche who’d continued his run. But Eoin Joy’s men did rally. They scored four in a row, with Rory O’Brien (2), Scannell and captain Daniel Daly cutting the gap to just two by the 46th minute.
Mikey Lyons, saved by O’Connell at point blank range, which could have killed the tie. However, the same player did that with points in the 56th and 60th minute, proving his substitution to be a wise one. Add those to a Hugh Bourke free, and Adare were comfortable in the closing stages.
Adare head for a Munster Senior Football quarter-final next weekend, away to Éire Og of Ennis, having missed out on that opportunity in 2020, due to Covid-19.
Scorers for Adare: Hugh Bourke 1-5 (2fs, 1m), Mike Lyons 0-2, Paul Maher, Shane Costelloe, Davy Lyons, 0-1 each.
Scorers for Fr. Casey’s: Martin Scannell (1f), Eliah Riordan (2fs), Rory O’Brien 0-2 each, Diarmuid Buckley, Daniel Daly 0-1 each.
Adare: Jeffrey Alfred; Shane Doherty, David Connolly, Darragh Lane; Paul Maher, Eoghan Costelloe (C), Oran Collins; Roy Glesson, Davy Lyons; Shane Costelloe, Robbie Bourke, Ronan Connolly; Shane O’Connor, Joe Sweeney, Hugh Bourke.
Subs: Cian Sparling for Lane (44); Mikey Lyons for Costelloe (48); Mike Keane for Gleeson (51); Jack Fitzgerald for Collins (58); Michael Southgate for O’Connor (60).
Fr. Casey’s: Shane O’Connell; Mark McCarthy, Fiachra Cotter, Sean Kilbridge; Culann Quigley, Mike Kilbridge, Diarmuid Buckley; Eliah Riordan, Sam Quigley; Daniel Daly (C), Martin Scannell, Dylan Quirke; Rory O’Brien, David Ward, Adrian Enright.
Subs: Cormac Roche for Quirke (38); Donagh Kelly for Ward (51); Calum Boyle for C Quigley (51); Eoghan O’Connell for Scannell (56); O Woulfe for Riordan (60)
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon).