Feenagh-Kilmeedy edge past St Patrick’s in thrilling Limerick premier junior ‘A’ hurling final:

Paul Shaughnessy Limerick Leader Sport

FEENAGH-KILMEEDY were crowned Woodlands House Hotel County Premier Junior A Hurling champions on Saturday afternoon in Sean Finn Park, Rathkeale.

The West Limerick side narrowly defeated St Patrick’s 3-16 to 2-16 in an exciting decider.

It was an enthralling contest that ebbed and flowed throughout the 60 minutes. Feenagh-Kilmeedy suffered heartbreak in last year’s premier junior hurling final where they were defeated on penalties by Mungret St Paul’s. William Irwin and Tony Long’s charges have now put last year’s disappointment behind them and they will play intermediate hurling in 2025.

This game went right down to the wire.

On two minutes, wing back David Boyce and Ruairi O’Connor pushed Feenagh-Kilmeedy into an early 0-2 lead. Limerick star Gearoid Hegarty replied through a placed ball to get St Patrick’s off the mark.

Diarmuid Coleman hit back through a placed ball of his own to put Feenagh-Kilmeedy back into an 0-2 lead. On 10 minutes, referee Tom McGlinchey awarded a penalty to Feenagh-Kilmeedy. Diarmuid Coleman made no mistake from penalty spot.

Gearoid Hegarty was stepping up for his club and Hegarty landed the next three points to make it 1-4 to 0-6 on 18 minutes. Ruairi O’Connor and Gearoid Hegarty traded scores after that. The St Patrick’s sharpshooter added his sixth point of the first half on 23 minutes.

Feenagh Kilmeedy corner forward Tomas Galvin took on the St Patrick’s defence. Galvin blasted his shot over the bar. The city based club captain Diarmaid Hegarty drove over a monster score to make it 1-6 to 0-9. Liam Chambers and Tomas Galvin swapped scores as the sides went in level at the break.

The victors started brightly. Diarmuid Coleman and Tomas Galvin were both on target in the early stages of the second half. Substitute Shane Cross and Liam Chambers kept St Patrick’s in the contest. Padraig Reale set up Shane Cross for their side’s first goal. Cross celverly slotted the sliotar into the back of the net.

Shane Cross’ made a massive impact for St Patrick’s. Cross had now scored 1-2 and his club led 1-13 to 1-10. Gearoid Hegarty had to go off the pitch for that play and Cross took over the free taking duties for that play. Cross nailed the resulting free.

Feenagh-Kilmeedy needed a reponse. Last year’s county finalists hit the next four points in a row. Diarmuid Coleman scored 0-3 in that period and substitute John O’Gorman chipped in with an effort off the bench,

Gearoid Hegarty held his nerve from the dead ball, St Patrick’s were now leading 1-16 to 1-15. Tom McGlinchey added on four minutes of injury time. The next four minutes were frantic. Feenagh-Kilmeedy hit 1-1 in quick succession. Tomas Galvin raised the second green flag of the evening for his side. Coleman once again stepped up and it meant Feenagh-Kilmeedy led 2-16 to 1-16.

St Patrick’s needed a goal if they were to force extra time. Padraig Reale deadlocked the sides. It then looked as if the St Patrick’s defence had did enough to force a turnover. Diarmuid Coleman held his composure and rattled the sliotar into the back of the net to top off a historic day for Feenagh-Kilmeedy.

SCORERS: FEENAGH-KILMEEDY: Diarmuid Coleman (2-8, 1-0 penalty, 0-5 frees), Tomas Galvin 1-3, Ruairi O’Connor 0-2, David Boyce, Maurice Fitzgibbon John O’Gorman 0-1 each. ST PATRICK’S: Gearoid Hegarty (0-8, 0-5 frees), Shane Cross 1-3, Diarmuid Hegarty 0-3, Padraig Reale 1-0, Liam Chambers 0-2.

FEENAGH-KILMEEDY: Peter Iwin; James O’Regan, Ger O’Gorman, Dylan Murray O’Connor; David Boyce, Byran Hannigan, Bobby Donegan; Sean Kelly, Cian O’Connor; Diarmuid Coleman, Ruairi O’Connor, Patrick O’Doherty; Ronan O’Connor, Maurice Fitzgibbon (Captain), Tomas Galvin. SUBS: Sean Murray for O’Regan (18 minutes), Luke Ryan for Ronan O’Connor (44 minutes), John O’Gorman for Sean Kelly (51 minutes), Colm Ryan for Doherty (60 minutes).

ST PATRICK’S: Wayne Cronin; Jack Greenwood, Kieran Murphy, Blake Campbell, Diarmuid Hegarty (Captain), James Madden; Kyle Mullins, Travis Quaid; Gearoid Hegarty, Sean Mortell, Jack Cross; Eoghan Hill, James Murphy, Liam Chambers. SUBS: Padraig Reale for Murphy (half-time), Shane Cross for O’Sullivan (half-time), Calvin Moran for Hill (54 minutes).

REFEREE: Tom McGlinchy