Game abandoned in Limerick Co SFC as champs Adare open with win

Colm Kinsella Limerick Leader Sport at Claughaun

Game abandoned in Limerick Co SFC as champs Adare open with win
Pitch conditions at Claughaun after Thursday night’s Co SFC meeting of Monaleen and Na Piarsaigh was abandoned at half-time

A FREAK hail, thunder and lightning storm forced the abandonment of Monaleen’s county senior football championship opener with city rivals Na Piarsaigh as champions Adare opened their campaign with a precious win on Thursday night.

The city derby meeting of Monaleen and Na Piarsaigh in Group 1 at Claughaun was called off at half-time by the match referee on health and safety grounds with pools of water lying on the playing surface after a combination of a heavy hail shower and rain which continued throughout the opening half.

All four seasons were experienced at the match venue in a little over half an hour with sunshine, rain, hail, thunder, lightning and even a few snowflakes falling.

Monaleen led the game 1-3 to 0-1 at the break with Na Piarsaigh set to begin the second half with 14 players after a sending off for two yellow cards just before half-time.

The Monaleen goal was scored by Daniel Enright after just two minutes, while Graham O’Connell kicked two early points and Brian Carson, one for the Castletroy side.

Eoin Hogan had kicked Na Piarsaigh’s only point from a seventh minute free.

Neither side managed to score in the final 20 minutes of the opening half as conditions deteriorated.

Meanwhile, champions Adare opened their Group 1 campaign with an impressive 2-11 to 0-8 win over Dromcollogher-Broadford in Knockaderry.

Adare led 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time, with Hugh Bourke bagging the winners goal on 12 minutes. That goal had put Adare 1-3 to 02 in front.

A second Adare goal from Robbie Bourke goal from a penalty on 44 minutes after Charlie McCarthy was fouled put the game beyond Drom’-Broadford as the champions raced into a seven-point lead, 2-8 to 0-7.

Mikey Lyons also kicked three points from play for Adare. Drom-Broadford had three points from Kevin Noonan, two frees, while Keith Lacey kicked two points from play