Limerick’s David Reidy leads way as Dromin-Athlacca defeat South Liberties in Limerick senior hurling championship:

Limerick’s David Reidy leads way as Dromin-Athlacca defeat South Liberties in Limerick senior hurling championship:

By Colm Kinsella, Limerick Leader Sports

DROMIN-ATHLACCA made a successful return to senior ranks when securing a deserved 2-23 to 3-14 Group 2 Bon Secours Limerick senior hurling championship opening round fixture at Kilmallock on Thursday evening.

Limerick senior star David Reidy accounted for 1-14 of the winners tally, with 1-2 coming from play, including a timely goal right at the start of the second period which propelled last year’s premier intermediate champions into a useful five point advantage, 1-14 to 1-9.

Dromin-Athlacca, who were playing at senior level for the first time since 2008, led the game 0-14 to 1-8 at half-time, with the impressive Daniel Scully firing over five excellent points from play in that opening 30 minutes.

The South Liberties first-half goal came courtesy of Shane O’Neill in the 10th minute.

Fit-again Limerick senior player Barry Nash, returning to action after missing the Shannonsiders All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork due to injury, accounted for 0-9 of Liberties total, including a point from play.

With David Reidy imperious from placed balls in the third quarter, Dromin-Athlacca stretched their lead out to nine points, 1-20 to 1-11.

With county under-age player Cian Scully also impressing for the winners, they struck for their second goal in the 52nd minute when Jack Fitzgibbon set up Peter McMahon who blasted past Anthony Nash in the Liberties goal.

The winners advantage was out to 13 points, 2-22 to 1-12. However, while Dromin-Athlacca added a further point to their tally, South Liberties struck for two late goals from substitute Brian Garry and Shane O’Neill’s second of the game after being set up by Barry Nash.

SCORERS: Dromin-Athlacca: David Reidy 1-14 (0-12 frees); Daniel Scully 0-5; Peter McMahon 1-0; Cian Scully 0-2; Jack Fitzgibbon 0-1; Mike Reidy 0-1. South Liberties: Barry Nash 0-9 (0-8 frees); Shane O’Neill 2-0; Tom Ryan 0-3; Brian Garry 1-0; Shane Brosnan 0-1; Eoghan Godfrey 0-1.

DROMIN-ATHLACCA: James Kelleher; Shane Fitzgibbon, William Dore, Shane Scully; Peter Ryan, Cian Scully, Shane Rabbite; Patrick O’Donoghue, David Reidy (Capt); Daniel Scully, Jack Fitzgibbon, Peter McMahon; Mike Reidy, Sseanie O’Leary, David Breen. Subs: Stephen Power for Ryan (57 mins).

SOUTH LIBERTIES: Anthony Nash; Mike O’Brien, Eoin Quilty, Alex Keys; David Garry, John Hickey, Ken Byrnes; Eoghan Godfrey, Shane Kilcoyne; Shane Brosnan, Shane O’Neill, Barry Nash; Ben Crompton, Joe Hegarty, Tom Ryan. Subs: Brian Garry for Hegarty (36 mins); Paddy O’Donnell for Kilcoyne (42 mins).

REFEREE: Timmy McGrath (Oola).