Patrickswell edge past Monaleen to reach Limerick senior hurling championship semi-final:

By Paul Shaughnessy Limerick Leader Sport

PATRICKSWELL produced a strong second half comeback to defeat Monaleen 0-20 to 0-18 in the Limerick senior hurling championship quarter-final in Bruff on Sunday afternnon.

Monaleen dictated the play in the early stages of the contest. The Well showed all their experince in the end to reach the last four of the Limerick SHC.

On two minutes, Kevin O’Brien got scoring underway to put Patrickswell into an early lead. Former Limerick hurler Lorcan Lyons landed a long range free two minutes later to level matters.

Aaron Gillane was off the mark through a placed and full forward Tom O’Brien chipped in with a score from a difficult angle to put Patrickswell back into the lead.

Monaleen minor star Matthew Fitzgerald won a terrific ball in the full forward line. Fitzgerald was under ferocious pressure by the Patrickswell defence but the youngster played a clever pass to Andrew La Touche Cosgrave who tapped over a neat point.

Two long range frees from Lorcan Lyons put Monaleen into the lead for first time on nine minutes. Joe Fitzgerald, Eoghan O’Driscoll and Lorcan Lyons pushed Eoin Brislane charges 0-7 to 0-3 ahead on 11 minutes.

Aaron Gillane and Patrick Kirby responded to keep last year’s county finalists within touching distance. Matthew Fitzgerald nailed a placed ball on 19 minutes to put Monaleen back into a three-point lead.

In the remaining 11 minutes of the first half. Patrickswell battled back against the breeze and outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-3.
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Diarmaid Byrnes, Patrick Kirby, Kevin O’Brien and Aaron Gillane were all on target in that period. Luke Murphy and Matthew landed crucial scores for the 2023 All-Ireland Intermediate champions but their inaccuracy in front of goal was beginning to cost them. The Castletroy side hit 11 wides in the opening period. Patrickswell led 0-11 to 0-10 at the break.

Fitzgerald and La Touche Cosgrave got on the scoreboard four minutes into the second half. Kirby and a long range effort from Diarmaid Byrnes had Patrickswell 0-13 to 0-12 ahead. Lorcan Lyons scored his fifth point afternoon to have the sides for the third time on 37 minutes.

Gillane was proving accurate from the placed ball and the 2023 hurler of the year was off the mark for the sixth time. On 42 minutes Monaleen wing back Lorcan Lyons drove forward and Lyons sent over a spectacular effort from out on the sideline. Initially, the umpires signalled a wide ball but the linesmean and referee over-ruled their decision and Lyons’ point was awarded.

A minute later, Donnacha O’Dálaigh got his first score of the afternoon. Eoin Brilslane took off O’Dálaigh off in the first half and brought him back on at the start of the second half. O’Dálaigh took on Patrickswell defence and blasted his shot over the bar. Lyons stepped up with another free on 46 minutes to put his side 0-16 to 0-14 ahead.

In a two minute period, Gillane and Fitzgerald traded scores from the placed ball. In the next 12 minutes, Patrickswell began to take control of the contest and they used the breeeze to their advantage. On 53 minutes, the experienced Mark Carmody landed two spectacular shots from the middle of the pitch to make it a level game once again.

Patrickswell were experiencing a purple patch and scores from Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes and Evan Fitzgerald secured a narrow two-point victory.

Darragh Langan hit back late on but Monaleen couldn’t get the goal they needed in the end.Patrickswell will now face Doon in the Limerick SHC semi-finals in Kilmallock on Sunday, October 13 at 1PM.

SCORERS:
PATRICKSWELL: Aaron Gillane (0-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), Diarmaid Byrnes and Patrick Kirby 0-3 each, Mark Carmody 0-2 and Kevin O’Brien 0-2 each, Cian Lynch, Tom O’Brien, Evan Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

MONALEEN: Lorcan Lyons (0-6, 0-4 frees) Matthew Fitzgerald (0-4, 0-4 frees) Donnacha O’Dálaigh and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave 0-2 each, Darragh Langan, Joe Fitzgerald, Luke Murphy, Eoghan O’Driscoll 0-1 each

PATRICKSWELL: Jason Gillane; Kelvin Lynch, Cian Fitzgerald, John Flynn; Mark Carmody, Nigel Foley, Evan Fitzgerald; Diarmaid Byrnes, John Murray; Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch (Capt), Cian O’Gorman; Patrick Kirby, Kevin O’Brien, Tom O’Brien.

SUBS: John Kirby for Murray (44 minutes), James Carrig for O’Gorman (52 minutes), Josh Carey for Tom O’Brien (62 minutes).

MONALEEN: Jamie Power; Leo Morrison, Bryan Canny, Noel Clancy; Lorcan Lyons, Darragh Langan, Ronan Lyons; Joseph Fitzgerald, Lochlann McHale; Matthew Fitzgerald, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, Eoghan O’Driscoll; Ben Hayes, Luke Murphy (Capt), Donnacha O’Dálaigh.

SUBS: Dara Ferland for O’Dálaigh (19 minutes), Donnacha O’Dálaigh for Murphy (38 minutes).

REFEREE: John O’Halloran (Bruree)