Three on the bounce for Newcastle West after win over Adare in Limerick SFC final

By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport

NEWCASTLE WEST are Irish Wire Products Limerick SFC champions for the third year in a row following a 3-5 to 0-13 victory over Adare at the TUS Gaelic Grounds this afternoon.

The Magpies shaded an extremely tight contest with their goals proving crucial to the one-point win. Eoin Hurley fired in two goals, while Bryan Nix got the other for Jimmy Lee’s men.

Newcastle West now go onto play Clonmel Commercials in the Munster Club SFC this coming Sunday in a Tipperary venue. They also played in the Munster semi-final last year.

Hurley got the scoring underway with a free on five minutes but they failed to score again for another 15 as Adare took firm control of the contest.

Hugh Bourke levelled the game and then quickly followed with a free to put his side in front for the first time. Ronan Connolly, Robbie Bourke and David Connolly then all hit the target to put Adare 0-5 to 0-1 in front. Hugh then fired over his third of the half before Hurley got his second of the half.

However, Newcastle West were soon back to within a point when Hurley diverted Mike McMahon’s shot beyond the reach of Jeffrey Alfred for the game’s opening goal.

Jack English responded for Adare with an excellent score from play but Hurley was in for a second goal in first half added time when Alfred was caught well out the field and had a hand pass intercepted by Iain Corbett.

He fed Sean Murphy and then it was onto Hurley who fired low into the net to put Newcastle West 2-2 to 0-7 ahead at the break.

Hugh Bourke levelled the game with the first score of the second half but it was to be a short period of parity as Corbett set up Nix for their third goal after another error in the Adare defence.

Bourke and Michael O’Leary traded scored before Hurley had Newcastle West three to the good with his third free of the game. Alfred and Bourke soon had that advantage back to one with placed balls.

However, Hurley’s fourth free gave his side some breathing space heading into added time. Bourke and Alfred both landed frees in that period but Newcastle held on for a stunning win.

SCORERS – NEWCASTLE WEST: Eoin Hurley 2-4 (0-4 frees), Bryan Nix 1-0, Michael O’Leary 0-1.

SCORERS – ADARE: Hugh Bourke 0-7 (0-6 frees), Jeffrey Alfred 0-2 (0-2 frees), Ronan Connolly, Robbie Bourke, David Connolly and Jack English 0-1 each

NEWCASTLE WEST: Michael Quilligan; Mike O’Keeffe, Darren O’Doherty, Brian O’Sullivan; Ruadhan O’Connor, James Kelly, Michael O’Leary; Iain Corbett, Sean Murphy; Aaron Neville, Emmet Rigter, Bryan Nix; Eoin Hurley, Mike McMahon, Thomas Quilligan.

SUBS: Seamus Hurley for Corbett (45 mins, inj), Steven Brosnan for Kelly (46 mins), Lee Woulfe for T Quilligan (55 mins), Brian Foley for Neville (61 mins), Corbett for Rigter (62 mins, inj).

ADARE: Jeffrey Alfred; Cian Sparling, David Connolly, Jack Fitzgerald; Ronan Connolly, Shane Doherty, Paul Maher; Jack English, Joe Sweeney; Shane Costello, Robbie Bourke, Davey Lyons; Shane O’Connor, Hugh Bourke, Adam Canny.

SUBS: Josh Twomey for English (45 mins), Willie Griffin for Canny (46 mins).

REFEREE: John O’Halloran (Bruree).