Limerick SFC Final: Mungret St. Paul's win maiden title

Limerick SFC Final

Mungret St. Paul’s 0-12 Newcastle West 1-5

By Tom Clancy

Mungret St. Paul’s collected a first Limerick Senior football crown, thanks to a deserved four point victory over kingpins Newcastle West at Mick Neville Park.

The City based club, who have developed considerably on the field, as well as off it, were far the superior force against a Newcastle West side who simply didn’t bring their A game.

The winners were comfortable and have shown the rest on Shannonside they have the potential to dominate the competition after returning to senior just last season.

Playing in a third week on the trot – Kevin O’Hagan’s side dictated proceedings allowing Mayo native John Hutton collect the Fr. Casey Cup on behalf of those from the Mungret and St. Paul’s parishes.

Newcastle West, meanwhile were unable to claim a fourth title in five seasons, and only had three scorers across the hour.

The winners led 0-5 to 0-3 by half-time with James Killian and later Darragh O’Sullivan denied goals by Seamus Hurely’s last stitch defending.

The men in red had scores from Hutton, Killian, O’Sullivan and Shane Barry, with Iain Corbett and Eoin Hurley (2) both on target. Six wides apiece, after a cagey half didn’t tell the full story with Newcastle West playing second fiddle for long spells.

The second half continued to be dominated by the City side, who dethroned Adare last weekend. Centre-half back Oisin Moss picked off a point from 35 meters before Brendan Giltenane curled over the only two pointer of the contest on 37 minutes.

Emmet Rigter, the county star who was not fully fit, was called from the bench with the Magpies hanging in late on. Their goal came at the start of the final quarter – as Eoin Hurley finished low beneath Ronan McElligott.

However, Hutton punished a 50m advancement, before sub Diarmaid Hynes slotted a point. Frank Corcoan cancelled out Mike McMahon’s point – to keep the gap at four in stoppage time.
Trading of late points mattered little, as Mungret St. Paul’s marked their second senior final appearance with a victory.

Their other time in the blue ribband final was in 2001 – Darragh O’Sullivan - the Man of the Match in 2025, goes one better than his father, Frank, who lined out that afternoon.

Dingle welcome Mungret St. Paul’s to the Kingdom, but for now it is celebration time for the ever growing areas of Mungret, Dooradoyle and Raheen.

Scorers for Mungret St. Paul’s: John Hutton 0-4 (frees); Brendan Giltenane 0-2 (tp); James Killian, Darragh O’Sullivan, Oisin Moss, Shane Barry, Diarmaid Hynes, Frank Corcoran 0-1 each.

Scorers for Newcastle West: Eoin Hurley 1-3 (2f); Iain Corbett, Mike McMahon 0-1 each.**

Newcastle West: Mike Quilligan; Mike O'Keefe, Darren O'Doherty, Brian O'Sullivan; Aaron Neville, Seamus Hurley, Michael Cremin; Mike McMahon, Sean Murphy; Ruadhan O'Connor, Iain Corbett, Brian Hurley; Thomas Quilligan, Eoin Hurley, Bryan Nix.

Subs: Tom Lloyd for Garvey (39), Diarmaid Hynes for Giltenane (43), Darragh Bridgeman for Killian (52), Jack Somers for Barry (56).

Mungret St. Paul’s: Ronan McElligott; Jason Hassett, Robert Hegarty, Ciaran Uwatse; Frank Corcoran, Oisin Moss, James Garvey; Darragh O'Hagan, Jack McCarthy; Killian Ryan, Darragh O'Sullivan, James Killian; Shane Barry, John Hutton, Brendan Giltenane.

Subs: Emmet Rigter for T Quilligan (36 minutes), Lee Woulfe for O’Connor (39), Todd Donovan for Murphy (43), Brian Foley for B Hurley (52).