Limerick SFC Final

Newcastlewest 1-11 Adare 2-5 AET

By Tom Clancy at Kilmallock

For a sixth time in their history, Newcastle West are Limerick Senior football champions, captain Iain Corbett led the celebrations after an enthralling arm-wrestle with 2020 winners, Adare.

It is the first time the Magpies have retained the Fr. Casey Cup and they did so after extra time in Kilmallock.

Vitally, they started the extra period with two men extra, after Mikey Lyons and Cian Sparling had received black cards late in this contest. With them off, Newcastle West too advantage, and Darren O’Doherty kicked over from distance to send the game to the extra period.

Before that drama, Newcastle West led 1-3 to 0-1 after 20 minutes with Emmet Rigter and two Diarmaid Kelly points added to by a Mike McMahon goal.

McMahon would end with 1-3 and the man-of-the-match award. Despite owing the possession, Newcastle West were only one point up at half-time, as Robbie Bourke buried a penalty.

Despite failing to score from play in the opening half, Adare trailed just 1-3 to 1-2.

Willie Griffin levelled the game for the first time on 43 minutes, as Adare looked potent when they did attack. They went ahead as Shane O’Connor punched home a goal ahead of keeper Mike Qulligan.

The reply was for Thomas Quilligan to land two frees and with the game heading for five added minutes, Adare inched ahead through Mark Connolly. His free was as a result of a forced mistake and Adare tried to hold on.

But O’Doherty vacated his full-back position and kicked over with pressure applied.

The extra period was mainly Newcastle West, as Corbett, Shane Stack and McMahon all on target.

Jimmy Lee’s men had the answers, and despite kicking 14 wides in all, they were able to find the scores as the bodies tired.

There was cramp all over the pitch for a finish, with the winter conditions proving difficult for both sides.

Adare had Joe Sweeney dismissed right at the death, for a second yellow, with Thomas Qulligan also off, with a black card.

Try as they might, Adare were unable to raise a third green flag with Newcastle West loading their defence right to the end.

Scorers for Newcastlewest: Mike McMahon 1-3 (0-1 mark); Thomas Quilligan (frees), Diarmaid Kelly (0-1 free) 0-2 each; Emmet Rigter, Iain Corbett, Darren O’Doherty, Shane Stack 0-1 each.

Scorers for Adare: Robbie Bourke 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1 free); Mark Connolly 0-3 (0-2f); Shane O’Connor 1-0; Willie Griffin 0-1.

Newcastlewest: Mike Quilligan; Mike O’Keeffe, Darren O’Doherty, Brian O’Sullivan; Ruadhan O’Connor, James Kelly, Cian Sheehan; Emmet Rigter, Iain Corbett (C); Seán Murphy, Seán Stack, Diamuid Kelly; Eoin Hurley, Mike McMahon, Bryan Nix.

Subs: T Qulligan for Hurley (47), T Donovan for Murphy (54), S Hurley for Kelly (full time), Hurley for O’Connor (61), A Neville for O’Doherty (83), S Murphy for D Kelly (89).

Adare: Jeffrey Alfred; Oran Collins, David Connolly, Jack Fitzgerald; Josh Toomey, Shane Doherty ©, Paul Maher; Roy Glesson, Joe Sweeney; Shane Costello, Robbie Bourke, Davy Lyons; Willie Griffin, Mark Connolly, Mikey Lyons. 

Subs: Shane O’Connor for D Lyons (13, inj), Jack English for Gleeson (54), Cian Sparling for Collins (62), Adam Canny for M Lyons (83), Charlie McCarthy for Griffin (89).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola).