Kilmallock came away with a 0-23 to 1-16 win over last season’s beaten finalists in an entertaining affair.
On Sunday afternoon Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale saw Kilmallock defeat Patrickswell on a scoreline of 0-23 to 1-16 to round off Group One of the Bon Secours Limerick Senior Hurling Championship.
The Balbec, who had just lost to Na Piarsaigh, turned things around with the help of a seven-point performance from Shane O’Brien of Limerick. Before throw-in, both teams had already advanced to the championship’s quarter-final stages.
Patrickswell, who were without Aaron Gillane and skipper Cian Lynch who never featured from the bench did strike a late goal in the last minute from Gavin Carey, but the damage was already done at that stage of the contest. Kilmallock benched Oisin O’Reilly and Benni Burke, giving senior experience to Tom Savage and Sean Carroll, who entered as a substitute.
Having led from the seventh minute to the end of regulation, the winners were worthy of the points. Despite a mixed season thus far, both teams advanced to the final six with rather ease, therefore this game lacked the tension that a group closer may have. Patrickswell need a lot of improvement, as evidenced by their third loss.
Robbie Hanley had two excellent scores, setting the tone for the first half, and O’Brien was also at the top of his game when he was on the ball. Diarmaid Byrnes and Jack Kelleher responded by working the umpires, and Jason Gillane scored from play with a deft play. Kilmallock consistently kept their opponents at a distance, and they received strong support from Savage and the returning Graeme Mulcahy, among others. At the end of the first half the scoreboard read 0–13 to 0–10.
Without a response, five points in nine minutes gave Peter Queally’s team the advantage. Once more, O’Brien and Hanley hit the mark, and Michael Houlihan made perfect free throws.
Both teams know they will require an additional gear or two to go to the showpiece showdown, even though they may yet face off in a county final. Overall, their attack lacked that intensity without Gillane and Lynch, though substitute Gavin Carey quickly grabbed a rebound after Barry Hennessy made a fantastic save on Evan Fitzgerald.
Queally was pleased to have added Paudie O’Brien to the roster as a full-back for the first time this season. On the first weekend of October, both teams will be hoping to have a stronger deck when they play Ballybrown or Monaleen.
Scorers: Kilmallock: S O’Brien, M Houlihan (5 f) 0-7 each, R Hanley 0-3, P Connery 0-2, G Mulcahy, P O’Loughlin, C Staunton, T Savage 0-1 each.
Patrickswell: J Kelleher (0-2 f), D Byrnes (0-3 f) 0-4 each; K O’Brien, P Kirby (0-2 f) 0-3; G Carey 1-0; J Gillane, E Harmon 0-1 each.
Kilmallock: Barry Hennessy (C); Liam English, Paudie O’Brien, Dan Joy; Robbie Hanley, Kevin O’Donnell, Paddy O’Loughlin; Killian Hayes, Michael Houlihan; Tom Savage, Pierce Connery, Gavin O’Mahoney; Graeme Mulcahy, Shane O’Brien, Phelim O’Reilly.
Subs: Conor Staunton for Hayes (30+1, inj); Conor Hanley Clarke for P O’Reilly (41); Robbie Egan for O’Mahoney (43); Sean Carroll for O’Donnell (47).
Patrickswell: Jason Gillane; Kevlin Lynch, Cian Fitzgerald, Mark Carmody; Evan Fitzgerald, Diarmaid Byrnes, James Carrig; Tom O’Brien, John Kirby; Cian Gorman, Jack Kelleher, Kevin O’Brien; Patrick Kirby, Seanie O’Brien, Eoin Harmon.
Subs: Josh Carey for Kelleher (40, inj); Gavin Carey for S O’Brien (45).
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Feohanagh).