Seven-goal Liberties preserve Limerick SHC status with win over Garryspillane

Players battle for possession during South Liberties and Garryspillane's Limerick SHC fixture. PICTURE: Brendan Gleeson

placeholder image — Players battle for possession during South Liberties and Garryspillane's Limerick SHC fixture. PICTURE: Brendan Gleeson

SOUTH LIBERTIES will be playing senior hurling in 2024 following their 7-13 to 2-18 win over Garryspillane in the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick SHC Group Two final round fixture in Adare.

Liberties saved their best performance of the season to see off the Bouncers who now drop down to the Premier IHC for next season after the defeat.

Barry Nash excelled for Brian Foley's charges with a scoring haul of 2-5, while Tom Ryan also helped himself to a couple of goals as Liberties ran riot.

Ryan got his first three pointer on five minutes but Garryspillane were level thanks to a Callum Sheehan strike with 19 minutes on the clock.

The move of Barry Nash from centre forward to full forward in the final stages of the first half proved decisive for Liberties. He fired a 21-metre free to the net and then placed another shot beyond the reach of Adam Sheehan for a third Liberties goal.

There was still time for a fourth of the half when Darragh Godfrey raised another green flag to leave the score at 4-7 to 1-9 at the break.

There was a barrage of scores in the opening stages of the second half but the fifth Liberties goal killed any hopes of a Bouncers comeback. Nash played a ball into the full forward line and Ryan flicked the ball first time passed the onrushing Sheehan.

Anthony Nash then added a sixth goal from a penalty, before Cooney bagged their seventh late on to see the east Limerick club to victory.

SCORERS - SOUTH LIBERTIES: Barry Nash 2-5 (1-3 frees), Tom Ryan 2-2, Barry Cooney 1-3 (0-1 free), Darragh Godfrey 1-1, Anthony Nash 1-0 (1-0 pen), David Garry and Jack Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

SCORERS - GARRYSPILLANE: Colin Ryan 1-7 (0-6 frees), Bryan Heavey 0-4 (0-3 frees), Calum Sheehan 1-1, John English 0-2, Micheál Burke, Dylan O'Shea, Declan Barry and Ryan Tobin 0-1 each.