Goals the difference as Adare gain vital victory over Ballylanders in Limerick Senior Football Championship

GOALS were the telling factor in Adare's victory over Ballylanders in the third round of the Irish Wire Products Ltd County Senior Football Championship, as they emerged 2-10 to 0-9 victors on Thursday evening in Kilmallock. 

Played in front of a healthy crowd, Ballylanders remained in the game for large portions, going in at half-time only one point down after a Joe Sweeney goal for Adare. However, Mike O'Mahoney's pointed frees and a second goal by Shane O'Connor put the final nail in the coffin and gave Adare their second win of the championship.

Mike O'Mahoney opened his scoring for the evening with a fabulous point from the 45-yard line within the opening minute, followed closely by Hugh Bourke effort. 

Adare's Cian Sparling made a dashing run from corner back to make it 0-3 in his teams favour after four minutes. Ballylanders finally got on the scoreboard with a point from Shane O'Donoghue after 15 minutes. Captain Danny Frewen followed this score up with two points of his own, one from play and the other from a free, to level the game with 17 minutes played. 

The number ten's from both sides exchanged scores before Adare's forwards went on the attack with Paul Maher making a fantastic pass into a cutting Joe Sweeney who belted his shot into the left hand side of the Ballylanders net, leaving them 1-4 to 0-4 up.

Ballylanders finished out the half with two frees slotted over by Jimmy Barry Murphy and Danny Frewen to leave it 1-4 to 0-6 at half-time. 

Adare came out the more determined team after the break with O'Mahoney slotting over another free for his side. Bally fought back though with two quick scores of their own from Jason Leigh and Danny Frewen yet again to leave the sides level after 37 minutes. 

A further two frees from Adare's O'Mahoney kept the scoreboard ticking over for Harry Gleeson's side with Adare able to attack from deep within their own half and convert scores on the other end of the field.

Adare extended their lead with another rocket of a goal, this one from full-forward Shane O'Connor after 54 minutes. Landers struggled to get a footing in the second-half with their last point from play coming off Frewen's foot.

Gleeson's side finished out their victory with three more points from Mike O'Mahoney, Shane O'Connor and Michael Southgate to give them the seven point win. 

SCORERS: ADARE: Mike O'Mahoney 0-6 (0-5 frees), Shane O'Connor 1-1, Joe Sweeney 1-0, Cian Sparling, Hugh Bourke and Michael Southgate 0-1 each. 

BALLYLANDERS: Danny Frewen 0-5 (0-2 frees), Jimmy Barry Murphy 0-1 (0-1 free), Shane O'Donoghue, Robbie Downey and Jason Leigh 0-1 each

ADARE: Jeffery Alfred, Jack Fitzgerald, David Connolly, Cian Sparling, Eoghan Costelloe (C), Jack English, Darragh Lane, Paul Maher, Davy Lyons, Mike O'Mahony, Joe Sweeney, Hugh Bourke, Adam Canny, Shane O'Connor, Mikey Lyons. SUBS: Roy Gleeson for M Lyons (19 minutes), Shane Doherty for D Lyons (Half-Time), Shane Costelloe for A Canny (Half-Time), Michael Southgate for J Sweeney (45 minutes), Stephen Flynn for D Lane (55 minutes)

BALLYLANDERS: Declan O'Connor, Donal Kelly, Pa Shanahan, Tom O'Dwyer, Oisin Browne, Jason Leigh, Cillian O'Brien, Eoin O'Mahony, Darren Frewan, Robbie Downey, Brian O'Connell, Ciaran Kelly, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Danny Frewen (C), Shane O'Donoghue. SUBS: Philip O'Sullivan for R Downey (48 minutes), Liam Dennehy for P Shanahan (55 minutes)

REFEREE: Donnacha O'Callaghan