Mungret-St Paul's defeat Ballylanders to reach knock-out stages of Limerick senior football championship

IN-FORM Mungret St Paul's have booked their place in the knock-out stages of this year's Irish Wire Products Limerick senior football championship after recording a comprehensive 4-8 to 0-6 victory over Ballylanders in difficult wet conditions in Kilteely on Thursday evening.

Two goals on either side of half-time sealed a comprehensive win for the city side as they extended their unbeaten championship run to four games while consolidating their grip on top spot in Group Two and with it a place in the semi-finals of the championship.

Darragh Bridgeman scored a brace for Mungret. However, the attacker was forced off just on full-time with an unfortunate injury.

Mungret-St Paul's raced into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead by the 13th minute but five unanswered points from Ballylanders had the game level by the 24th.

2023 county intermediate champions Mungret-St Paul's responded immediately with a Darragh O’Hagan goal before Shane O’Donoghue and Rory McElligott traded points to end the half 2-3 to 0-6.

Ballylanders failed to score in the second half as the city side completely took control with a 43rd minute Darragh Bridgeman goal effectively ending the game to make the score 3-5 to 0-6. Mungret-St Paul's substitute Ciaran Deane then added a fourth goal in the 53rd minute before John Hutton kicked two late frees.

Mungret St Pauls now have their sights firmly fixed on a county semi-final berth when they take on St Kieran’s in three weeks.

Meanwhile, Ballylanders will face a shootout against Monaleen to avoid a place in the relegation play-off.

SCORERS: Mungret-St Paul's: Darragh Bridgeman 2-0, Darragh O’Hagan 1-0, Ciaran Deane 1-0, John Hutton 0-3 (frees), Rory McElligott 0-1 (45), James Killian 0-1, Shane Barry 0-1, Diarmuid Hynes 0-1, Jason Hassett 0-1. Ballylanders: Danny Frewen 0-2, Jimmy Barry Murphy 0-1, Mark O’Connell 0-1, Oisin Browne 0-1, Shane O’Donoghue 0-1.

Mungret St Pauls: Ronan McElligott, Jason Hassett, Robert Hegarty, Ciaran Uwatse, Frank Corcoran, Killian Ryan, Oisin Moss, Darragh O’Hagan, Brian Barry, James Killian, John Hutton, Jack McCarthy, Brendan Giltenane, Shane Barry, Darragh Bridgeman. Subs: Diarmuid Hynes for Brendan Giltenane (35 mins), Ciaran Deane for Jack McCarthy (45 mins), Brendan Giltenane for Ciaran Uwatse (58 mins).

Ballylanders: Declan O’Connor, Donal Kelly, Pa Shanahan, Tom O’Dwyer, Oisin Browne, Jason Leigh, Cillian O’Brien, Eoin O’Mahoney, Mark O’Connell, Shaun Maloney, Brian O’Connell, Ciaran Kelly, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Danny Frewen, Shane O’Donoghue. Subs: Steve Fox for Ciaran Kelly (43 mins), Liam Dennehy for Tom O’Dwyer (45 mins), Tommy McDonnell for Donal Kelly (45 mins), John Hayes for Shaun Moloney (55 mins), Robbie Downey for Ciaran Kelly.

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola)