Monaleen retain senior with precious Limerick football championship win over Ballylanders

MONALEEN secured their senior status for 2025 after securing a hard fought 2-10 to 0-9 Irish Wire Products Limerick senior football championship final round group stage win over Ballylanders at a breezy Kilteely on Saturday evening.

Goals in either half from topscorer Daniel Daly and Darragh Murray proved crucial in Monaleen securing their first win of the group stages of the championship.

The defeat results in Ballylanders, who had recorded a victory over Na Piarsaigh in an earlier group game, now facing into a relegation play-off against Ballysteen with the winners retaining their senior status for next year.

Monaleen had loftier ambitions than survival in the senior grade at the start of the year. However, on the back of four successive defeats in the group stages of the championship, the city side will be relieved to have come through Saturday's stiff test and maintain their status for next year. 

While disappointed to have lost out to Monaleen, on the evidence of their gritty display, Ballylanders will be hopeful that they can produce the level of performance in the play-off which will give them a fighting chance of retaining their place at the top table of Limerick club football.

With so much at stake for both sides, it was unsurprising that this was a hard-fought, highly competitive, 60 plus minutes.

Backed by a stiff breeze in the opening half, Monaleen enjoyed a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead.

However, it was Bally' who made the better start racing into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes with points from Jimmy Barry-Murphy (free), Shane O'Donoghue and Oisin Browne.

Monaleen rallied however and hit the front mid-way through the half after Darragh Siochrú set up Daniel Daly for a well-worked goal.

Daly added a point soon after, while another score from Tadhg Siochrú saw the city side into their three-point interval lead.

Siochrú finished an excellent flowing team move from Monaleen in the 41st minute to steer them into a 1-6 to 0-5 advantage.

An excellent double save from Bally' keeper Declan O'Connor in the 44th minute, initially from Cathal McCarthy and then a follow-up effort, kept the South Limerick side within touching distance of their opponents.

Eoin O'Mahoney's point from a mark for Bally' had kept them within three points of their opponents.

However, three points was as close as Bally' could get of their opposition. 

Monaleen led 1-9 to 0-8 after 54 minutes when Ballylanders came close to gaining a crucial goal. Substitute Mark O'Connell sent a high delivery dropping in front of the Monaleen goalmouth. As a forward, defender and goalkeeper went to gain possession, the ball eluded them all and collided back the post and ran to safety much to the relief of the city side's supporters. 

Danny Frewen's 55th minute pointed free did leave just three points in it again. However, it was as close at Ballylanders got.

Monaleen netted a crucial second goal when Darragh Murray combined with Daniel Daly for Murray to fist the ball to the net for a significant score. 

Ballylanders stubborn resistance was finally broken.

Murray then pointed a '45 to ease Monaleen seven points to the good and with it guarantee a place in senior ranks next year.

SCORERS: Monaleen: Daniel Daly 1-4 (0-1 free), Darragh Murray 1-1 (0-1 '45), Tadhg Siochrú 0-3, Darragh Siochrú 0-2 (0-1 free). Ballylanders: Jimmy Barry-Murphy 0-2 (frees), Danny Frewen 0-2 (0-1 free), Ciaran Kelly 0-2, Oisin Browne, Eoin O'Mahoney (mark), Shane O'Donoghue 0-1 each.

MONALEEN: Colm Mohally; Darragh Clifford, Eoin O'Shea, Ger Clancy; Tadhg Siochrú, Darragh Kennedy, Darren Golden-O'Mahony, Cathal McCarthy, Darragh Murray; Paul O'Shea, Aaron Kennedy, Niall Loughran (Capt), Darragh Siochrú, Daniel Daly, Paul Crosse. SUBS: Barry Griffin for O'Shea (37 mins), Andrew Kearney for Aaron Kennedy (42 mins), Darragh Killeen for McCarthy (54 mins), Cian Scully for Crosse (55 mins).

BALLYLANDERS: Declan O'Connor, Donal Kelly, Pa Holihan, Brian O'Connell; Oisin Browne, Pa Shanahan, Liam Dennehy; Jason leigh, Tom O'Dwyer; Robbie Downey, Shane O'Donoghue, Shaun Moloney, Jimmy Barry-Murphy, Eoin O'Mahoney, Ciaran Kelly. SUBS: Danny Frewen for O'Dwyer (half-time), Steve Fox for Moloney (half-time), Tom O'Dwyer for Downey (36 mins), Mark O'Connell for O'Dwyer (44 mins),Cillian O'Brien for McCarthy (55 mins).

REFEREE: Timmy McGrath (Oola)