Goals prove decisive as Rathkeale see off Claughaun in Limerick intermediate football championship semi-final

RATHKEALE did enough in the end to defeat Claughaun in the Limerick intermediate football championship semi-final on Saturday afternoon, 2-9 to 0-8.

Goals in either half proved to be the difference as Rathkeale went one step further than last's year championship campaign. Rathkeale were defeated by Mungret St Paul's in the IFC semi-final last year.

The west Limerick side were the better team in the opening period. Rathkeale controlled the game in the opening period and Claughaun struggled to live with their opponents intensity. 

The city based side were different team in the second half but Claughaun couldn't get the goal they desperately needed. 

Rathkeale suffered a setback when Bryan Meade, Barry Coleman and Paul White were ruled out to the start the game for their club. 

Mikey Meade's side started brightly. Full forward Mikey Morrissey got the scoring underway. Rathkeale Wing forward Eoin O'Donnell took on the Claughaun defence and O'Donnell fist passed the ball across the square to Patrick Wilmott who cooly slotted the ball into the back of the net after four minutes. 

Rathkeale captain Andrew White began to cause the Claughaun defence problems. White hit three points in-a-row to put Rathkeale 1-4 to 0-0. 

Claughaun were struggling to get their hands on the ball from their own kickout. Ronan Power drove his kickout long and Jamie McGarry won the ball in the middle of the field. Space began to open up for McGarry and he layed the ball off to Rory Ward and Ward registered Claughaun's first score after 14 minutes. 

Aodhan Frain added a free to keep last year's senior side within touching distance. Rathkeale made full advantage of the breeze in the remaing 10 minutes of th first half. Andrew White, Niall Sheahan, and Andrew Meade were all on target to push their club 1-7 to 0-2 in front at the interval. 

Claughaun needed a response after the break and to their credit they reponded. Old Christan's hurler Kevin Howard nailed a point from a difficult angle. Gary Bateman claimed a mark outside the D and Bateman made no mistake from the resulting mark. Jamie McGarry landed an effort from distance and Claughaun trailed 1-7 to 0-5. 

Rathkeale centre half forward Andrew Meade dictated the play in the number 11 channel on Saturday afternoon. Meade got his second point of the afternoon to give his club some breathing space. 

Callum Kiely and Jamie McGarry were off the mark to make it 1-8 to 0-7. Claughaun were forcing Rathkeale to make mistakes and turnovers were proving costly. 

Rathkeale played a 45 short and Limerick senior footballer Barry Coleman tapped over a neat point. Claughan need goals if they were force to extra time. 

Claughaun drove the ball long and Kevin Howard was now lining out on the edge of the square. Howard caught the ball and drove his shot over the bar. Howard won the ball after that on the edge of the square again and the Rathkeale defence stood tall to deny Howard. 

Rathkeale moved the ball quickly up the field and Andrew Meade set up substitute Eoin Kelly for the insurance score. Kelly placed the ball into the bottom corner and Rathkeale secured a seven point over Claughaun.

Rathkeale will now face Galbally in the IFC final. Late on, Claughaun full back Craig Carew was dismissed on a red card by referee Kieran Guina for an off the ball incident. 

SCORERS: RATHKEALE: Andrew White (0-4, 0-1 free), Patrick Wimott and Eoin Kelly 1-0 each, Andrew Meade 0-2, Barry Coleman, Mikey Morrissey and Niall Sheahan 0-1 each. CLAUGHAUN: Jamie McGarry and Kevin Howard 0-2 each, Aodhan Frain (0-1, 0-1 free), Rory Ward 0-1, Calum Kiely and Gary Bateman 0-1 each

RATHKEALE: Mark White; Michael Sheahan, Niall Sheahan, Paudie Mulcaire; Adam Shanagher, Jack Hennessy, Dean Maune; Tommy Dillane, David Clancy; Evan Barrett, Andrew Meade, Eoin O'Donnell; Andrew White (Captain), Mikey Morrissey, Patrick Wilmott. SUBS: Barry Coleman for Niall Sheahan (42 minutes), Eoin Kelly for David Clancy (58 minutes).

CLAUGHAUN: Ronan Power; Dean Kennedy, Craig Carew, Darren Kenihan, Craig Kelly, Sam Mullins, Sean Whelan; Kevin Howard, Cian Graham; Robert Galligan, Alex Kelly, Aodhan Frain; Calum Kelly, Rory Ward, Gary Bateman. SUBS: Jamie McGarry for Galligan (10 minutes, injury), JJ O'Neill for Alex Kiely (Half-Time), Padraig O'Reilly for Kenihan (46 minutes), Kyrin McGarry for Ward (58 minutes).

REFEREE: Kieran Guina (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).