Barry Coleman inspires Rathkeale to timely Limerick senior football championship win over Na Piarsaigh

RATHKEALE got their first win since being promoted back to the Irish Wire Products Limerick Senior Football Championship after they saw off Na Piarsaigh on a 1-20 to 1-8 scoreline  in their Group 1 fixture in Askeaton on Friday night.

Twelve points from county star Barry Coleman set them well on their way with the midfielder landing five two point frees, as well as two second half efforts from play.

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Ryan Stapleton’s goal late on sealed the victory for a Rathkeale side that faces Fr Casey’s next up in round four of Group One.

Na Piarsaigh, despite a positive enough opening 20 minutes, were unable to find the necessary scores in the second half to mount a challenge to a dominant Rathkeale outfit.

The sides were level twice in the opening few minutes before Rathkeale had the first goal chance with Niall Sheahan’s shot striking the post and bouncing to safety.

Coleman then gave a taster of what was to come later in the half with his first two point free but it was Na Piarsaigh that bagged the first goal.

Gordon Brown’s delicate pass was squared across the goal by Ralph Leonard and Daniel Collins slotted into the net to put his side 1-2 to 0-4 ahead after 11 minutes.

Rathkeale responded swiftly with a Tommy Dillane two-pointer from play but errors in defence saw Na Piarsaigh score the next four with Evan Egan and Kieran Daly landing two each.

It was then that Coleman’s distance shooting took over. He kicked four frees from outside the 40-metre arc on the bounce to leave the score at 0-14 to 1-6 at the short whistle.

Na Piarsaigh made a solid start to the second half with Daly raising two white flags in the opening three minutes but they failed to hit the target in the remainder of the contest.

Coleman, Wilmott and Eoin O’Donnell saw Rathkeale took full control once again, while further efforts from Andrew Meade and Coleman once again saw Rathkeale in a comfortable position long before Stapleton’s goal secured victory.

SCORERS: Rathkeale: Barry Coleman 0-12 (5 2pf), Ryan Stapleton 1-0, Patrick Wilmott, Tommy Dillane (2pt) and Andrew Meade 0-2 each, Eoin O’Donnell and Michael Sheahan 0-1 each; Na Piarsaigh: Evan Egan (1f) and Kieran Daly (2f) 0-4 each, Daniel Collins 1-0.

RATHKEALE: Darren Jones; Michael Sheahan, Bryan Meade, Paudie Mulcaire; Jack Hennessy, Dean Muane, Niall Sheahan; Tommy Dillane, Barry Coleman; Ryan Stapleton, Andrew Meade, Padraig Cronin; Patrick Wilmott, Andrew White, David Clancy. Subs: Eoin O’Donnell for Cronin (41 mins), Evan Barrett for Mulcaire (60 mins), Timmy Hogan for Wilmott (60 mins).

NA PIARSAIGH: Eoghan Sherlock; Ian Leonard, Ralph Leonard, Christy O’Hagan; Fionn O Tiarnaigh, Cathal McMullan, Ronan Houlihan; Gordon Brown, Jack McCarthy; Donal O’Connell, Evan Egan, Cian Counihan; Dean McLoughlin, Kieran Daly, Daniel Collins. Subs: Tommy Glynn for McCarthy (36 mins), Jim Beary for McLoughlin (36 mins), Eoghan Vukovic for O Tiarnaigh (45 mins), Adam Jordan for Ralph Leonard (55 mins).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (St Senans).