Goals prove decisive as Mungret St Paul's get the better of Kildimo-Pallaskenry in Limerick Senior Football Championship

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S defeated Kildimo-Pallaskenry 4-9 to 0-15 in round three of the Limerick Senior Football Championship on Friday evening in Clarina. 

Goals proved to be the difference as Kevin O'Hagan's side got their second win of the Limerick SFC. After three rounds, last year's county semi-finalists already look primed to make it to the knockout stages. 

Meanwhile, Kildimo-Pallaskenry will be aiming to get wins in their final two games against Galtee Gaels and St Kieran's to book their place in the quarter-finals. 

The teams were tied at the break, but Mungret St Paul's pulled ahead in the second half, outscoring their opponents 2-5 to 0-5 thanks to their sharp ability to pick off scores when it mattered most.

The first score didn’t come until the seven minutes, when Mungret St Paul’s captain John Hutton’s 45, which looked set to sail over the bar, dipped into the Kildimo-Pallaskenry net. Hutton quickly followed that up with a free on 11 minutes to stretch the lead to 1-1 to 0-0.

Limerick senior football panelist Jack McCarthy got on the end of an excellent team which started inside Mungret St Paul's own half and McCarthy raised the second green flag of the evening for the 2023 intermediate county champions. Hutton added his second free on 15 minutes and Mungret St Paul's were 2-2 to 0-1 in front.

However Kildimo-Pallaskenry battled back impressively scoring the next nine points in-a-row. They hit two points in-a-row through Peter Nash to reduce the gap to five. Former Limerick footballer Cathal Downes took over in the middle of the field and Downes scored two pointers in this period and two points from play which meant Declan Nash's side were into the lead for the first time leading 0-9 to 2-2 with three minutes remaining in the first half. 

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Limerick U20 football captain Diarmuid Hynes responded with a two pointer of his own to end Mungret St Paul's scoring 13 minute drought but Nash hit back right before to have the sides level 2-4 to 0-10 at the interval. 

The contest continued to eb and flow at the start of the second half as Hynes and McCarthy traded scores. Jack McCathy then set up Tom Lloyd for Mungret St Paul's third goal when Lloyd neatly finished the ball into the back of the net. 

Hynes, Brendan Giltenane and Shane Barry had Mungret St Paul's 3-8 to 0-11 ahead of 45 minutes. Shane Barry's close range free then gave the city outfit some breathing space but not for long. 

Kildimo-Pallaskenry showed great character to stay going even when it looked like this contest was getting away from them. In the closing stages of the second half, Garry Sheehan and James Ranahan found the target. Jose Azzopardi added a two pointer and Kildimo-Pallaskenry were now just three points behind in injury time.

However, the victors pounced on a turnover and substitute Conor O'Longhaigh played the ball across to Shane Barry who sealed a six point victory in the end for Mungret St Paul's. 

SCORERS: 

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S: Shane Barry (1-2, 0-1 free), John Hutton (1-2, 1-0 45, 0-2 frees), Diarmuid Hynes (0-4, 0-1 two pointer), Tom Lloyd 1-0 and Jack McCarthy 1-0 each, Brendan Giltenane 0-1

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Cathal Downes (0-6, 0-1 two pointer free, 0-1 two pointer and 0-1 free), Peter Nash (0-3, 0-1 free), Tony McCarthy 0-2, Jose Azzopardi (0-1 two pointer), Gary Sheehan and James Ranahan 0-1 each

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S: Ronan McElligot; James Garvey, Robert Hegarty, Ciarán Uwatse; Jason Hassett, Killian Ryan, Tom Lloyd; Darragh O'Hagan, Jack McCarthy; Diarmuid Hynes, James Killian, Darragh O'Sullivan; Shane Barry, John Hutton, Brendan Giltenane. 

SUBS: Darragh Bridgeman for Hutton (44 minutes), Jack Somers for McCarthy (48 minutes), Frank Corcoran for Garvey (53 minutes), Conor O'Longaigh for O'Sullivan (60 minutes). 

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Kevin Walsh; Eddie McLoughlin, James Ranahan, Eddie McLoughlin; Shane O’Sullivan, Tony McCarthy, Cian O'Sullivan; Ciaran Barry, Cathal Downes; José Azzopardi, Peter Nash, Ciaran McMahon; Seánie Hartigan, Ryan Kelly, Ciaran Galvin.

SUBS: Paudie Hartigan for Shane O'Sullivan (42 minutes), Shaun Barry for Ciaran Barry (48 minutes), Garry Sheehan for Kelly (52 minutes), Ross Allen for Galvin (60 minutes).

REFEREE: John O'Halloran (Bruree).