Fr Casey's and Rathkeale share spoils in exciting Limerick senior football championship clash

FR CASEY’S and Rathkeale couldn’t be separated as the West Limerick sides finished 0-11 apiece in an entertaining Irish Wire Products Limerick Senior Football Championship clash at Quaid Park in Coolyroe on Saturday evening.

It looked likely a Rathkeale victory when Limerick star Barry Coleman put Rathkeale four points up with than 12 minutes to go, before Fr Casey’s kicked six of the last eight points to make it a drawn game.

The point keeps both sides in the fight for a quarter-final spot as they head into the final round of Group 1 games in two weeks’ time.

After two early wides, Fr Casey’s, playing against a strong breeze in the opening half, opened the scoring through a well worked effort from midfielder Eliah Riordan as the Abbeyfeale men made their intentions felt from the get-go.

A well-taken free from Rathkeale captain Andrew White got his side off the mark minutes later before Mikey Morrissey doubled Mikey Meade’s charges’ lead.

However, two quick-fire efforts from the impressive Riordan – a point from play and a free – had Fr Casey’s ahead by once more.

With Rathkeale on the backfoot at this stage against a strong breeze, Limerick star Barry Coleman stepped up to the plate with a fantastic two-pointer followed by a two-point free to put three between the sides – 0-6 to 0-3.

With Coleman showing his class, Rathkeale began to really take a foothold on proceedings in midfield, but Fr Casey’s took full advantage of the conditions to narrow the deficit to two as Adrain Enright and Dylan Quirke efforts either side of an Andrew Meade point made it a two-point game at half time – 0-7 to 0-5 in favour of Rathkeale.

After a very nervy start to the second half, a White free midway through the final half hour extended Rathkeale’s lead to three yet again, despite playing against an even stronger breeze in the final half hour.

By the time Coleman kicked over less than five minutes later, it looked the two points were making their way to Seán Finn Park.

However, the men from Abbeyfeale had other ideas.

It took Fr Casey’s 19 minutes into the second half to score their first point of the final 30 minutes, but Adrian Enright’s 49th minute effort kickstarted a mini revival for the West Limerick men.

An Eliah Riordan two-pointer followed by a superb point from substitute Danny McCarthy minutes later drew the sides level for a third time before both sides again exchanged points as time added on quickly approached.

Rory O’Brien looked like he’d won the game for Fr Casey’s with a minute to go, but up stepped White to draw Rathkeale level with a late free.

Next up for third-placed Fr Casey’s is a clash with bottom side Na Piarsaigh in two weeks' time, whilst fifth-placed Rathkeale face fourth-place Oola in what promises to be an exciting final group of games in Group 1.

SCORERS: Rathkeale: Barry Coleman 0-5, (2p, 2pf), Andrew White 0-3 (3f), Andrew Meade 0-2, Mikey Morrissey 0-1. Fr Casey’s: Eliah Riordan 0-6 (2f, 2p), Adrain Enright 0-2, Danny McCarthy, Rory O’Brien, Dylan Quirke 0-1 each

RATHKEALE: Darren Jones; Michael Sheahan, Bryan Meade, Paudie Mulcaire; Niall Sheahan, Jack Hennessy, Dean Maune; Tommy Dillane, Barry Coleman; David Clancy, Andrew Meade, Eoin O’Donnell; Mikey Morrissey, Patrick Wilmott, Andrew White (capt). Sub: Adam Shanagher for Clancy (42 minutes).

FR CASEY’S: Shane O’Connell; John Riordan, Matthew O’Connor, Culann Quigley; Michael Kilbridge, Sean Kilbridge, Mark McCarthy; Eliah Riordan, Diarmuid Buckley; Dylan Quirke; Sam Quigley, Rory O’Brien; Adrian Enright, David Ward, Ronan Quirke. Subs: Martin Scannell for Ronan Quirke (45 minutes), Danny McCarthy for Dylan Quirke (47 minutes), Calum Boyle for Quigley, Oisin Woulfe for Ward (both 58 minutes), DJ Stack for Buckley (60 minutes).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Ballylanders)