Kildimo-Pallaskenry retain senior status with win over Na Piarsaigh in Mungret

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY have retained their senior status for 2026 with a hard-fought 3-16 to 1-12 win over Na Piarsaigh in the Irish Wire Products Limerick Senior Football Championship relegation play-off semi-final. 

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For Na Piarsaigh, they will face the loser in the other semi-final relegation play-off between Ballylanders and Oola. That tie will be played next week.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry got off to a flying start in Mungret. Limerick's Tony McCarthy's surging run down the middle of the park found Paudi Hartigan to give Declan Nash's side the lead inside a minute.

Further pointed efforts from Peter Nash, Paudi Hartigan and Garry Sheehan gave Kildimo-Pallaskenry a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes. 

Both sides were adjusting to the swirling breeze early on, with both sets of forwards guilty of a few wayward shots from time to time. 

Na Piarsaigh got up and running in the 11th minute when Evan Egan pointed via a free. 

Three points in the space of three minutes from Shaun Barry, Gary Sheehan and Seanie Hartigan extended the west Limerick men's lead to six, leading 0-7 to 0-1 after 15 minutes. 

Na Piarsaigh would soon hit a purple patch minutes later rallying off the next five points of the match via sharpshooter Egan (x3), Kieran Daly and Dylan Cronin.

A quickfire double from full-forward Gary Sheehan gave Kildimo-Pallaskenry a three point lead but a super Evan Egan two-pointer ensured only a point would separate the sides at the break, 0-9 to 0-8.

Dylan Cronin levelled the match a minute into the second half but the full-forward was unfortunate not to raise a green flag, his effort hitting the crossbar and sailing over Kevin Walsh.

A free from inter-county star Peter Nash, who was busy throughout, nudged Kildimo-Pallaskenry in front again before the first green flag of he day was raised. 

Seanie Hartigan found Paudi Hartigan at the back post after neat build-up play and the corner forward made no mistake leaving the score aty 1-10 to 0-9. 

Nash pointed again from a placed ball which was matched by Kieran Daly moments later from a placed ball effort of his own.

Declan Nash's charges began to hit their stride and points from Jose Azzopradi, Gary Sheehan and Ciarán McMahon put Kildimo-Pallaskenry seven points to the good, 1-14 to 1-10.

Just as the game looked to be getting away from Na Piarsaigh, Gordon Brown raised a green flag for his side after a short Kildimo-Pallaskenry kick-out went awry. 

Kildimo-Pallaskenry recovered and responded in the best way possible, with a goal of their own. Substitute Ryan Kelly blasted home a minute after Brown had found the net leaving the score 2-14 to 1-10 with ten minutes remaining.

There was to be no comeback from Na Piarsaigh in the final ten minutes with Kildimo-Pallaskenry managing and dictating the play through the likes of McCarthy, Sheehan and Nash. 

Nash finished off the day's scoring with a sublime finish late on to put real daylight between the sides although the scoreline perhaps does not reflect how even a contest it was at times.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry ran out ten-point winners on the day, winning 3-16 to 1-12 and will play Limerick senior football in 2026 whilst Na Piarsaigh will have to re-group and go again next week.  

SCORERS: 

KILDIMO/PALLASKENRY: Gary Sheehan 0-6, Peter Nash 1-3 (2f), Paudi Hartigan 1-2, Shaun Barry, Jose Azzopardi, Seanie Hartigan, Ryan Kelly and Ciarán McMahon 0-1 each. 

NA PIARSAIGH: Evan Egan 0-7 (4f) (1 2p), Gordon Brown 1-0, Kieran Daly and Dylan Cronin 0-2 each, Ronan Houlihan 0-1.

KILDIMO/PALLASKENRY: Kevin Walsh, Eddie McLoughlin, Ciaran Barry, Cian O'Sullivan, Davy Fitzgerald, Tony McCarthy, Jose Azzopardi, Shaun Barry, Cathal Downes, Ciarán McMahon, Peter Nash, Seanie Hartigan, Dylan Corrigan, Garry Sheehan, Paudi Hartigan SUBS: Ryan Kelly for Corrigan (49 mins), Ciaran Galvin for Paudi Hartigan (48 mins), Shane O'Sullivan for Ciaran Barry (51 mins), Ross Allen for Seanie Hartigan (54 minutes), Cian Arthur for Ciaran McMahon (56 minutes). 

NA PIARSAIGH: Eoghan Sherlock, Fionn O'Tiarnaigh, Ralph Leonard, Christy O'Hagan, Christy McMullan, Dean McLoughlin, Ronan Houlihan, Donal O'Connell, Jack McCarthy, Gordon Brown, Evan Egan, Kieran Daly, Daniel Collins, Dylan Cronin, Tommy Glynn SUBS: Adam Jordan for Cathal McMullan (42 mins), Jim Beary for Kieran Daly (45 mins), Eoghan Vukovic for Donal O'Connell (51 mins), Aaron Rush for Gordon Brown (58 mins).

REFEREE: Michael Browne (Dromcollogher/Broadford)