Ex-Ireland rugby star inspires Ahane to victory over Fr Casey's in Limerick Premier Junior 'A' football final

AHANE were crowned Limerick Premier Junior 'A' Football Champions on Saturday afternoon when they just did enough to defeat Fr Casey's 0-10 to 0-9 in Askeaton on Saturday afternoon. 

The east Limerick side have now achieved back-to-back promotions after winning the Junior A Football Championship and Premier Junior 'A' Football Championship in the last two seasons. They will now play intermediate football in the 2026 season. 

Garry Brennan's side led 0-7 to 0-2 at half time and they fought off a second half comeback from Fr Casey's to hold on for a one point victory in the end. Former Clare footballer Brennan took charge of Ahane this year. Ex Irish Rugby international Sean Cronin produced an impressive display at number six for the victors, while Ian Keatley was ruled out of this contest through injury. 

Fr Casey's will be disappointed to come up short but there are still plenty of positives to take for the west Limerick club heading into 2026. Their second team has offered players an opportunity to develop and progress onto the club’s senior team.

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Ahane made use of the strong breeze in the early stages of the first half. Two frees from Liam Og Glynn and a point from Donal Dawson had them ahead by 0-3 after twelve minutes. 

Fr Casey's were struggling to win primary possession around the middle third and it took them fiveteen to get up and running when Jake Quirke got their first score of the half.  Liam Óg Glynn scored two points in quick succession, the first from a free and the second from play to extend Ahane’s lead to 0-5 to 0-1. Shortly after that, Paddy Hussey fisted the ball across to corner-back Anton Donohue, whose shot was well saved by former Fr Casey’s senior goalkeeper Sean Scannell

On 27 minutes, Billy Quirke replied to reduce the gap to three points but then right before the interval Ahane goalkeeper Tristan O'Sullivan stepped up with a two point free to send his side in leading 0-7 to 0-2 at the break.

Five minutes into the second half, Liam Og Glynn gave his side some breathing space extending their lead out to six points. However, Fr Casey's began to squeeze the Ahane kickout and they got rewarded for their efforts. 

Fr Casey's rallied through a neat point from wing back Cathal Harnett. Ex Limerick footballer Robert Browne then sent over a spectacular two point effort with the outside of his boot and they now just trailed 0-8 to 0-5 on the third quarter mark. 

Billy Quirke began to find space in the second half in the Casey's full forward line and Quirke reduced the gap to minimium with 12 minutes remaining. The Abbeyfeale men did have two opportunities to level the contest but their shooting in front of goals let them down on both occasions. 

In a two-minute spell, Adam O’Connell and Craig O’Connell combined to restore Lisnagry outfit's advantage, putting them 0-10 to 0-7 in front. Fr Casey’s threw everything at their opponents deep into injury time, with Marc Nolan and Jamie Dore keeping the game finely balanced. They pressed hard for an equaliser to force extra time, but the resilient Ahane defence held firm to secure a narrow one-point victory.

Ahane will now switch their focus to a Munster Junior Football Championship semi-final against Shamrocks of Waterford or Buttevant of Cork on Saturday November 22 in a Cork or Limerick venue. 

SCORERS: 

Ahane: Liam Og Glynn (0-5, 0-4 frees), Tristan O'Sullivan (0-2, 0-1 two point free), Donal Dawson, Craig O'Connell and Adam O'Connell 0-1 each

Fr Casey's: Billy Quirke 0-3, Robert Browne (0-2, 0-1 two point free), Jake Quirke, Marc Nolan, Cathal Harnett and Jamie Dore 0-1 each

AHANE: Tristan O'Sullivan; Anton Donohue, Peter O'Grady, Dylan O'Connell; Mark Murphy, Sean Cronin, Craig O'Connell (Captain); Ronan Fox, Gavin Rowsome; Padraig Harnett, Liam Og Glynn, Paddy Hussey; Donal Dawson, Mark Donnellan, Adam O'Connell. 

SUBS: Conor Bickford for Murphy (40 minutes). 

FR CASEY'S: Sean Scanell; Cillian Cotter, Tommy O'Keefe, Callum O'Connor; Cathal Harnett, Robert Browne (Captain), Jake Quirke; Bevan Scannell, Cathal Woulfe; Morgan Scannell, Eoghan O'Connell, Jamie Dore; Billy Quirke, Padraic McEnery, Dylan O'Connor. 

SUBS: Liam O'Connor for O'Connell (38 minutes), Eoin McEnery for Woulfe (43 minutes), Eoghan O'Connell for Harnett (49 minutes), Marc Nolan for Dylan O'Connor (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Jonathan Hayes (St Senan's)