Resilient Camogue Rovers edge past Adare to claim historic Limerick Junior 'A' football final win

RESILIENT Camogue Rovers are celebrating their first county title at adult level following their dramatic 1-19 to 2-10 extra-time Woodlands House Hotel Limerick Junior 'A' football final success over Adare at a wet Kilmallock on Saturday afternoon.

A run of six unanswered points in the first period of extra-time, which propelled Camogue into a sizeable 0-18 to 1-9 advantage at the change of ends, proved crucial to their historic success.

The sides had finished deadlocked, Camogue Rovers 0-12, Adare 1-9, at the end of normal time. 

Adding to the signficance of the success is that fact that new champions Camogue Rovers are celebrating their centenary year in 2025.

Making the achievement all the sweeter too is the fact that Camogue had suffered a heavy defeat to Mungret St Paul's in the county Junior 'A' football 2023 final, while Ahane edged past them by a single point in the 2024 decider. 

However, there was no denying Camogue this time round. A 63rd minute free from topscorer and Man of the Match Anthony Neylon had sent the game to extra-time after Adare looked on course to win a first Junior title since 2000 when substitute James Hickey, who scored 1-2 from play after being sprung from the bench, kicked the West Limerick into a one point lead at the start of injury time.

Camogue emerged a transformed side for extra-time, energised and setting to their task with a great sense of relish. The South Limerick side reeled off half a dozen points without reply in the first period of extra-time courtesy of Michael O'Donnell, vice-captain Neylon, who scored four from placed balls during that spell, and James Meany, to take a firm grip on that game.

The last of Neylon's points came from a penalty award, just before the change of ends.

Camogue, who had no fewer than 10 different scores over the course of the final, did have to endure several anxious minutes in the second period of extra time as Garrett Sparling fired home an excellent 73rd minute goal for Adare which left just three points between the sides. 

However, a composed, assured Camogue side regained control when substitute Michael O'Donnell set up fellow substitute Shane Lyons for a crucial 78th minute goal which pushed their lead back out to six points, 1-18 to 2-9. 

The final whistle was greeted with a sense of great delight and relief by Camogue Rovers supporters who had waited a long time for this monumental success.

Defeat was tough for a tenacious Adare side who had contributed handsomely to an entertaining decider which was played in difficult weather conditions.

The steady rain which fell for much of the game made for difficult hadling conditions and a heavy playing surface. 

The sides were level 0-2 each after 11 minutes with Anthony Punch and Colm O'Loughlin pointing for Camoge Rovers, while Eric Costelloe and Sam Hickey replied for Adare.

Three points on the bounce, from Milo Kane and two pointed frees by Michael Mullally, eased Adare into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 17 minutes. 

Camogue Rovers outscored their opponents 0-3 to 0-2 over the remainder of the half to trail by just two points, 0-5 to 0-7, at the change of ends. 

Camogue were level within four minutes of the restart with scores from Paudie Hennessy and and Patsy Punch.

A hard-working Adare side looked to have gained a crucial edge in the 50th minute when substitute James Hickey finished to the net to help his side into a three point lead, 1-8 to 0-8.

However, Camogue showed admirable resiliance to add the next three points of the game through two Neylon frees and a fine effort from play from Pa Finn to draw level, 0-11 to 1-8, by the 57th minute. 

Hickey and Neylon traded further points before the end of normal time to send the game to 20 minutes of extra-time. 

Camogue's scoring spree in the first half of extra-time proved crucial as they powered on to claim a first county title at this level.

The winners benefitted from a handsome impact from their substitutes bench which was a telling factor in this famous win. 

SCORERS: Camogue Rovers: Anthony Neylon 0-9 (0-8 frees, 0-1 pen), Shane Lyons 1-0, Anthony Punch, Patsy Punch (1 free), 0-2 each, Pa Finn, Michael O'Donnell, James Meany, Colm O'Loughlin, Paudie Hennessy, Gearoid O'Leary 0-1 each. Adare: James Hickey 1-2, Garrett Sparling 1-0, Michael Mullally (frees), Milo Kane, Sam Hickey 0-2 each, Rory O'Connor (free) Eric Costelloe 0-1 each.

CAMOGUE ROVERS: Mark Cronin, Paudie Mulcahy, Brendan O'Donnell, Conor Hynes, Pa Finn, Thomás O'Donnell, Jack O'Neill, Finn Clancy, Peader McCarthy; Patsy Punch, Colm O'Loughlin, Paudie Hennessy; Anthony Punch (Joint-Captain), Anthony Neylon (Joint-Captain), Gearoid O'Leary. SUBS: Ross O'Brien Maye for Anthony Punch (injured, half-time), Shane Lyons for Patsy Punch (48 mins), Michael O'Donnell for Thomás O'Donnell (53 mins), Christopher Crotty for O'Leary (55 mins), James Meany for O'Neill (57 mins), Adam Lyons for Hynes (73mins), Daniel Clifford for McCarthy, Greg Dempsey for O'Brien Maye (both 78 mins).

ADARE: Brendan Carmody, Fionan Kelleher, Willie Lynch, Cormac O'Connor; Brandon Duffy (Joint-Captain), Dylan McNamara, Garrett Sparling; Mike Keating, Michael Mullally; Milo Kane, Rory O'Connor, Sam Hickey; Eric Costelloe (Joint-Captain), Sean Connolly, Conor Conway. SUBS: James Hickey for Lynch (36 mins), Patrick Kearney for Conway (40 mins), Chris Flanagan for Kelleher (53 mins), Enda Collins for Connolly (66 mins), James Keating for Kane, Bill Supple for Costelloe (half-time extra-time).

REFEREE: David Burke (Na Piarsaigh)