Wins for Ballybrown, Adare and Mungret St Paul's in first round of Limerick SHC
ALL THREE games in Group 2 of the Bons Secours Hospital Limerick SHC took place this Friday evening with wins for Ballybrown, Adare and Mungret St Paul's.
Ballybrown saw off Monaleen in an impressive performance - seeing off their city division rivals on a 2-21 to 0-14 scoreline in Rathkeale.
A Barry Adams goal after two minutes sent Ballybrown on their way in a game that was played in dreadful conditions. Aidan O'Connor and Colin Coughlan also played their part in a convincing win.
The goal was the difference between the sides in the opening 30 minutes but two Andrew Cliffe points and one from O'Connor helped Ballybrown to a 1-8 to 0-5 half time advantage.
An excellent team move at the beginning of the second half, finished off by a stunning O'Connor finish to the net, saw Ballybrown into a 10-point advantage that they never looked in danger of relinquishing.
In a rain-soaked Fedamore, it was a one-sided affair as Mungret St Paul's saw off their nearest neighbours with 18 points to spare.
It finished Mungret 4-19 South Liberties 0-13 in this Limerick SHC Group 2 Round 1 game with the goals coming from Brendan Giltenane, Barry Duff (2), and Niall Mulcahy.
Brian Begley's charges had led by 12 points at half-time - 1-13 to 0-4 - after Mulcahy's goal after 16 minutes put the city side on their way.
Liberties struggled from the get-go and scored just two points from play in the opening half hour - the first of those coming midway through the half when Shane Brosnan slotted over.
By the time Mulcahy raised the green flag less than a minute later - directly after Mungret's puck out - Begley's side had opened up a seven-point lead. When Barry Duff got this first of two goals, 11 minutes after the restart, Mungret has extended their advantage to 14.
Credit to Liberties, Brian Foley's side fought to the end and despite Giltenane's goal midway through the second half, and Duff's second goal just three minutes in.
Elsewhere, Adare got life in Group 2 off to a winning start with a 4-11 to 1-11 win over Garryspillane in Kilmallock with captain Willie Griffin landing 3-5 for the victors.
Griffin did most of his goalscoring damage in the first half when he raised two green flags. He netted a third early in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
A Callum Sheehan goal did give the Bouncers hope of a comeback but Mikey Mackey's fourth goal for Adare saw them home to a nine-point winning margin despite missing the injured Declan Hannon.