Late goals ensure Patrickswell's passage to the Limerick SHC semi-finals

PATRICKSWELL booked their place in the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick SHC semi-final by overcoming a stiff Ballybrown challenge at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Three late goals saw 'The Well' win the game on a 4-17 to 1-17 scoreline but the game was on a knife edge until the 55th minute when Cian Lynch raised a green flag.

John Kirby and Aaron Gillane landed another goal each as Ballybrown pushed forward in the final stages. Patrickswell now play Kilmallock in the semi-finals.

It was a tight opening first half with Patrickswell going three clear, only for Ballybrown to come back with Colin Coughlan and Aidan O'Connor scores.

Eamonn Kelly's men were then 0-7 to 0-4 clear after 15 minutes but efforts by Coughlan and O'Connor (2) saw the game squared up for the first time.

Tom O'Brien got the all-important first goal in the 25th minute when he made a run through the Ballybrown defence and fired a shot beyond the reach of Josh O'Reilly. That helped Patrickswell to a 1-11 to 0-9 half time score.

Patrickswell moved eight clear in the opening exchanges of the second half but a Luke O'Connor goal brought Ballybrown back into the contest.

The game was all square at 1-15 apiece heading into the final 10 minutes but Ballybrown were unable to get the lead score with Lynch, Kirby and Gillane seeing Patrickswell home to victory.

SCORERS - PATRICKSWELL: Aaron Gillane 1-4 (0-3 frees), Tom O'Brien, Cian Lynch and John Kirby 1-1 each, Jordan Higgins and Diarmaid Byrnes (0-1 '65) 0-3 each, Evan Fitzgerald 0-2, Jack Kelleher and Cian Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

SCORERS: BALLYBROWN: Aidan O'Connor 0-8 (0-6 frees, 0-1 '65), Colin Coughlan 0-5 (0-1 free),  Luke O'Connor 1-2, Josh Adams and Barry Adams 0-1 each.

PATRICKSWELL: Jason Gillane; James Carrig, Mark Carmody, John Flynn; Evan Fitzgerald, Diarmaid Byrnes, Nigel Foley; Cian Lynch, Jack Kelleher; Jordan Higgins, Kevin O'Brien, Cian Fitzgerald; John Kirby, Aaron Gillane, Tom O'Brien.

SUBS: Patrick Kirby for Foley (42 mins), Josh Considine for Kelleher (49 mins), Calvin Carroll for K O'Brien (59 mins),

BALLYBROWN: Josh O'Reilly; Mikey Kiely, Stevie O'Reilly, Mark Sheehan; Kenny Power, Josh Adams, Ned Quinn; Mikey Gavin, Leigh Doolan; Ross Griffin, Luke O'Connor, Colin Coughlan; Aidan O'Connor, Ross Kenny, David Hartnett.

SUBS: Barry Adams for R Kenny (43 mins), Kevin Foster for Gavin (51 mins), Bryan Griffin for Hartnett (58 mins). 

REFEREE: Eamonn Stapleton (Doon).