Newcastle West win again in Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship with victory over Garryspillane

NEWCASTLE WEST emerged from a tough, intense and abrasive Lyons of Limerick fourth round premier intermediate hurling championship clash against Garryspillane on a 0-19 to 1-12 scoreline in Ballyagran on Thursday evening to keep their 100% record intact.

The win ensures the West Limerick side are all but guaranteed a place in the semi-finals of the championship despite three qualifying rounds still left to play.

For three-quarters of this top-of-the-table clash, there was no indication of how how the final outcome would turn out as every time one side lifted the level of their performance, the other would find the response.

A lightning start by the Magpies was reeled in by the game's only goal from Hugh Flanagan penalty for Garryspillane. Scoring went tit-for-tat for the remainder of the first half and, when the Bouncers looked as if they had finally got all their parts working together after the break, they were overtaken by a Newcastle response that turned out to be the decisive passage of play.

This second successive defeat now leaves Garryspillane's season in the balance but, despite the closeness of the play, they could have little complaint with the result. Just six points from play summed up their difficulties in piercing the opposing defence, particularly when the supply line to Colin Ryan, their most effective forward, was cut off in the second half.

Newcastle started on fire as Bryan Nix and Eoin Hurley with points from a free and from play shot them three ahead in as many minutes.

However, their momentum was abruptly halted when Colin Ryan was held catching high in the square off the Bouncers' first attack and Hugh Flanagan buried the resulting penalty.

Undeterred, the points continued to flow at the other end of the field as Nix and Con Hayes put the Magpies back in front with scores, but the Knocklong side were increasing their presence across the lines and, with Ryan acting as the target, his pair of points either side of a Flanagan free put them ahead by the quarter mark.

A few stoppages interrupted the continuity and Newcastle West were first to regain their stride as well as the lead through Hurley's pointed free and Brian Foley.

However, after an exchange of scores between Callum Sheehan and Foley, advantage changed hands again as Flanagan and Ryan found the mark.

Hurley then converted a brace of frees and Flanagan sent one over one in reply, before Hayes's point deep into added time left the West Limerick side leading 0-11 to 1-7 at the interval.

After the restart, Flanagan's pointed free was cancelled out by a score from Hayes. Flanagan and Hurley then swapped pointed frees before the Bounces found their stride first and regained the lead off a pair of Flanagan pointed frees.

Going into the final quarter, however, the Magpies found that extra reserve of energy to prevent Garryspillane finding their front men with space in front of them and slowly took control of the game.

A Hurley free drew them level and his next score from a placed ball put them back in front. However, their efforts to open up some pace on the scoreboards were lost on a string of wides although they were still rattling the Bouncers' shape enough to draw fouls.

Another Hurley pointed free followed by Hayes plundering his fourth point from play got them back on track before a Flanagan free brought the gap back to two points.

The Magpie defence soaked up whatever was thrown at them. Pressure eased going into added time with another Hurley pointed free and, just to show forwards how to close out the result, Séamus Hurley came all the way up from full-back to hoist over the insurance score.

SCORERS: NEWCASTLE WEST: Eoin Hurley 0-10 (9 frees), Con Hayes 0-4, Bryan Nix, Brian Foley 0-2 each, Séamus Hurley 0-1; GARRYSPILLANE: Hugh Flanagan 1-7 (1-0 penalty, 0-6 frees), Colin Ryan 0-4, Ryan Tobin 0-1.

NEWCASTLE WEST: Mike Quilligan; Maurice Murphy, Séamus Hurley, Colm Foley; Michael Cremin, Ethan Hurley, Diarmuid Lyons; Ruadhán O'Connor, Brian Hurley; Bryan Nix, Con Hayes, Diarmaid Kelly; Cathal Hayes, Eoin Hurley, Brian Foley. SUBS: John Whelan for Ethan Hurley (injured, 23 minutes), Willie Hurley for Cathal Hayes (42 minutes), Mike McMahon for Brian Foley (55 minutes), Evan McMahon for Diarmaid Kelly (63 minutes).

GARRYSPILLANE: Adam Sheehan; Declan Heavey, Robert Sampson, Ciarán Sheehan; Jamie Morrissey, Dylan O'Shea, Josh Dineen; Eoin O'Mahony, Mark Quinlan; James O'Sullivan, Bryan Heavey, Hugh Flanagan; Callum Sheehan, Colin Ryan, Ryan Tobin. SUBS: Shane Ryan for James O'Sullivan (50 minutes), Peter Morrissey for Bryan Heavey (58 minutes).

REFEREE: Timmy McGrath (Oola).