Monaleen emerge victorious over Adare in group two of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship

MONALEEN have made it two wins from three in group two of the Bon Secours Hospital County Senior Hurling Championship after a 2-25 to 3-15 victory over Adare in Bruff on Saturday evening. 

An impressive display from Monaleen's forwards saw them comfortably ahead at the break with Adare's Declan Hannon scoring two vital goals for his side in the encounter. However, it was the city team that maintained the lead throughout an entertaining contest to claim the win. 

This was Adare's third loss of the championship as they face Ballybrown in a crucial fixture next week. Monaleen on the other hand will come up against Dromin-Athlacca looking to secure a third victory in the group stages. 

Monaleen started the fixture off brightly with two rapid scores from Lorcan Lyons, one from a free struck from within his own half and another from play. Adare replied with points from Brendan O'Connor and Sean Connolly after four minutes to level the game at 0-2 each. 

Adare struggled in defence as they sought to curb the threat of the Monaleen forwards, who found themselves wide open on several occasions.

On the next play, Dara Ferland fired the sliothar across the Adare goal to find an unmarked Donnacha O'Dálaigh who shot the sliothar into the back of the net making it 1-2 to 0-3 after six minutes of play. 

Monaleen pushed on after this early goal with top class scores coming from Dara Ferland, Eoghan O'Driscoll and Lorcan Lyons to put them well ahead. 

Adare's use of possession was ultimately what let them down as misplaced passes fell into Monaleen hands. Despite this, Adare got three crucial frees from midfielder John Fitzgibbon before Declan Hannon sneaked in behind his marker from the 45 yard-line with the sliothar. 

The Limerick senior hurling captain made no mistake, rifling his shot to the net to make it 1-11 to 1-6 in Monaleen's favour. 

Two pointed frees from Monaleen's Matthew Fitzgerald finished off the half as they city team remained firmly in control of the contest at half-time, leading 1-13 to 1-9. 

Deployed in a new role of corner forward Hannon used his height to claim a ball sent in immediately after the re-start, before blasting the sliotar into the back of the net immediately after the break.

This goal seemed to spur on the opposition, however, as Monaleen's forwards were able to get free of their markers with ease,  pointing some beautiful scores from Lorcan Lyons and Limerick senior player Donnacha O'Dálaigh.

Adare hit back though with three quick scores as they attempted to reduce the deficit. However, after 47 minutes it was still Monaleen well on top, leading 1-21 to 2-13. 

Scores were exchanged between the sides in the closing ten minutes as Monaleen looked to put the game to bed. A terrific pass from Andrew La Touche Cosgrave found the on-running Ben Hayes who rifled the sliothar into the back of the net to leave the result beyond doubt.

Adare were awarded a penalty in the closing minutes. However, the damage was done at this stage with Monaleen coming away with the seven-point victory.

SCORERS: ADARE: Declan Hannon 2-4 (0-3 frees), John Fitzgibbon 1-7 (0-4 frees), Brendan O'Connor, Ronan Connolly, Mike Keane, Sean Connolly 0-1 each. MONALEEN: Donnacha O'Dálaigh 1-6, Lorcan Lyons 0-5 (0-4 frees), Matthew Fitzgerald 0-5 (0-5 frees), Ben Hayes 1-0, Eoghan O'Driscoll 0-3, Dara Ferland 0-2, Joseph Fitzgerald 0-2, Luke Murphy and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave 0-1 each. 

ADARE: PJ Hall, Joe Sweeney, John McSweeney, Jack Fitzgerald, Jody Hannon, Ronan Connolly, Darragh Gleeson, Sam Hickey, Mike Keane, David O'Mahony, John Fitzgibbon, Brendan O'Connor, Declan Hannon, Sean Connolly, Mike Mackey. SUBS: Wayne McNamara (C) for S Hickey (20 minutes), Paudie Heffernan for S Connolly (38 minutes), Shane Gleeson for B O'Connor (40 minutes), Eoghan Costello for J McSweeney (45 minutes), James Gahan for J Fitzgerald (57 minutes)

MONALEEN: Jamie Power, Leo Morrison, Byran Canny, Noel Clancy, Lorcan Lyons, Darragh Langan, Ronan Lyons, Joseph Fitzgerald, Lochlann McHale, Matthew Fitzgerald, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, Eoghan O'Driscoll, Dara Ferland, Luke Murphy (C), Donnacha O'Dálaigh. SUBS: Simon Griffin for L Morrison (60 minutes)

REFEREE: Eamonn Stapleton