Newcastle West get the better of Effin to reach Limerick Premier intermediate hurling final

NEWCASTLE West have reached their first Lyons of Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship final.

The victors defeated Effin 3-13 to 2-13 in their semi-final clash on Saturday afternoon in Kilmallock. 

Newcastle West finished in first place after the premier intermediate hurling championship round-robin series. The Magpies won six of their seven group games.

Effin narrowly secured their place into the semi-finals, the South Limerick side and Granagh-Ballingarry both finished on eight points. Effin got through on the head to head after they defeated Granagh-Ballingarry in the group stages. 

The sides met in round six of the premier intermediate hurling championship where Newcastle West defeated their opponents 2-19 to 0-19. 

After 28 minutes, Newcastle West raced into a 0-9 to 0-2 lead. Eoin Hurley was proving to be vital in that period where the Newcastle West sharpshooter landed 0-5. Bryan Nix, Con Hayes and Diarmaid Kelly were also on target for the West Limerick side. Newcastle West were using the breeze to their advantage in the opening period. 

Effin trailed 0-3 to 0-2 on 14 minutes but the South Limerick side didn't score again until 29 minutes. 

Effin's Patrick O'Donovan and Jack Quaid responded with quickfire points to narrow the gap to four points. Tommy Quaid raced through the Newcastle West defence and played a clever handpass to Patrick O'Donovan. O'Donovan spectacularly drove the sliotar into the top corner of the net. 

The Magpies played a short free to Brian Foley. Foley slotted the sliotar into the back of the net. Derry McMahon's side led 1-9 to 1-5 at the break. 

After the interval, Eoin Hurley and the lively Jack Quaid traded scores.

Newcastle West captain Brian Hurley cut inside and raised his sides second green flag of the day on 37 minutes. Ruairi O'Connor and Patrick O'Donovan hit back to keep Adrian Barrett's side within touching distance. 

On 44 minutes, Effin came thundering back in the contest when Thomas Quaid made it 2-11 to 2-8. Newcastle West had response every time Effin raised a green flag.

One minute later, the lively Brian Hurley set up corner forward Bryan Nix for Newcastle West's third goal of the afternoon. Effin regrouped once again through Jack Quaid and O'Donovan as they trailed 3-11 to 2-10 with 12 minutes remaining. Another Hurley free pushed the Magpies into a five point lead. 

Last year premier intermeidate semi-finalists threw the kitchen sink at their opponents. Limerick star Fergal O'Connor, O'Donovan and Ewan Dillon made it a two point game as the full time whistle approached. In the last 12 minutes, Effin had two scoring chances which tailed wide and that proved to be costly. 

Subsitute Cathal Hayes hit the insurance score late on.

In the final play of the game, Patrick O'Donovan was through on goal but Newcastle West corner back Maurice Murphy came out of nowhere to pull off a terrific block and deny O'Donovan. In the end that proved to be the difference between the sides.

Effin battled back tremendously in the final quarter but they could never the goal they desperately needed. Newcastle West will now face Garryspillance in the premier intermediate decider on Sunday, October 27.

Newcastle West: Eoin Hurley 0-8 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65), Bryan Nix 1-2, Brian Hurley, Brian Foley 1-0 each, Con Hayes, Diarmaid Lyons, Cathal Hayes 0-1 each.

Effin: Patrick O’Donovan 1-5 (0-4 frees); Jack Quaid 0-3; Ruairi O’Connor 0-2; Thomas Quaid 1-0; Cillian O’Riordan, Fergal O’Connor, Ewan Dillon 0-1.

Newcastle West: Mike Quilligan; Maurice Murphy, Seamus Hurley, Aaron Neville; Michael Cremin, Ethan Hurley, Diarmuid Lyons; Ruadhan O’Connor, Brian Hurley (capt.), Diarmaid Kelly, Con Hayes, Mike McMahon; Bryan Nix, Eoin Hurley, Brian Foley.

SUBS: Cathal Hayes for Foley (41); Willie Hurley for O’Connor (inj – 49); John Whelan for Lyons (61).

EFFIN: James O'Leary: Mark Mullins, Alan Byrne, Sean Canning: Michael Rea, Clive Doherty, Fergal O'Connor: Nickie Quaid (joint-captain), Cillian O’Riordan; Ruairí O'Connor, Conor Kearney, Ewan Dillon: Patrick O'Donovan (joint-captain), Thomas Quaid, Jack Quaid.

SUBS: Robert Cagney for Byrne (8 minutes, injury), Enda Kelly for Doherty (40 minutes), Pierse O’Kelly for O’Riordan (58 minutes), Patrick Carroll for Kearney (61 minutes)

REFEREE: Timmy McGrath