Croagh-Kilfinny open Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign with victory over Effin

CROAGH-KILFINNY won their first ever game in the Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship defeating Effin 1-21 to 0-16 on Thursday evening in Mick Neville Park. 

This was Croagh Kilfinny's first ever time playing hurling at the premier intermediate grade. It was a cagey affair during first half and in the early stages of the second half but the victors produced a clinical performance in the final quarter to get past Effin. 

Croagh-Kilfinny made the jump up to the premier intermediate ranks after winning the intermediate championship in 2024. The west Limerick outfit had an impressive league campaign where they were narrowly defeated by Na Piarsaigh in the semi-final.

Effin fell short to Newcastle West at the premier intrermediate hurling championship semi-final last year. The south Limerick side have been beaten at the semi-final stage of the competition in the last three years in-a-row. 

Effin were strongly backboned by Limerick seniors Nickie Quaid, Fergal O’Connor and Patrick O’Donovan. Cian O'Carroll was in outstanding scoring form for the winners, finishing with 1-12, while former Limerick hurler Seamus Hickey also impressed, contributing 0-4 for Croagh-Kilfinny.

The opening half proved a scrappy affair, with both teams guilty of wastefulness in front of goal, registering seven wides apiece in the first 30 minutes.

Effin began brightly, racing into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to scores from Clive Doherty, Nickie Quaid, and Fergal O’Connor. But Croagh-Kilfinny quickly found their rhythm, restoring parity through points from Andrew Meade, who lines out in football for Rathkeale, and Cian O’Carroll.

Effin regained the lead as Limerick senior hurler Patrick O’Donovan fresh from a summer stint with Na Fianna in San Francisco pushed them 0-5 to 0-3 ahead by the opening quarter mark.

James Hall's side responded with a slick move, as Seamus O’Carroll flicked the sliotar into the path of Cian O’Carroll, who reduced the gap. A long-range effort from James Lanigan then drew the sides level once more.

On 21 minutes, Cian O’Carroll who plays his football with Cappagh fired over his fourth point to put Croagh-Kilfinny into the lead for the first time 0-6 to 0-5.

The tit-for-tat scoring continued in the run-up to half-time. Effin’s Brian Clifford got off the mark just before the break, nudging his side into a slender 0-9 to 0-8 advantage.

After the restart, Cian O’Carroll wasted no time in levelling the game. Effin responded through Quaid and O’Donovan, pushing themselves 0-11 to 0-9 ahead. But Croagh-Kilfinny hit back with O’Carroll now the focal point of their attack firing over, followed by a well-taken point from Limerick senior footballer Adam Shanagher to level proceedings once again.

The momentum swung repeatedly entering the third quarter. Adrian Barrett's side edged ahead through quick scores from Ewan Dillon and Fergal O’Connor, but Seamus Hickey’s second point steadied Croagh-Kilfinny. Patrick O’Donovan added another for Effin, only for Cian O’Carroll to hit back with two points in-a-row to deadlock the sides 0-15 apiece. 

Then, on 52 minutes, Cian O’Carroll was fouled inside the square by Effin goalkeeper Ryan O’Neill. Referee Kieran Guina pointed to the spot, and O’Carroll made no mistake rifling a low shot past O’Neill.

However, O’Donovan struck back to keep Effin’s hopes alive, Croagh-Kilfinny finished strongest. Two points each from Cian O'Carroll and Seamus Hickey along with efforts courtesy Owen Dee and Tom McMahon capped off a dominant closing spell, sealing an impressive eight-point win over Effin.

Effin will look to get things back on track against Glenroe in round two, while Croagh-Kilfinny will look to make it two wins from two against Blackrock.

SCORERS: 

CROAGH-KILFINNY: Cian O'Carroll (1-12, 1-0 penalty, 0-8 frees, 0-1 sideline cut), Seamus Hickey 0-4, Andrew Meade, Adam Shanagher, Tom McMahon, Owen Dee and James Lanigan 0-1 each

EFFIN: Patrick O'Donovan (0-6, 0-5 frees), Clive Doherty, Fergal O'Connor and Nickie Quaid 0-2 each, Ewan Dillon, Brian Clifford, Ruairi O'Connor and Cillian O'Riordan 0-1 each

CROAGH-KILFINNY: Dave Lynch; Owen Dee, Aidan O'Shea, Eoin Barry; Tom McMahon, Barry Lenihan, Jack Lenihan; Adam Shanagher, Seamie Lenihan; Andrew Meade, Seamus Hickey, Cian O'Carroll; John Wall, James Lanigan, Seamus O'Carroll. 

SUBS: Denis Lenihan for Seamus O'Carroll (43 minutes), Darragh O'Carroll for Wall (61 minutes), Conor Lenihan for Barry Lenihan (66 minutes)

EFFIN: Ryan O'Neill; Robert Cagney, Alan Byrne, Mark Mullins; Clive Doherty, Nickie Quaid, Fergal O'Connor; Cillian O'Riordan, Sean Canning; Brian Clifford, Patrick O'Donovan, Ewan Dillon; Ruairi O'Connor, Conor Kearney, Thomas Quaid. 

SUBS: Aaron Moffatt for Kearney (45 minutes), Mike Rea for Doherty (56 minutes), Enda Kellly for O'Riordan (61 minutes). Pierse O'Kelly for Ruairi O'Connor (64 minutes).

REFEREE: Kieran Guina (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).