Monaleen open Limerick senior hurling championship campaign with victory over Adare

MONALEEN opened their Whitebox Property Developments Ltd Limerick senior hurling championship campaign with a merited 1-20 to 0-18 victory over Adare at Fedamore on Thursday evening.

Last year's county senior hurling championship quarter-finalists Monaleen laid the foundation for this precious Group 2 victory in the opening half after which they enjoyed a significant 10-point, 1-12 to 0-5, interval lead.

The city side's goal arrived mid-way through the half when Limerick senior player Donnacha O'Dálaigh rifled the ball to the net following excellent approach play from Luke Murphy. 

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There was plenty to admire about Monaleen's composed play in that opening 30 minutes when backed by the breeze. The winners' use of possession was impressive as was their ability to pick off scores. 

The side hurled with real composure and fluency, their ball-strking crisp and assured.

Adare, who were unfortunate to lose full-back Mike Keane to a 13th minute injury, did produce an improved second half showing, managing five points without reply between the 39th and 46th minutes to reduce the deficit to eight points, 1-15 to 0-10.

However, Monaleen managed to keep their opponents at arms length, succeeded in responding with scores of their own when Adare began eating into their lead. 

When topscorer Willie Griffin fired over a 59th minute point from play for the Mark Foley-managed Adare side, there were just four points between the teams, 1-19 to 0-18.

However, substitute Eoghan Maher, only just introduced to the game, struck an excellent score off his left, to seal a deserved victory for Monaleen, who are again managed by Eoin Brislane.

While Monaleen managed to score 1-13 from play over the hour, half of Adare's total of 0-18 came from placed balls with Griffin helping himself to 0-12, including four points from play, as well as five pointed frees, two converted '65s and a smashing score from a sideline cut.

For the winners, O'Dálaigh notched 1-2, with Andrew La Touche Cosgrave contributing four fine points from play, while Matthew Fitzgerald added five points from placed balls and the impressive Lorcan Lyons contributed four points, including three from frees.

With both sides playing their opening championship fixture of the campaign, there was understandable signs of rust during the opening quarter. 

Monaleen, making good use of the stiff breeze in the opening 30 minutes, moved into an early two-point lead with scores from Dara Ferland and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, before Adare hit back with points from Willie Griffin and James Gahan, after he was set up by Declan Hannon's impressive catch.

Monaleen settled and rattled off 1-5 without reply between the 9th and 19th minutes with points from O'Dalaigh, off Darragh Langan's pinoint crossfield pass, Lorcan Lyons (free), Matthew Fitzgerald (free), Luke Murphy and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave adding to O'Dálaigh's goal to make it 1-7 to 0-2.

Willie Griffin replied with Adare's first score for 13 minutes from a free. However, scores from the excellent Lorcan Lyons, two, one free, Eoghan O'Driscoll and O'Dálaigh had Monaleen 11 points to the good.

At the change of ends, Monaleen's lead was 10 points and Adare were badly in need of a quick start to the second half if they were to stage a comeback.

However, it was Monaleen who were quickest to settle on the resumption of play, scoring the first three points of the half from Lyons, free, and two points from Matthew Fitzgerald courtesy of placed balls.

The city side's lead was now out to a substantial 13 points, 1-15 to 0-5.

To their credit, although facing an uphill battle, Adare's play improved and a run of scores from Griffn's frees, Patrick Keaney and Dargh Gleeson from play, as well as a pointed free from John Fitzgibbon on 50 minutes, left seven points between the sides, 1-16 to 0-12. 

However, crucially while Monaleen were not scoring as heavily during that spell, they did continue to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a point from a Fitzgerald free and a second score from O'Driscoll.

However, Adare never looked like being able to bridge the gap through the final quarter and Monaleen closed out a precious five-point victory.

The sides will return to action for crucial second round games next week, with Adare facing Mungret St Paul's on Wednesday, August 6, while Monaleen will meet Dromin-Athlacca on Friday, August 8.

SCORERS: Monaleen: Donnacha O'Dálaigh 1-2, Matthew Fitzgerald 0-5 (frees), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave 0-4, Lorcan Lyons 0-4, Eoghan O'Driscoll 0-2, Luke Murphy, Dara Ferland, Eoghan Maher 0-1 each. Adare: Willie Griffin 0-12 (0-5 frees, 0-2 '54s, 0-1 sideline cut), Patrick Kearney 0-2, John Fitzgibbon (free), Daragh Gleeson, David O'Mahoney, James Gahan 0-1 each.

MONALEEN: Jamie Power; Simon Griffin, Bryan Canny, Noel Clancy; Lorcan Lyons, Darragh Langan, Ronan Lyons; Joseph Fitzgerald, Lochlann McHale; Luke Murphy (Capt), Eoghan O'Driscoll, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave; Dara Ferland, Matthew Fitzgerald, Donnacha O'Dálaigh. SUBS: Mark O'Dwyer for O'Driscoll (52 mins), Marcus Southern for Griffin, Eoghan Maher for Murphy (both 59 mins).

ADARE: Shane O'Donoghue; David Connolly, Mike Keane, Joe Sweeney (Capt); John MacSweeney, Wayne McNamara, John Fitzgibbon; Daragh Gleeson, David O'Mahoney; Declan Hannon, Willie Griffin, Sean Connolly; Mark Connolly, James Gahan, Patrick Kearney. SUBS: Jody Hannon for Mike Keane (injured, 13 mins), Conor Ryan for John Fitzgibbon (injured, 53 mins).

REFEREE: Timmy McGrath (Oola)