Declan Hannon's goal-burst inspires Adare to big Limerick senior hurling championship win over Dromin-Athlacca

ADARE comprehensively defeated Dromin-Athlacca 4-17 to 1-15 in Group 2 of the Whitebox Property Developments Ltd in Ballingarry on Saturday afternoon, boosting their hopes of reaching the county quarter-finals while denting the South Limerick side's hopes of avoiding the drop to premier intermediate hurling ranks in 2026.

A devastating brace of goals shortly after the restart effectively ended the game as a contest, with Adare running out comfortable winners for a finish.

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They were spearheaded by the class of five-time All-Ireland-winning Limerick captain Declan Hannon, who rolled back the years with a superb tally of 2-2 from play.

Dromin-Athlacca, in contrast, were heavily reliant on the placed-ball accuracy of Tadhg Boddy and David Reidy, with just five of their total points coming from play.

The South Limerick side began brightly, with Reidy and Boddy nailing early frees as a cross- field gale made conditions difficult.

Adare replied through David O’Mahoney, Patrick Kearney, and two trademark Hannon points to lead 0-4 to 0-3 after ten minutes.

Boddy levelled again with a free before Adare hit three in a row to stretch clear at 0-8 to 0-5.

More frees from Reidy and Boddy cut the deficit to the minimum by the 25th minute, but Adare looked dangerous throughout. almost finding the net five minutes before the break when Sam Hickey forced a stunning save from Robbie Breen.

Adare finished the half strongly with four unanswered scores to take a commanding 0-12 to 0-7 lead into the interval.

Seconds after the restart, Sean Connolly raised a green flag following a sublime pass from Hannon. Less than a minute later Kearney scored a spectacular solo effort to give Adare an unassailable lead of 2-12 to 0-7 by the thirty-second minute.

Dromin-Athlacca responded with Reidy and Boddy frees on either side of a Kearney point before Hannon buried another goal, this time to the roof of the net, for the scoreboard to read 3-13 to 0-10 by the 38th minute.

Shane Fitzgibbon and Reidy chipped into the Adare lead before the South Limerick men were given a lifeline. In the 43rd minute Adare goalkeeper Shane O’Donoghue was penalised for charging, and Reidy stepped up to bury his penalty low into the back of the net.

Fitzgibbon chipped over another score with the score 3-14 to 1-13 with 12 minutes to play. Adare, however, responded in style through Kearney and Mark Connolly, before Dromin-Athlacca’s David Breen came agonisingly close to a goal when his thunderous effort clipped the crossbar.

With time running out, Hannon capped a vintage display with a second goal before Breen added the game’s final point, leaving Adare deserved 4-17 to 1-15 winners.

The result leaves Adare on the brink of progression, with a win over Newcastle West in a fortnight enough to guarantee their place in the knockouts.

Dromin-Athlacca will look to overcome Mungret St Paul’s in their final group fixture.

SCORERS: Adare: Patrick Kearney 1-7 (6f), Declan Hannon 2-2, Sean Connolly 1-1, David O’Mahoney 0-2, Ronan Conolly 0-1, Sam Hickey 0-2, Mark Connolly 0-1. Dromin-Athlacca: David Reidy 1-6 (1 pen, 6f), Tadgh Boddy 0-5 (4f), Shane Fitzgibbon 0-2, David Breen 0-2.

ADARE: Shane O’Donoghue, David Connolly, Joe Sweeney, Conor Ryan, John MacSweeney, Ronan Connolly, John Fitzgibbon, Jody Hannon, David O’Mahoney, Declan Hannon, Sam Hickey, Daragh Gleeson, Patrick Kearney, Sean Connolly, Mark Connolly. Subs: Mickey Mackey for Sean Connolly (48 mins), Wayne McNamara for David Connolly (50 mins), Mike Keane for Sam Hickey (60 mins), Eoin Connolly for Conor Ryan (60 mins), and Alfie Fitzpatric for Mark Connolly (60 mins).

DROMIN-ATHLACCA: Robbie Breen, Shane Scully, Michael Reidy, William Dore, Shane Fitzgibbon, David Reidy, Daniel Scully, Mickey Quaid, David Griffin, Patrick O’Donoghue, Peter Ryan, Tadgh Boddy, Seanie O’Leary, David Breen, and Sean Morrissey. Subs: John Paul Costelloe for Patrick O’Donoghue (36 mins), Cian Walsh for Seanie O’Leary (36 mins), Diarmuid Mullins for Peter Ryan (40 mins).

REFEREE: Michael Sexton (Bruree)