Knockaderry storm back to edge past Kenmare Shamrocks in Munster junior hurling championship

LIMERICK champions Knockaderry survived a late scare before securing a 2-16 to 2-14 victory over Kerry's Kenmare Shamrocks in difficult conditions in the AIB Munster Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final in Templenoe on Saturday afternoon.

A devastating late scoring blitz powered the West Limerick men beyond the Kerry Intermediate champions, who led right up until the sixty-first minute.

Limerick Premier Junior A champions Knockaderry scored 1-7 without reply in the closing stages to edge past the Kerrymen and book their place in the Munster semi-final in a fortnight’s time against Kilbrittain, of Cork.

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Shamrocks played with the aid of a gale-force wind in the opening half and got off to the perfect start, with Liam Palmer finding the net within the first minute. Eoin McCarthy followed up with a point from play before Knockaderry responded through an Enda Moran goal at the other end following a terrific run by former Limerick star Tom Condon.

Condon chipped over a point from play shortly after, but Kenmare hit back with a brace from Liam Palmer and Steve McMahon to lead 1-3 to 1-1 by the sixth minute. Rob Egan and Palmer traded scores before sharpshooter Mark Danaher struck a terrific solo effort to leave just one point between the sides by the quarter-hour mark.

A major shift in momentum arrived in the eighteenth minute when the Limerick men were awarded a penalty for a high challenge by David Crowley. Danaher stepped up to convert, but Dan Lucey produced a superb diving save to deny him.

At the other end, Liam O’Sullivan converted a close-range free just seconds later, burying his shot to the net.

Palmer added another point before Danaher responded for Knockaderry. However, Kenmare seized full control as the rain poured and the wind intensified. In the closing stages of the half, Fionan O’Sullivan, Tommy Cronin, Jimmy Lehane, and Palmer all added scores to give the Kerrymen a commanding 2-10 to 1-4 lead at the interval.

After the restart, Knockaderry began chipping away at the deficit with two quickfire scores from Mark Danaher and Rob Egan. Liam Palmer steadied the ship for Kenmare with a point in the 35th minute to make it 2-11 to 1-6.

Knockaderry then reeled off four points without reply through Danaher, Egan, and a brace from Tom Condon, cutting the gap to five with a quarter-hour remaining. The Shamrocks hit back through Fionan O’Sullivan and Eoin McCarthy to stretch their lead once more to 2-14 to 1-10 with ten minutes to play.

However, in the dying embers, Knockaderry roared to life. Condon and Danaher raised white flags before substitute Brendan Guiry rattled the net with a spectacular goal in the 60th minute, setting up a grandstand finish and leaving just one between the sides.

Kieran Storin struck the equaliser before Egan pushed Knockaderry in front for the first time with only seconds to spare. As Fionan O’Sullivan looked to level the contest with virtually the last puck of the game, Danaher surged up the other end to slot over and seal a dramatic two-point victory for the Limerick men.

Scorers: Knockaderry: Mark Danaher 0-7 (4f, 1 65), Tom Condon 0-4, Rob Egan 0-4, Brendan Guiry 1-0, Enda Moran 1-1. Kenmare Shamrocks: Liam Palmer 1-5 (2f), Fionan O’Sullivan 0-4 (2f), Liam O'Sullivan 1-0, Eoin McCarthy 0-2, Jimmy Lehane 0-2, Steve McMahon.

Kenmare Shamrocks: Dan Lucey, Tommy O’Sullivan, David Crowley, Darragh O’Connor, Tommy Cronin, Jamie O’Regan, Kieran Harrington, Kevin O’Sullivan, Jimmy Lehane, Gaspar O’Connor, Fionan O’Sullivan, Eoghan McCarthy, Liam O’Sullivan, James McCarthy, Liam Palmer. Substitutes: Keith Danaher for Colm O’Connor (35 mins), Paudie Dore for Steven McMahon
(39 mins), Brendan Guiry for Downes (54 mins).

Knockaderry: Michael O’Sullivan, David Moloney, Patrick Downes, Darragh Lyons, Jack Molloy, Liam Molyneaux, Colm O’Connor, Gearoid Fenniman, Mike Molloy, Kieran Storin, Rob Egan, Steven McMahon, Enda Moran, Tom Condon, Mark Danaher Substitutes: Colm O’Sullivan for Gasper O’Connor (60 mins).

Referee: Canice Walsh (Cork)