Adare and Ballybrown share the spoils in dramatic Limerick SHC clash

NOTHING could separate the two teams fancied to come out of Group 2 in the Bon Secours Limerick senior hurling championship in Askeaton on Sunday as Adare and Ballybrown played out an exciting 1-17 each draw in their Round 2 fixture.

Playing at their best when conditions were favourable, Adare built up respectable lead that might have been greater had they not conceded a goal just before the break, but they picked it up again in the closing minutes after it looked as if Ballybrown had finally edged a match-winning lead.

All in all, neither side could have had any complaints with the outcome as the Clarina club's greater spread of talent up front was matched the marksmanship of Adare skipper Willie Griffin who added a personal tally of 1-9 to the 3-5 he bagged in the opening victory over Garryspillane.

Other fascinating man-on-man duels, such as Colin Couglan against John Fitzgibbon in midfield and and Ronan Connolly at the heart of the Adare defence against Aidan O'Connor, may have ended in stalemate but certainly raised the overall standard of play.

That said, the draw wasn't what either side wanted. Despite both remaining in the hunt for the two quarter-final places, their other main objective, the single promotion spot from the qualification group they don't want to be in, may be be decided in the end by scoring difference.

Griffin's opening free was met by a point from Leigh Doolin and his second point by one from Barry O'Connor. The hectic opening continued as Brendan O'Connor and Luke O'Connor swapped points as six scores were shared inside just four minutes.

It picked up again as Aidan O'Connor replied to Fitzgibbon's long free and Coughlan followed up to give Ballybrown the lead for the first time but that was immediately overtaken by David O'Mahony and Fitzgibbon before Luke O'Connor sent over the game's sixth equaliser.

At that point, however, Adare's defensive formation tightened up and, after Griffin restored their lead, they opened up daylight when Mikey Mackey swung first on a long free dropping in and Griffin whipped the breaking ball to the net.

Although his follow-up point was met by scored from Barry Adams, Ronan Connolly and Mackey stretched the Maiguesiders' lead to six before Aidan O'Connor collected the lay-off from a long free to drill the sliotar beyond PJ Hall's reach.

Adare led 1-11 to 1-7 at half-time.

Griffin punished another foul on the restart but the heavens then opened and the Clarina club reacted better for two Andy Cliffe pointed frees, plus points from Doolin and a monster Kenny Power effort to bring them back to within a point.

Griffin's free broke the sequence only for Cliffe's '65' and and O'Connor to level the scores but, as touch deserted both sides in the deteriorating conditions, Griffin restored Adare's lead with a free and a strike from play.

Ballybrown responded through O'Connor collecting and pointing off the resulting puckout, Cliffe then equalising before giving his side the lead for only the second time.

However, their opponents picked it up again as the deluge mercifully ended, Griffin sent over a free and Fitzgibbon a '65' before Cliffe tied the scores up again but, despite drawing a few long frees, the Clarina men couldn't manage to regain the lead in the three added minutes.

SCORERS: BALLYBROWN: Andy Cliffe 0-6 (4 frees, 1 '65'), Aidan O'Connor 1-3, Leigh Doolin, Luke O'Connor 0-2 each, Barry O'Connor, Colin Coughlan, Barry Adams, Kenny Power 0-1 each; ADARE: Willie Griffin 1-9 (0-6 frees), John Fitzgibbon 0-3 (1 free, 1 '65'), David O'Mahony 0-2, Brendan O'Connor, Ronan Connolly, Mikey Mackey 0-1 each.