Monaleen hold off Kildimo-Pallaskenry to reach Limerick SFC semi-final

MONALEEN survived a late Kildimo-Pallaskenry comeback to join Newcastle West, Fr Caseys, and Adare in the County SFC semi-finals with an early second half Jack Canny goal proving to be the difference for the resilient Castletroy side.

Monaleen, thanks to this hard fought 1-13 to 0-14 success, will now face holders Newcastle West in the county semi-final in two weeks' time.

Played in unseasonably warm conditions in Bruff, the six-time county champions held the narrowest of winning margins heading into the half time break – 0-7 to 0-6 - after taking the lead for the first time when the impressive Daniel Daly, who finished this quarter-final tie with 0-8 to his name, pointed from distance on the verge of the interval.

It was an opening 30 minutes in which the John Chawke managed Kildimo-Pallaskenry side, boosted by the return of Limerick star Kyle Hayes to the club’s football panel after the hurlers’ exit from the County SHC, had opened up a three-point lead inside 10 minutes after Monaleen were reduced to 14 when full back Peter Clarke received a black card in the fourth minute for pulling down Darragh Deegan.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry were leading by four points when they had appeals for a penalty waved away.

After Monaleen scored their first point from play in the 16th minute – a well-taken Daly effort – the momentum begun to swing in the favour of the city side, and after Darren O’Connell put Kildimo-Pallaskenry ahead by three a minute later, Liam Lyons’ Monaleen charges, who were now boosted by the return of Clarke to the field, scored five of the next six scores to take a one-point lead into the break.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry were on the back foot at this stage and would have welcomed the half time whistle, but faced an uphill battle in the second half when Monaleen got the best possible restart.

Before substitutes and management had the chance to take their seats in the dugouts, half back Jack Canny burst through the Kildimo-Pallaskenry before finding the far corner of the net, scoring the game’s only goal 20 seconds inside the final 30 minutes.

The momentum was certainly with the city side at this point, and when Canny and the lively Darragh Siochru added to Monaleen’s tally, the 2016 champions held a comfortable six-point lead – 1-9 to 0-6.

However, Kildimo-Pallaskenry battled back strongly and scored five Peter Nash frees without response to make it a one-point game heading into time added on.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry had their tails up at this stage and extra time looked likely. Monaleen showed their experience at this level, however, to see out the game and when Daniel Daly slotted over his eighth point of the game with seconds left on the clock, Kildimo-Pallaskenry were forced to go up the other end in search of an all-important goal.

Nash lofted a late free into the box, but as the ball was flicked wide, the final whistle sounded, much to the delight of those wearing red and white.

SCORERS: Monaleen: Daniel Daly 0-8 (three frees); Jack Canny 1-1; Darragh Siochru 0-2; Brian Donovan, Darragh Murray (one ’45) 0-1 each. Kildimo Pallaskenry: Peter Nash 0-8 (seven frees); Garry Sheehan, Darren O’Connell 0-2 each; Liam O’Sullivan, Cathal Downes 0-1 each.