Holders Newcastle West too good for Claughaun in Limerick SFC

HOLDERS Newcastle West eased past Claughaun 1-12 to 0-5 to make it three wins from three in the group stages of this year's Irish Wire Products Limerick senior football championship at Askeaton on Sunday afternoon.

Doing little more than was necessary, Newcastle West built up a lead of five points by the break despite playing into the stiff breeze and doubled their advantage afterwards against opponents who managed just a single score from play over the hour.

Maybe both sides were preoccupied by thoughts ahead to their next fixtures, Claughaun's battle to avoid the relegation play-off and the Magpies' mission to qualify directly for the semi-finals, as it appeared right from the outset they'd already settled for what the outcome was going to be.

There were occasions at the beginning of both halves when the Hoops pressed on the pedal but just couldn't generate enough intensity to trouble the level of sharpness, team-play and continuity their opponents built up during a decade at the top in all age groups of Limerick football.

Newcastle led 0-7 to 0-2 at half-time with topscorer Eoin Hurley striking twice before the break to earn that five point advantage. 

Hurley's free moved the gap to six on the restart but the Magpies were barely stretching themselves to make use of the breeze as Bennett replied from a free and did so again in response to Bryan Nix's fisted point. 

A late flourish saw the Magpies sweep up from their own half for Seán Murphy to find O'Sullivan at the corner of the square and, with Power already bypassed, he stroke the ball to the empty net for the game's only goal before, down at the other end, Gary Bateman converted an injury time free to end the scoring.

SCORERS: NEWCASTLE WEST: Eoin Hurley 0-6 (2 frees, 1 mark), Brian O'Sullivan 1-2, Thomas Quilligan (free), Bryan Nix, Iain Corbett, Aaron Neville 0-1 each. CLAUGHAUN: Tadhg Bennett 0-4 (3 frees), Gary Bateman 0-1 (free).