Late drama sees Adare secure crucial Limerick SHC win over Patrickswell
For the winners, a quarter-final is now highly likely, with an unlikely set of results required for either Patrickswell or Garryspillane to trump them
A LATE, late goal from Sam Hickey’s long delivery to the square swung a local derby clash the way of Adare, inching beyond Patrickswell 2-16 to 1-18 in dramatic fashion.
For the winners, a quarter-final is now highly likely, with an unlikely set of results required for either Patrickswell or Garryspillane to trump them. Crucially, their head-to-head advantage over the Well could be enough to book a return to the last six.
In a game that had spurts of quality and drama, Patrickswell looked like winners when assuming control late in the opening half, but failed to hold off Adare, allowing Hickey’s delivery from his own half, to carry all the way to the net in stoppage time.
The impressive Diarmaid Byrnes, who top scored for this side, was wayward with a free moments later, taken from behind his own 65m line.
Mark Foley’s Adare will have been thrilled with a much improved second half showing. They only scored 1-4 in the opening half and trailed by four in Kilmallock.
It was Patrick Kearney who buried a second minute goal, after an exquisite first touch before rounding his man and finishing one handed. Brian Curtin pulled of an incredible close range save to deny Jason Gillane in a fragmented open quarter.
However, only Willie Griffin would score again, four points in the remainder of the half. Byrnes, Liam Fitzgerlad and Jason Gillane (frees), brough the Well within one.
The sides would be level when Byrnes buried in the 25th minute, before arrowing over from his own half to give his side the lead. Aaron Gillane, brother Jason and Evan Fitzgerald established that 1-8 to 1-4 interval lead.
Adare, however, would bring themselves to within two points early in the second half. Brendan O’Connor and David O’Mahony either side of Aaron Gillane before Willie Griffin landed another.
Aaron Gillane’s influence grew, but so did Ronan Connolly and Hickey for Adare, as they hit the front 1-12 to 1-11 on the 41st minute. Points again from O’Connor and Griffin.
Patrickswell manufactured the lead once more with Aaron Gillane bringing his total to five points but Adare wouldn’t relent.
Trailing by two late on, when Kearney slotted a routine free, they found the net in fortuitous circumstances thanks to Hickey’s accurate delivery into the danger-zone, which bounced beyond the cover for a green flag.
SCORERS - ADARE: Willie Grifinn 0-8 (5f); Patrick Kearney 1-3 (1f); Sam Hickey 1-0; Brendan O’Connor 0-2; David O’Mahony, Darragh Gleeson and Mark Connolly 0-1 each; PATRICKSWELL: Diarmaid Byrnes 1-3; Aaron Gillane and Jason Gillane (5f) 0-5 each; Cian Fitzgerald, Evan Fitzgerald and Patrick Kirby 0-1 each.
ADARE: Brian Curtin; John McSweeney, Joe Sweeney, Conor Ryan; Ronan Connolly, Wayne McNamara, Darragh Gleeson; Declan Hannon, David O’Mahony; Sam Hickey, John Fitzgibbon, James Canty; Willie Griffin, Brendan O’Connor, Patrick Kearney; Subs: Charlie McCarthy for O’Mahony (49 mins); Mark Connolly for Griffin (49 mins); Sean Connolly for Fitzgibbon (55 mins); Jack Doran for McNamara (55 mins).
PATRICKSWELL: Jack Kelleher; Eoin Harmon, Cian Fitzgerald, Billy Early; John Murray, Diarmaid Byrnes, Hughie Maher; Cian Lynch, Evan Fitzgerald; Liam Fitzgerald, Patrick Kirby, John Kirby; Aaron Gillane, Jason Gillane, Andrew Carroll; Subs: Mark Carmody for Harmon (half-time); Rory Foley for Carroll (45 mins); Tom O’Brien for Kevin O’Brien (51 mins).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Glenroe).