Newcastle West see off the challenge of Adare in Limerick SHC
A dominant first-half performance helped Newcastle West to a comfortable 1-23 to 0-16 victory over Adare in the final round of group 2 of the Whitebox Senior Hurling Championship in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Thursday evening.
DESPITE the heavy defeat, Adare still progress to the quarter-finals - their late, late win over Patrickswell enough to see Mark Foley's side through.
The opening attack was ominous for Adare as Mike Dee intercepted a loose ball before popping out to Brian Foley who rattled the net after just a minute on the clock.
Diarmuid Lyons then split the posts before Cathal Hayes and Ethan Hurley got Newcastle West off to the ideal start six points up just four minutes into the game.
A Willie Griffin free opened Adare’s account for the evening before Patrick Kearney outpaced his marker to fire over. Hurley and Griffin traded frees before Con Hayes and Brian Hurley engineered space to raise a pair of white flags.
Kearney was a perennial danger for the Magpies inside line and his quick-feet carved out a pair of notable scoring opportunities. A long range score from Ethan Hurley kickstarted a blizzard of scores for Newcastle West. Brian Foley, Bryan Nix and Hurley all contributed as the Magpies appeared to be enjoying themselves with the breeze at their tails.
Mark Connelly offered some respite for Adare but Newcastle West were dominant as they brought a 1-16 to 0-7 lead into the half time break.
An unorthodox start to the second half as referee Donncha O’Callaghan resumed play with a direct 21-yard free for Newcastle West. A member of the Adare backroom team was booked for an incident after the half time whistle, meaning the second half started with an easy score for Newcastle West.
Brian Hurley then extended the lead even further as the Magpies continued to coast at the expense of their opponents. A well-taken point by John Fitzgibbon was sandwiched between two splendid efforts from Con Hayes and Ethan Hurley.
Adare had their first big goal chance in the 41st minute as a brilliant reflex save from Mike Quilligan denied Mark Connelly the full three points.
Ronan Connolly and Kearney picked off scores as Adare found some slight momentum. Bryan Nix followed up with a magical score, dancing with the ball on his hurley for what felt like an age.
Ronan Connolly and Sean Connelly produced two quickfire points in the 54th minute but Newcastle West continued to quell any inroads made by Adare with Ethan Hurley and Nix applying the finish to a faultless night of shooting for Newcastle West.
SCORERS - NEWCASTLE WEST: Ethan Hurley 0-9 (4f); Brian Foley 1-1; Cathal Hayes (3f) and Brian Nix 0-4 each; Con Hayes and Brian Hurley 0-2 each; Diarmuid Lyons 0-1;
ADARE: Willie Griffin 0-5 (4f), Patrick Kearney 0-4; John Fitzgibbon 0-2 (1 65’), Mark Connelly and Ronan Connolly 0-2 each; Sean Connelly 0-1.
ADARE: Jordan O’Donoghue, James Gahan, Joe Sweeney, Conor Ryan, James Canty, Declan Hannon, Darragh Gleeson, Wayne McNamara, Ryan Connolly, David O’Mahony, Sam Hickey, John Fitzgibbon, Willie Griffin, Mark Connelly, Patrick Kearney; Subs: Charlie McCarthy for Griffin (42 mins), Sean Connelly for Hickey (47 mins), Jack Doran for Hannon (50 mins), Shane Gleeson for Griffin (55 mins).
NEWCASTLE WEST: Mike Quilligan, Jody Woulfe, Michael Cremin, Aaron Neville, Eoin Hurley, Diarmuid Lyons, Ruadhan O’Connor, Brian Hurley, Ethan Hurley, Con Hayes, Bryan Foley, Mike Dee, Bryan Nix, Mike McMahon, Cathal Hayes; Subs: Michael Blashkiv for Woulfe (49 mins), Darragh O’Keeffe for Con Hayes (55 mins), William Hurley for B Hurley (57 mins).
Referee: Donncha O’Callaghan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).