Fr Caseys hold on to claim first Limerick SFC title in 20 years

FR CASEYS won the Irish Wire Products Senior Football Championship for the first time in 20 years as they overcame the challenge of Kildimo-Pallaskenry 0-16 to 2-8 at Mick Neville Park on Sunday.

It means a ninth SFC crown for the Abbeyfeale side who claimed the Fr Casey Cup in front of a huge crowd of over 2,000 in Rathkeale.

Second half goals from Paudi Hartigan and Cathal Downes ensured a nervy finish by the west Limerick men worthy winners in this contest.

The scoring touch of Ronan Quirke, Eliah Riordan and Adrian Enright was enough for Keith Hartnett’s side to claim the cup.

Peter Nash, who had a superb game, had a last gasp free to win the game but it wasn’t to be for the debutants in a senior final.

The sides were feeling each other out in the early exchanges. It took over four minutes for the Abbeyfeale men to get a shot away when Michael Kilbridge kicked a nice score from about 35 yards out.

On the next attack Rory O’Brien won a free which Caseys failed to convert.

In a nervy opening, Caseys doubled their lead when captain Diarmuid Buckley joined the attack from center back to knock over a nice score.

It took 10 minutes for Kildimo-Pallasknery to get on the board, county player Peter Nash knocking over a free to get them off the mark.

Nash levelled the game with another free before Eliah Riordan gave Caseys the lead again at the midway point of the half.

Adrian Enright and Ronan Quirke added to the lead as the men in blue were playing much the better football.

In changed white strips, a third Nash free - this time for a breach - was all the final debutants had to show for the first 25 minutes.

They finally scored one from play through Garry Sheehan who knocked over a smart effort to reduce the deficit to just two points approaching the interval.

As the clock struck 30 minutes, Kildimo-Pallaskenry levelled the game through a Nash two-point free.

But anything Nash could do, Eliah Riordan could match. The Limerick forward kicked one from outside the arc with the last action of the opening period as the men from Abbeyfeale took a 0-8 to 0-6 lead into the break.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry had the first scoring chance of the second half but Cathal Downes’ two-point free attempt went wide. Caseys were more accurate with their first shot after the break, Quirke scoring his third of the game.

Sam Quigley quickly added an inspirational score to increase their lead to four points.

But back fighting came KP.

Knowing they had an advantage, Nash took on a long-range two-pointer. It dropped short but Paudi Hartigan was on hand to slot the ball into the back of the net.

Enright and Quirke replied to give Caseys a bit of a cushion heading into the final quarter.

Cathal Downes got one back from a ‘45 - this coming after the big man had missed two long range frees as he found his range at the third attempt.

Culann Quigley and Quirke added two in quick succession as the west Limerick side kept their noses in front.

They pushed the lead out to five with six minutes to go as KP threw everything they had at the Caseys defence.

Then got within touching distance when they raised a second green flag.

Kyle Hayes’ dangerous ball dropped on the edge of the square when Downes was able to force the ball over the line.

But they fell just short in the end.

The winners are out in the Munster Club SFC semi-final against the winner of next week’s clash between Nemo Rangers and Loughmore-Castleiney.

SCORERS - FR CASEYS: Ronan Quirke 0-6 (4f); Eliah Riordan (1tpf) and Adrian Enright 0-3 each; Michael Kilbridge, Diarmuid Buckley, Sam Quigley and Culann Quigley 0-1 each.

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Peter Nash 0-6 (1tpf, 4f); Cathal Downes 1-1 (1 ‘45); Paudi Hartigan 1-0; Garry Sheehan 0-1.

FR CASEYS: Shane O’Donnell; Danny McCarthy, Sean Kilbridge, Matthew O’Connor; Daniel Daly, Diarmuid Buckley, Mark McCarthy; Culann Quigley, Sam Quigley; Michael Kilbridge, Eliah Riordan, Rory O’Brien; Adrian Enright, Ronan Quirke, Evan O’Connor.

Subs: Jamie O’Connor for E O’Connor (h-t); Callum Boyle for Daly (37 mins); Leon Curtin for M Kilbridge (53 mins); Eoghan O’Connell for O’Brien (60 mins).

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Kevin Walsh; Shane Carroll, Davy Fitzgerald, Cian O’Sullivan; Jake Higgins, Tony McCarthy, Jose Azzopardi; Shaun Barry, Kyle Hayes; Garry Sheehan, Ciaran McMahon, Paudi Hartigan; Peter Nash, Conor Staff, Cathal Downes.

Subs: Robert O’Farrell for Barry (h-t); Sean Kavanagh for Sheehan (36 mins); Seanie Hartigan for Azzopardi (47 mins); Ciaran Galvin for McMahon (56 mins); Sean Kavanagh for P Hartigan (56 mins).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (St. Senan’s).