Kildimo-Pallaskenry book Limerick SFC quarters spot with victory

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY clinched their place in the Irish Wire Products Limerick Senior Football Championship quarter-finals with a 2-13 to 0-11 win over Ballylanders in their Group 2 clash in Cappamore.

In a contest fuelled by the prospects of both progress and survival, every outcome looked possible right up to the final ten minutes but a second goal edged Kildimo-Pallaskenry over the finish line to set up a mouthwatering tie with Newcastle West in the last eight.

An upset looked possible early on when Ballylanders shot themselves in a quickfire lead of four and again when they put together a third-quarter rally but the Kildimo-Pallaskenry defence, led by county man Tony McCarthy, held firm.

Eoin O'Mahony's two-point free got Bally off the mark and patient buildup led to points from Ciarán Kelly and Adam Frewen then aided their hopes.

Conor Staff opened Kildimo-Pallaskenry’s account and then Jose Azzopardi sent over their second from a short ‘45 following Declan O'Connor deflecting Conor McMahon's goal effort wide.

A Peter Nash ‘45 followed and the relentless pressure continued right up to the break as Shaun Barry's equaliser, Páidí Hartigan and Nash vaulted the Kildimo-Pallaskenry into a lead of 0-6 to 0-4.

Bally brought Danny Frewen off the subs bench for the restart and despite his injury struggles, he halved the deficit from a tight angle at the end of an extended attack.

Satisfaction, however, was fleeting and a swift Kildimo-Pallaskenry attack ended with Conor Staff finding the net at the second attempt.

McCarthy added a point to Kildimo-Pallaskenry's lead but was met by a pair of Frewen points. Heading into the final quarter, Ballylanders hit form again with an O’Mahony two-pointer and a Daithí Dennehy single put just one between the teams.

Nash responded with a free and that was immediately followed by a Paidí Hartigan point from play. The game was put beyond doubt when another flowing attack opened up the door for Jake Higgins a second goal to hand Kildimo-Pallaskenry victory.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry now face into the latter stages of the top end of the championship with that quarter-final with Newcastle West.

Ballylanders, however, head into familiar territory with a relegation maze that they are well used to navigating. Survival at the death has been their modus operandi but there has been enough shown in 2026 that a further stay at the top table is well within their grasp.

SCORERS - KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Peter Nash 0-5 (3f, 1 '45), Conor Staff 1-1, Jake Higgins 1-0, Páidí Hartigan, Gary Sheehan 0-2 each, Jose Azzopardi, Shaun Barry, Tony McCarthy 0-1 each; BALLYLANDERS: Eoin O'Mahony (2 tpf), Danny Frewen (2f) 0-4 each, Ciarán Kelly, Adam Frewen, Daithí Dennehy 0-1 each.

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Kevin Walsh; Shane Carroll, Davy Fitzgerald, Cian O'Sullivan; Jake Higgins, Tony McCarthy, Ryan Kelly; Shaun Barry, Conor Staff; Seán Kavanagh, Ciarán McMahon, Jose Azzopardi; Conor McMahon, Peter Nash, Páidií Hartigan; Subs: Conor Barry for C McMahon (41 mins), Gary Sheehan for Kavanagh (50 mins), Jack Butler for Azzopardi (60 mins, inj).

BALLYLANDERS: Declan O'Connor; Jordan Sheehy, Pa Holian, Daniel Murphy; Liam Dennehy Cillian O'Brien, Cathal Dennehy; Robbie Downey, Eoin O'Mahony; Cathal Dennehy, Aaron Buckley, Darren Frewen; Ciarán Kelly, Shane O'Donoghue, Adam Frewen; Subs: Danny Frewen for A Frewen (h-t), Oisín Browne for C Dennehy (54 mins).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola).