Ballybrown return to form with Limerick SHC win over Ahane

A RUN of eight unanswered points in the final quarter helped propel Ballybrown to a vital first victory of the 2026 Limerick SHC, as they held off Ahane to take a four-point victory at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Having fallen to Doon last weekend, the Clarina outfit were steadfast in their need for a victory, and came from three points down to take the victory, thanks to that eight-point spurt.

Aidan O’Connor top scored once more, with 11 points but it was the contributions of Luke O’Connor and Mikey Gavin that stood out for Kevin Lally’s men.

For Ahane, a victory over Monaleen wasn’t backed up and despite a string of scores on a couple of different occasions, they were unable to sprint for home and fall to defeat against this opposition for consecutive seasons.

Tom Morrissey led the way for the Castleconnell outfit, who had a quartet of points from Ronan Fox, including three in just under two minutes late in the opening half.

John Meskell’s Ahane led 0-12 to 0-9 at the break, having been assisted by the breeze. Early on, O’Connor and Gavin set the tone for Ballybrown but Morrissey and then Gavin Rowesome replied.

The sides were level three times in the opening half with Cathal O’Mara and Morrissey keep Ahane narrowly behind with well taken scores.

Playing without the suspended Colin Coughlan, Ballybrown had Luke O’Connor in fine form in attack. His brace of opening half-points key to their challenge.

However, Fox’s trio put Ahane ahead for the first time, 0-9 to 0-8, before Conor Ryan, Morrissey and Jack Cosgrove closed the half, with Luke O’Connor in reply for Ballybrown.

The sides were to be level just twice more in the second half but there was a run of scores at either end which threatened to swing the points to either side.

Ross Kenny’s point, and another for Luke O’Connor brought Ballybrown to within one within four minutes but Ahane, through the reliable Morrissey, replied.

However, sub David Hall’s first touch, a point, started a run of eight points which defined the game. His cousin, Aidan O’Connor, key here too, while Mikey Gavin and Barry Adams also chipped in.

John O’Connor eventually broke the sequence on 57 minutes, but they hunted a game changing goal. Tom Morrissey was denied by Cian Hedderman, before Josh Adams thwarted sub Peter Donohue’s follow up.

In the end, Mikey Gavin and Hall sealed the victory with points, ahead of a round three clash with Kilmallock, late in August.

SCORERS - BALLYBROWN: Aidan O’Connor 0-11 (6f); Mikey Gavin 0-5; Luke O’Connor 0-4; David Hall 0-2; Barry Adams, Ross Kenny, Josh Adams, Killian Gavin 0-1 each; Ahane: Tom Morrissey 0-11 (8f); Ronan Fox 0-4; Cathal O’Mara, Jack Cosgrove 0-2 each; Gavin Rowsome, Conor Ryan, John O’Connor 0-1 each.

BALLYBROWN: Cian Hedderman; Keith Punch, Josh Adams, David Hartnett; Ross Griffin, James Coughlan, Mikey Kiely; Killian Gavin, Leigh Doolan; Ross Kenny, Aidan O’Connor, Mikey Gavin; Luke O’Connor, Barry Adams, Bobby Smith; Subs: David Hall for Doolan (41 mins); Bryan Griffin for Smith (50 mins).

AHANE: Cathal Ryan; Gavin Rowsome, Padraig Harnett, Conor Heffernan; Ciaran Barry, Dan Morrissey, Dan Minihan; Conor Ryan, Evan O’Leary; John O’Connor, Tom Morrissey, Mark Donnellan; Jack Cosgrove, Ronan Fox, Cathal O’Mara; Subs: Peter O’Grady for Rowsome (7 mins, inj); Jack Butler for O’Grady (41 mins); Kevin Morrissey for Donnellan (49 mins); Adam Murrihy for O’Mara (58 mins); Peter Donohue for Fox (58 mins).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).