Dromin-Athlacca impress with Premier IHC victory over Effin

DROMIN-ATHLACCA maintained their perfect start as they made it three victories from three in the Lyons of Limerick County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship with a well-deserved 3-18 to 1-17 win over Effin in Kilmallock.

With the exception of the opening two minutes, Dromin-Athlacca led for the entirety of the game as goals from the impressive Jack Fitzgibbon (2) and Jack O’Connor proved the difference in a major boost in the east Limerick men’s bid of a quick return to senior hurling.

And the men in blue and white put in a performance fitting of the senior ranks as quick bursts of scores throughout the game meant Effin were chasing the leading pack from very early on.

Even after Effin settled into the game, giving them a fighting chance with three scores without response just before the half time break, Dromin-Athlacca came flying out of the traps in the second half to again open up a comfortable eight-point lead.

It was, unsurprisingly, round-robin league leaders Dromin-Athlacca that started the brightest and after Fitzgibbon scored his first goal of two after six minutes, the men in blue and white scored seven of the next 10 points to cruise into a nine-point lead – 1-10 to 0-04 – as half time fast approached.

At this stage, only Paddy O’Donovan had scored for Effin with all but one of the 23-year-old scores coming from frees.

Credit to Effin, the south Limerick men kept plugging away and scored three without response before half time to give themselves a fight chance as O’Donovan added another two – a free and a point from play – before Frankie Herr narrowed the deficit to six.

It was, however, that first half goal from Fitzgibbon and the inspiring free-scoring efforts from Limerick star David Reidy that proved the difference as Dromin-Athlacca took a six-point lead into the break.

Effin brought their late second half momentum into the early stages of the final half hour and got off to a flying start to the second half.

The game was being played at a blistering pace at this stage and it was Dromin-Athlacca’s turn again for a quick burst of scores. The crossbar hadn’t even stopped shaking at the other end when Fitzgibbon pointed from the men in blue and white to make it a seven-point game – 1-11 to 0-07.

Dromin-Athlacca looked like they’d put the result beyond minutes later when Jack O’Connor scored a rebounded effort to put 11 between the sides.

A superb solo run by Shane Fitzgibbon created space, before the Dromin-Athlacca left half back found O’Connor. His first effort was blocked by a number of Effin defenders, but the lively corner forward made sure to raise the green flag on his second attempt.

Effin responded with another three points in-a-row – all from the impressive O’Donovan – to quickly cancel out O’Connor’s goal.

And after Sean O’Leary slotted over a free for the eventual winners, O’Donovan again scored three without response to quickly make it a six-point game with just 12 minutes to play.

Dromin-Athlacca, however, slowly started to take control of proceedings once more with David Reidy keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Two late O’Donovan scores and an Ewan Dillon goal set up an exciting finish as it was brought back to a four-point game.

Fitzgibbon had the final say, however, scoring his second goal with the last puck of the game to secure a hard-fought, but well-deserved victory, for Dromin-Athlacca.

SCORERS - DROMIN-ATHLACCA: Jack Fitzgibbon 2-2; David Reidy 0-8 (5f, 1 ’65); Jack O’Connor 1-1; David Breen, Shane Fitzgibbon 0-2 each; Cian Scully, David Griffin, Sean O’Leary (1f) 0-1 each; EFFIN: Paddy O’Donovan 0-13 (9f); Ewan Dillon 1-1; Fergal O’Connor, Franke Herr, Pierse O’Kelly 0-1 each.

DROMIN-ATHLACCA: Robbie Breen; Shane Scully, William Dore, Seán Morrissey; Patrick O'Donoghue, Michael Reidy, Shane Fitzgibbon; Cian Scully, David Reidy; Daniel Scully, Tadhg Boddy, David Griffin; Jack Fitzgibbon, David Breen, Jack O'Connor; Subs: John O’Keeffe for O’Leary (54 mins), David Mullins for O’Connor (56 mins), Michael Quaid for Griffin (59 mins).

EFFIN: James O'Leary; Jason O'Keeffe, Alan Byrne, Mark Mullins; Brian Clifford, Nickie Quaid, Tommy Quaid; Paul Treacy, Fergal O'Connor; Ewan Dillon, Patrick O'Donovan, Ruairi O'Connor; Cillian O'Riordan, Pierse O'Kelly, Frankie Herr; Subs: Cathal Canning for Herr (41 mins), Hugh O’Neill for Mullins (55 mins).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Ballylanders).