Mungret bounce into Limerick SHC quarter-finals with perfect record
The eight-point win for Mungret maintained their 100% record in the group stage
MUNGRET St Pauls powered past the challenge of Garryspillane with a 2-23 to 2-15 victory in their Group 2 round robin game in the Whitebox Limerick Senior Hurling Championship in Doon.
Brian Begley’s side earned their fifth win, maintaining their 100% record into the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Bouncers had assured their senior hurling status for 2027 following a one-point victory over Kildimo Pallaskenry last time out, while Mungret had already confirmed their promotion and their spot in the last eight.
Target man and second-ranked championship scorer Liam Lynch was once again in superb form for the city side, scoring 0-4 while also setting up goals for Mark O’Brien and Fintan Fitzgerald.
Limerick panellist Hugh Flanagan once again showed his quality throughout, ending the day with a remarkable personal tally of 1-9.
Mungret got off to a fast start, playing with the aid of a strong breeze and racing into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead by the tenth minute.
Scores from Niall Mulcahy, Liam Lynch, a brace from Barry Duff and Cian Moloney had Mungret s well settled before Hugh Flanagan eventually ended the Bouncers’ scoring drought in the twelfth minute.
Brian O’Meara responded before Mark O’Brien rattled the Garryspillane net, having peeled off from Lynch, who won a high ball and played in the former Limerick U20 hurler.
Flanagan responded to make it 1-9 to 0-4, only for Lynch, Mulcahy and Barry Duff to push Mungret further ahead.
Fintan Fitzgerald then rattled the net with two minutes to play in the opening half, having once again been set up by the Mungret full-forward.
To their credit, Garryspillane responded through Hugh Flanagan, with the young sharpshooter flashing an effort over the bar before netting a spectacular goal with the last action of the half, leaving the scoreboard reading 2-13 to 1-5 at the break.
Flanagan, Callum Sheehan and Peter Morrissey pointed for the Bouncers after the restart, only for Mungret to take over once again with six unanswered scores to push the city men 2-18 to 1-8 in front by the 40th minute.
Flanagan responded with a brace of frees, only for Mulcahy and a glorious solo effort from Fitzgerald to make it double scores with a quarter of an hour to play, at 2-20 to 1-10.
Garryspillane, however, ended their campaign strongly, outscoring Mungret 1-5 to 0-3 in the final quarter, with a hat-trick of Flanagan points, as well as scores from Peter Morrissey and a goal from Callum Sheehan with the last action of the game.
Mungret St Pauls can now look forward to a quarter-final draw against one of the Group A sides, as well as a return to top-tier hurling for the first time since 2024 next season. Meanwhile, the Bouncers will hope to build on a solid showing having come up from Premier Intermediate last year.
SCORERS - MUNGRET ST PAULS: Fintan Fitzgerald 1-3, Liam Lynch 0-5 (3f), Mark O’Brien 1-1, Barry Duff, Conor O’Halloran and Niall Mulcahy 0-3 each, Cian Moloney 0-2, Brian O’Meara, Shane Barry and Brian Barry 0-1 each: GARRYSPILLANE: Hugh Flanagan 1-9 (6f, 1 ‘65), Callum Sheehan 1-1, John English and Peter Morrissey 0-2 each, Bryan Heavey 0-1.
MUNGRET ST PAULS: Conor O’Brien; Liam Harrington, Matt O’Sullivan, Eoin O’Doherty; Brian Barry, Brian O’Meara, Shane Barry; Cian Moloney, Rory Duff; Niall Mulcahy, Fintan Fitzgerald, Barry Duff; Conor O’Halloran, Liam Lynch, Mark O’Brien; Subs: Sean Duff for M O’Sullivan (42 mins), Killian Begley for C Moloney (46 mins).
GARRYSPILLANE: Adam Sheehan; James O’Sullivan, Declan Heavey, Ciaran Sheehan; Dylan O’Shea, Robert Sampson, Eoin O’Mahoney; Ryan Tobin, James Morrissey; Peter Morrissey, Bryan Heavey, Hugh Flanagan; Callum Sheehan, John English, Tiernan Ryan; Subs: Josh Dineen for D Heavey (15 mins), Shane Ryan for J Morrissey (39 mins).
Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola).