Mungret St Pauls make history with Limerick SHC win over Patrickswell

MUNGERT St Paul’s maintained their 100% record in Group 2 of the Whitebox Limerick Senior Hurling Championship with a 2-19 to 0-21 win over Patrickswell in Claughaun.

A late Liam Lynch goal turned the game in their favour with both sides desperate to get a second win to add to their round one victories.

Mungret held a half time lead of five points but Patrickswell had the game level nine minutes into the second half and then took the lead.

Barry Duff settled Mungret nerves with their first point of the second half and that set up a grandstand finish - Lynch’s goal proving to be the decisive.

Aided by a strong early breeze, Mungret made a fast start. Points from Rory Gleeson, Fintan Fitzgerald and Rory O’Callaghan putting them three to the good with four minutes played.

Patrick Kirby settled things for Patrickswell but they were undone by the game’s opening goal moments later. Cian Moloney and Lynch combined to set up Paul O’Brien and he rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

Jason Gillane and John Kirby fired over points in response but Mungret held Patrickswell at bay with efforts from Paul O’Brien and Fitzgerald.

Jason Gillane responded with a free and a wonder strike from the left touchline but Mungret kept the scoreboard ticking over through a Lynch free.

Patrickswell then hit the next three points with Jason Gillane scoring twice and Aaron Gillane chipping in with a point from play. That left the score at 1-6 to 0-8 after 17 minutes.

Rory Gleeson got Mungret back on track and his effort was soon followed by a well-taken score by Barry Duff. Jason Gillane was now keeping his side in touch from placed balls with Fitzgerald and Barry Duff’s influence around the middle helping Mungret immensely.

Scores from Mark O’Brien and Lynch, either side of a Jason Gillane placed ball, left the score at 1-13 to 0-11 in Mungret’s favour at half time.

The breeze died at the beginning of the second half but it didn’t worry Patrickswell as they hit five-in-a-row to level the score. A Jason Gillane free then saw them lead by 0-17 to 1-13 with 16 minutes to go.

Duff settled any Mungret nerves with a score that squared the game for a second time and it was Brian Begley’s men that edged the final quarter.

Lynch and Brian O’Meara hit points after Duff’s equaliser but Jason Gillane and a cracker from substitute Hughie Maher levelled the game once again.

Killian Begley put his Mungret side back on top with a fine effort but again Jason Gillane had an answer. Lynch and Jason Gillane traded placed balls, before Lynch raised another white flag.

The all-important score came two minutes into added time when Lynch took off on the right sideline, powered past a couple of Patrickswell defenders and batted the ball under Carrig for a sensational goal that sealed Mungret’s historic win.

SCORERS - MUNGRET ST PAULS: Liam Lynch 1-7 (6f, 1 ‘65), Paul O’Brien 1-1, Fintan Fitzgerald 0-3, Rory Gleeson, and Barry Duff 0-2 each, Rory O’Callaghan, Mark O’Brien, Brian O’Meara and Killian Begley 0-1 each; PATRICKSWELL: Jason Gillane 0-12 (9f), John Kirby 0-3, Aaron Gillane 0-2, Patrick Kirby, Cian Lynch, Liam Fitzgerald, and Hughie Maher 0-1 each.

MUNGRET ST PAULS: Conor O’Brien; Billy Molyneaux, Eoin O’Doherty, Sean Duff; Rory O’Callaghan, Brian O’Meara, Matt O’Sullivan; Cian Moloney, Barry Duff; Mark O’Brien, Fintan Fitzgerald, Rory Gleeson; Killian Begley, Liam Lynch, Paul O’Brien; Subs: Niall Mulcahy for P O’Brien (36 mins), Rory Duff for M O’Brien (45 mins), Brian Barry for Gleeson (49 mins).

PATRICKSWELL: Adam Carrig; Eoin Harmon, Cian Fitzgerald, Billy Earls; Evan Fitzgerald, Diarmaid Byrnes, Mark Carmody; Patrick Kirby, John Murray; Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch, John Kirby; Kevin O’Brien, Jason Gillane, Liam Fitzgerald; Subs: Andrew Carroll for L Fitzgerald (49 mins), Hughie Maher for Carmody (52 mins).

Referee: Mike Sexton (Bruree).