Kildimo Pallaskenry claim first ever Limerick Intermediate Football Championship with win over Rathkeale

Kildimo Pallaskenry will play senior football for the first time ever next year after claiming the Intermediate football title.

The City club’s win completes an incredible turnaround after winning the Junior B Championship only seven years ago.

Two goals in three minutes from Lorcan O’Leary proved the difference for KP who are now just Limerick’s third dual club alongside Adare and Doon/Oola.

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Rathkeale were the quickest off the blocks in Mick Neville Park with Barry Coleman and Eoin Kelly opening the scoring. Peter Nash replied with his first of the night but scores from Coleman and Mikie Morrissey pushed Rathkeale three clear after 12.

Nash’s third of the evening reduced the deficit to 0-5 to 0-3 at the first water break.

Rathkeale were well on top but couldn’t keep a distance between themselves and the city side with Conor Staff getting on the scoresheet to keep KP within two approaching the half.

KP were reduced to 15 for ten minutes with Brian Howard sent to the bin but this seemed to awaken the side as Nash kicked three on on the trot, his seventh of the half giving them their first lead of the night after 31 minutes.

They maintained that into the break leading 0-8 to 0-7.

But a Kevin Shanahan mark and another free from Coleman had Rathkeale back in front three minutes after the restart.

That was as good as it got for the West outfit as KP regained the lead after Lorcan O’Leary fielded Staff’s delivery to the square before finishing expertly to the net.

Three minutes later, O’Leary doubled his goalscoring taking full advantage of Nash’s quick free before burying to the net to push them five clear.

Rathkeale began to play with a sense of urgency and clipped over three of the next four scores to make it 2-9 to 0-12 at the waterbreak.

Crucially, KP found the next score to move four clear. That was to be their final score of the night as Rathkeale reduced the margin to just two points heading into injury time.

A dangerous ball into the KP area was saved off the line by Jamie Hickey before Staff fielded the final probing delivery as Kildimo Pallaskenry sealed passage to the senior ranks for the first time.