First half goals fire Adare to victory over Newcastle West

Adare have dethroned current Limerick senior football champions Newcastle West in their semi-final encounter.

First half goals from Hugh Bourke and Shane O’Connor fired Adare to a 2-9 to 0-11 win, having lost to Newcastle West in the last three finals.

Adare will face either Mungret or Fr Casey’s in the decider on the first weekend of November. The second semi-final is on in Newcastle West on Sunday afternoon.

Harry Gleeson’s men led by three points towards the end of the first half but went in at the break well ahead thanks to Bourke and O’Connor.

A mistake from a kick-out cost Newcastle West dearly for the first goal. Robbie Bourke got possession and offloaded to Hugh and he rifled a bullet to the roof of the net.

Moments later the Bourke’s combined once again. This time it was as providers with O’Connor benefitting for the second goal.

Newcastle West responded with three points on the bounce to make the score at the break at 2-6 to 0-6 at half time.

The expected onslaught from the current champions didn’t arrive in the second half and Adare managed the game brilliantly to book their spot for the fourth year in a row.

Scorers – Adare: Hugh Bourke 1-3, (3f), Shane O’Connor 1-2, Davy Lyons 0-2, Paul Maher and Oran Collins 0-1 each.

Scorers – Newcastle West: Eoin Hurley 0-4, 3f, 1m), Mike McMahon and Emmet Rigter (1f) 0-2 each, Bryan Nix, Mike O’Leary and Brian O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Adare: Jeffrey Alfred; Shane Doherty, David Connolly, Darragh Lane; Davy Lyons, Eoghan Costelloe, Oran Collins; Paul Maher, Joe Sweeney; Shane Costelloe, Robbie Bourke, Ronan Connolly; Shane O’Connor, Hugh Bourke, Roy Gleeson.

Subs: Mikey Lyons for O’Connor (49), Adam Canny for S Costelloe (54), Cian Sparling for Lane (59), Mike Keane for R Bourke (62).

Newcastle West: Mike Qulligan; Mike O’Keeffe, Darren O’Doherty, Michael Cremin; Seamus Hurley, Aaron Neville, Brian O’Sullivan; Sean Murphy, Emmet Rigter; Lee Woulfe, Bryan Nix, Mike O’Leary; Diarmuid Kelly, Mike McMahon, Eoin Hurley.

Subs: Brian Hurley for Kelly (37), Thomas Quilligan for Woulfe (44), Brian Foley for O’Leary (49), Eoin Murphy for S Murphy (50).

Referee: Liam McGaynor (Drom-Broadford).