Football glory for Adare, Rathkeale, Cappagh and St. Kieran’s

There was a quartet of Limerick football titles handed out over the weekend.

Adare claimed a fourth ever Senior crown, with a deserved 1-10 to 0-8 victory over Fr. Casey’s. They led from start to finish with Hugh Bourke’s 1-5 more than enough. His 10th minute goal came shortly after Jeffrey Alfred saved from Martin Scannell.

It is a fourth title since 2017, and helps ease the heartbreak of the last three finals, which saw them defeated by Newcastle West.

Harry Gleeson’s men were six clear by the time Casey’s got off the mark and despite narrowing the gap during an increased tempo second half, Eoin Joy’s men could never get level at a packed Mick Neville Park.

They had scores from Eliah Riordan, Daniel Daly and Rory O’Brien. However, they were never on top for long enough against a vastly experienced Adare outfit.

There was further scores from Bourke as was as Davy and Mikey Lyons. The latter chipped in with two points from the bench.

The wait for glory goes on for the Abbeyfeale men, who last won in 2006. This was their first final appearance since 2009. Adare will clash with Eire Og of Ennis, next Sunday in Cusack Park, in Ennis at 1.15pm.

Meanwhile, Rathkeale are heading back to the top table, after a 0-11 to 0-7 victory over Galbally. In a repeat of the 2019 decider, the result was flipped with Rathkeale always holding the upper hand in Ballyagran.

It sees Rathkeale recover from the narrow defeat in the Junior hurling final eight days prior, while a handful of the Galbally outfit have suffered back-to-back defeats, having lost out in the Premier Intermediate hurling final with sister club, Garryspillane.

The returning Paul White top scored for the winners, with 0-3. While consistent Mikey Morrissey, Andrew Whire and Eoin O’Donnell helped on the scoring front. It was the first time all season that Galbally had been denied a goal, and in the end, a strong defensive showing from the Westerners got them over the line.

Galbally managed just three points from play over the sixty minutes of action. Rathkeale are on the road to Kilshannig of Cork, for their Intermediate quarter-final, next Sunday.

The Premier Junior A title went to Cappagh on Saturday. Cian O’Carroll and Seaumus O’Carroll were among the chief tormentors of Athea. It finished 1-8 to 0-5 in Askeaton.

The Junior B title went to St. Kieran’s second team who had far too much experience for Mungret St. Paul’s third string. A 1-18 to 0-6 score is reflective of that.

The Junior A final was postponed, depending the outcome of an appeal. Ahane were due to face Fedamore but it appears Camogue Rovers have appealed the result of their semi-final loss to neighbours Fedamore. Player eligibility appears the reason for the appeal.