Fr Casey’s and Ballysteen join Adare in Limerick SFC knockout stages

There were wins for Adare, Ballysteen and Fr Casey’s from Saturday night’s action in the Limerick Senior Football Championship.

Adare made it five wins from five in Group 1, while victories for Ballysteen and Fr Casey’s saw them earn knockout places.

The champions of the last two years were two strong for Ballylanders in a one-sided game in Bruff. Harry Gleeson’s men cantered to a 1-14 to 0-7 victory.

Adare never looked in danger of losing this game from the outset after two Hugh Bourke points and one from Robbie Bourke put them 0-3 to 0-0 ahead seven minutes played.

Darren McCarthy and Stephen Walsh scores brought Ballylanders back into the contest, but Shane O’Connor’s goal set Adare four points clear. O’Connor fired low past Dec O’Connor after Robbie Bourke’s sublime pass.

Adare weathered all Ballylanders had to offer for the remainder of the half and scores from Mikey and Davy Lyons saw them to a 1-7 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

It was all one way traffic in the second half with Adare outscoring Ballylanders 0-7 to 0-2. Ballylanders didn’t score again after the 37^th minute and Adare hit six points in a row to finish the game strongly.

Ballysteen booked their place in the quarter finals after beating St Senan’s 2-19 to 0-12 in Rathkeale. St Senan’s finished bottom of the group without a win and face into a relegation final.

Danny Neville was Ballysteen’s star man as he put in imperious performance that saw him score 2-9.

There was little between the sides in the opening half hour, but Ballysteen edged it and led 0-8 to 0-7 at the short whistle.

It was a different story in the second half as Neville hit top form. Ballysteen pushed into a six point advantage when Neville pounced for his first goal 18 minutes into the second half.

The game was long decided when Neville buried his second a couple of minutes later to seal an impressive victory.

Fr Casey’s will also be part of the knockout stages after a 0-13 to 1-6 victory over Monaleen in Adare. Casey’s finish second in the group on eight points.

Casey’s took the lead early on through Billy Quirke, but a Conor McManus goal put Monaleen ahead on 10 minutes.

Quirke and Michael Roche soon levelled for Casey’s, but Paul Butler’s free restored Monaleen’s lead. However, the side’s went in at the break level at 1-1 to 0-4 thanks to a Jamie O’Connor free.

Casey’s stepped it up after the break with four of the first five points to go three points clear.

Monaleen came back at Casey’s in the final stages, but two efforts from Cormac Roche and one from Adrian Enright saw the Abbeyfeale club into the quarter finals.