Glory Days – Hurling titles for Croagh-Kilfinny, Feenagh-Kilmeedy and Monaleen

There was a trio of exciting and close hurling finals played on Saturday, with each piece of silverware decided by just a score. There will be celebrations aplenty for the three clubs over this bank holiday weekend.

The games were a culmination of the lower grade action with the losing sides; Bruree, St. Patrick’s and Rathkeale heading the back to the drawing board for 2025.

Croagh Kilfinny claimed a maiden Intermediate crown, thanks to a 0-18 to 1-14 success over Bruree at a packed Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale. James Hall’s side had trailed by a point at the interval but took over, with the wind, in the second half. They were six ahead with time running out before Sam Cronnolly netted a penalty and a brace of frees. However, the southmen couldn’t force a leveller and Croagh Kilfinny held on, with relief the overriding emotion after losing out to Effin, Na Piarsaigh and Granagh Ballingarry in the last three deciders.

Cian O’Carroll top scored with 0-8 (0-7 frees), while former Limerick footballer Seamus O’Carroll was in top form with a trio of points. It adds to the Junior A title of 2020 (played in 2021) as the only County honours the club has won in their 121 year history.

Meanwhile, earlier in Rathkeale, at Sean Finn Park, there was late drama as Feenagh Kilmeedy got the better of St. Patrick’s to ensure they bounced back from last years final loss, which saw them lose out on penalties. In the first ‘Premier Junior A’ final following the restructure of the Junior grade, there was a trio of late goals with this seesaw game also drawing a bumper crowd.

Diarmuid Coleman was the match winner with a stoppage time goal giving the west side a 3-16 to 2-16 victory. Level at half-time, the Rhebogue outfit forged ahead by the three quarter-mark. Driven on by Limerick star Gearoid Hegarty and his younger brother, Diarmuid, the team captain. An inspired sub, Shane Cross, chipped in with 1-2 but Feenagh Kilmeedy wouldn’t go away.

First Tomas Galvin raised a green flag to put the boys in blue two up at the death, they soon added a point but the Saints hit the net to force a level game. Coleman had the final scoring say, to add a second goal, having netted a penalty in the opening half.

Feeangh Kilmeedy head to Lemybrien in Waterford next Saturday, where they will clash with Kilrossanty in the Munster Junior quarter-final.

In the Junior A decider – the fifth tier – Monaleen’s second string ensured back-to-back promotions with a tense 1-16 to 1-14 success over Rathkeale. 1-9 from the stick of Max Ivory saw the exiting inside forward collect the Man-of-the-Match award.

His goal immediately after half-time opened a 1-8 to 0-6 lead but Patrick Willmott’s penalty kept the west Limerick sides interest all the way to the end. However, Ivory struck the final effort to seal a two-point victory, with Mark Field (0-4), Ben Crowe and Tom McCarthy among their scorers. The city side also won the Junior B crown last season. With no Munster series for this grade, they earn a well-deserved break after winning the All-Ireland Junior B crown in the spring.

Rathkeale must quickly refocus ahead of their forthcoming Intermediate football final. Meanwhile, the remaining Junior title in Limerick, will see Ballybrown and Kildimo Pallaskenry clash in the Junior B decider, after respective wins over Ahane and Granagh Ballingarry on Saturday afternoon.