Limerick SFC Round 2 Review

The second round of the Limerick SFC concluded over the weekend with the campaign now taking a 16-week break to allow for the resumption of the SHC and the beginning of the Munster Football and Hurling championships.

After two rounds, four teams are on 100% records while four sides are yet to pick up a point.

Here we look at the state of play ahead of the break.

Group 1

Adare and Ballysteen are the big winners after the opening pair of rounds with two wins from two. Indeed these side face each other in the next round in July.

Adare picked up their second win on Friday evening with a 0-12 to 1-5 win over Fr Caseys in Mick Neville Park.

In a slow paced game, Adare started brighter and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after a quarter of an hour. Fr Caseys replied with the only goal of the game courtesy of Billy Quirke as the sides were level after 20.

Adare recovered from the setback and had a 0-7 to 1-2 lead at the break. From here they would never look like surrendering their lead as they eased to a five-point victory.

Also on Friday night, Ballysteen overcame Monaleen to join Adare on four points with a 2-9 to 0-7 win.

Two first half goals for Ballysteen would prove crucial with Mark Ranahan and Shane Gallagher netting for the West side to give them a 2-5 to 0-4 advantage at the break.

Despite much pressure from Monaleen in the second half, Ballysteen never looked troubled as they picked up a second consecutive win.

In the groups other game, Ballylanders notched their first win over St Senans winning out 1-15 to 0-12.

In a stop start game, Ballylanders lead 0-8 to 0-4 at half time with both sides reliant on their free takers for scores.

Despite the scoring exploits of Richard Hayes, who would finish with 0-11 of his sides total of 0-12, St Senans could never get close enough to the Ballylanders goal trouble them with Steven Fox’s goal after 47 minutes bringing last years county finalists six points clear.

From here Ballylanders would close out the game with Senans now languishing at the bottom of the table.

Group 2

Newcastle West and Oola remain deadlocked on four points after round 2 in the championships other group. They meet in round 5 that could be a potential clash to top the table.

Oola were the first up, proving far too much for Drom-Broadford on Friday evening picking up a 3-15 to 0-12 win in Kilbreedy.

The sides were matched evenly in the opening half with Oola taking a slender 0-10 to 0-8 advantage into the dressing rooms at the half.

A costly error from Gareth Noonan early in the second half allowed Josh Ryan in for goal which would open the floodgates as another goal from Ryan and one for Richie English allowed Oola to cruise to victory.

On Saturday evening, Newcastle West overcame St Kierans relatively comfortably in Knockaderry, 2-15 to 1-6.

Newcastle West dominated possession in the opening half and were rewarded with a goal from the highly impressive Iain Corbett withing the opening fifteen minutes.

However, they would rue a number of missed chances as a mistake from the Newcastle goalkeeper allowed Sean McSweeney in on goal to reduce the gap to two prior to the break.

Yet, Kierans would only add three extra scores in the second half with a another goal from Corbett sealing the result for Newcastle.

Sunday evening saw Na Piarsaigh pick up their first points with a comprehensive 3-15 to 0-9 over Galbally.

An early Eoin Hogan saw the Caherdavin into a 1-9 to 0-4 lead over last years Intermediate champions.

Second half goals from Dylan Cronin and Will Henn put the result beyond doubt as Galbally fell to a second consecutive defeat.