Newcastle West and Oola pick up impressive first round wins

In a night full of goals in the Limerick SFC, NCW beat St Patricks by 5-12 to 3-7 in a thrilling encounter while Oola had two points to spare against Ballysteen in Mungret, winning 3-10 to 3-8.

Liam Quinn with 1-1 saw St Pats run up an early lead on the 2015 county champions in the opening 10 minutes. Newcastle reeled in their opponents and went into the break with a commanding 1-6 to 1-1 lead, their goal coming courtesy of James Kelly in the 26th minute.

NCW, started the second on fire and scored 2 quick fire goals within 90 seconds of the restart. Intercounty players Iain Corbett and Paul Hannon, goaling for the West side. Newcastle would soon find themselves 3-7 to 1-1 ahead and seemingly out of reach.

However, Pats rallied, and goals from Gearoid Hegarty and Padraig Reale reduced the deficit to 3-10 to 3-4. Yet, Newcastle would pull away again and found two more goals, with Kelly and Corbett each getting their second.

In Mungret, Ballysteen started the brighter and were 1-1 to no score ahead within the opening 5 minutes, with Mark Ranahan getting the goal from the penalty spot.

Conor Ryan struck back with a goal for Oola who struck a killer blow on the stroke of half time with Inter County Hurler Darragh O’Donovan finding the back of the net to give the East Limerick a 2-6 to 1-4 half time lead.

Oola dominated the opening exchanges of the second half and a second Conor Ryan goal pushed them into an 11 point lead, 3-10 to 1-5 entering the final quarter.

Ballysteen fought hard in the remaining 15 minutes finding the net twice with Ranahan getting his second and John O’Shaughnessy also gaoling. Yet it wasn’t enough as Oola held out to secure the win.

The final two games of the first round see Monaleen and Rathkeale face off in Clarina, while St Kierans meet Ballylanders in Bruff. Both throw in at 7pm.