Round-up: No Munster joy for Doon, Newcastle West or Feenagh Kilmeedy

By Tom Clancy

There was a trio of narrow defeats for Limerick’s three representatives in the quarter-finals of the Munster Senior, Intermediate and Junior championships, as Doon, Newcastle West and Feenagh Kilmeedy all bowed out.

All three sides face a short, seven day turnaround. For Doon and Newcastle West it was a first foray into Munster, in hurling, while Feenagh were looking to replicate their Munster Junior final appearance last December.

Doon, who led by four points at the interval were eventually overhauled by an impressive Ballygunner side at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Once more, Adam English was the scorer in chief, with 0-10, while Chris Thomas, Pat Ryan and the O’Donovan brothers, Cian and Darragh, were also on the scoresheet.

However, a 0-25 to 0-20 defeat ends a most memorable season for the East Limerick side. Pauric Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson and . Conor Sheahan of Ballygunner was awarded the Man-of-the-Match award. Pat Ryan was among the main men for Doon, who may have slight regrets despite a stellar display.

Meanwhile, earlier on Sunday, in Newcastle West the home side were inched out 2-13 to 0-20 by Tipperary Premier Intermediate champions, Cashel King Cormacs. It took a late flurry of scores from Cashel King Cormacs to eliminate a gallant Newcastle West. In this Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final, Derry McMahon’s side cut a frustrated group after sixty minutes of action.

Having led by five entering the final quarter, the Magpies didn’t appear to have enough to arrest the slide once Cashel took control.

Two goals from Bryan Nix, including one inside the opening twenty seconds, had the Magpies firmly in the fight byt Eoghan Connolly and Devon Ryan contributed 0-17 between them as they hit eight in a row to pull into a three point lead.

A late brace of Limerick scores weren’t enough. Newcastle West will now focus on putting together a plan for 2025, where they have dual Senior hurling and football commitments.

Meanwhile on Saturday, it took no fewer than 0-13 from Padraig Fitzgerald to help Kilrossanty of Waterford over Feenagh Kilmeedy, who won the Premier Junior title just last weekend. Played in Lemybrien, the Limerick side had fourteen points from Diarmuid Coleman, including nine from play.

As with Doon and Newcastle West, the success of winning the county was the main goal for 2024, but this narrow defeat will be tinged with regret. They chased valiantly during the second half but couldn’t force to level the tie. Coleman forcing a save from Rian Hogan into a late save which denied extra-time at the cost of a point.