St Kierans and Newcastle West secure wins in Group 2 of Limerick SFC

The Limerick SFC returned on Thursday night where Newcastle West and St Kierans picked up valuable wins in Group 2 as they pushed closer to the knockout stages.

St Kierans needed a last-minute point from Diarmuid Mulcahy to secure a 2-14 to 1-16 victory over a plucky Drom Broadford side.

The sides were level at 0-8 all at the break with Derry McCarthy and Sean McSweeney both scoring half of their sides totals.

A brace of goals from Liam Kennedy, coupled with points from Anthony Molyneaux and Noel Callanan within the opening five minutes of the second half for St Kierans looked like it could finish the tie but Drom refused to go away.

The sides traded scores and with ten minutes left on the clock, Kierans still held a 2-13 to 0-13 lead.

However, a Kevin Noonan goal drew Drom closer before three consecutive points from Derry McCarthy brought the game level heading into injury time.

It would ultimately be heartbreak for Drom with Mulcahy’s last-minute strike earning St Kierans their second victory of the campaign, leaving Drom pointless.

Newcastle West met Galbally in Kilmallock with both teams having contrasting results thus far in the competition.

Newcastle had won both of their first two encounters while Galbally came into the game pointless.

Newcastle started the brighter and had the games opening two scores. Quickfire point from last years Intermediate champions brought them level on ten minutes.

They would then trade score with neither side able to gain the upper hand in the opening 25 minutes with the sides deadlocked at 0-4 apiece.

Galbally would get the breakthrough goal on 33 minutes through Mike O’Donovan.

Two further points on the trot gave Galbally a commanding 1-6 to 0-5 lead at the break.

However, a red card early in the second half for Galbally halted their momentum as Newcastle made the most of their numerical advantage.

Fifteen minutes into the second half they had the game level at 1-6 to 0-9. Minutes later they would push ahead for the first time since the ninth minute.

Things would get worse for Galbally as they lost a second man to a red card before Newcastle West got their only goal of the game to effectively end the game.

In the end Newcastle ran out 1-12 to 1-8 victors.

Tonight, Group 1 takes centre stage with the meetings between Ballysteen and Adare & the clash of Monaleen and St Senans.