Limerick Senior Football Championship Final – Drom Broadford 0-13 Newcastlewest 2-7

Violent row tarnishes thrilling Limerick showpiece

Report from the Irish Independent newspaper

Drom-Broadford 0-13 Newcastle West 2-7

An investigation is likely to be held into an incident at the finish of a rip-roaring final at the Gaelic Grounds after Michael Reidy, with a point in stoppage-time, earned a draw for Drom-Broadford. There was also a mini-fracas involving several players after referee Richard Moloney blew for half-time and there were unsavoury scenes at the end, too, when a spectator is alleged to have run onto the field to remonstrate with Newcastle West’s James Kelly who had been sent off for a second yellow card just before full-time.

When these two sides last met in the final eight years ago it also finished in a draw. James Kelly was the Newcastle West hero, scoring 2-2 of their tally. He was also the central figure in the absorbing contest. Two minutes before the interval Newcastle West claimed a penalty as Kelly raced through but play was waved on and that led to the half-time protests, as a result of which Kelly was one of two players shown yellow cards. Then two minutes into stoppage-time at the end of the match Kelly was shown a second yellow. He seemed to be injured en route to leaving the field, which sparked more heated scenes after five minutes of stoppage-time had been played.

There was never much between the sides and they were level three times in the first half, at the end of which favourites Drom-Broadford led by a point, 0-8 to 1-4. Kelly’s goal came after 16 minutes to put his side 1-4 to 0-4 in front. It took 12 minutes before Garrett Noonan got Drom-Broadford’s first point of the second half, by which stage Mike Quilligan had three points for Newcastle West. Drom-Broadford had a brace from Derry McCarthy to edge a point in front until Kelly had his second goal five minutes from the end. At least seven players were involved in the build-up.

Scorers — Drom-Broadford: M Reidy 0-5 (2f), D McCarthy 0-4 (1f), M Brosnan 0-2, G Noonan, S Buckley 0-1 each. Newcastle West: J Kelly 2-2, M Quilligan 0-4 (3f 1’451), T Quilligan 0-1.

Drom-Broadford — K Noonan; D O’Leary, T McLoughlin, C Fahy; G Noonan, E Barry, M Boyce; S Buckley, J Stokes; M Brosnan, P Donnelly, D McCarthy; R Lynch, G Egan, M Reidy Sub: B Noonan for O’Leary (23).

Newcastle West — JJ Sheehy; M O’Keeffe, D Woods, M Dowling; S Browne, S Nix, M McMahon; I Corbett, S Lyons; S McAuliffe, T Quilligan, J Lee; M Quilligan, Stephen Kelly, J Kelly. Subs: B O’Doherty for McAuliffe (27), B O’Sullivan for Dowling (52), P Hannon for Lyons (52), Shane Kelly for Browne (60).

Ref — R Moloney (Bruff)

Tension greets final whistle in Limerick

By Diarmuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Dromcollogher-Broadford 0-13 Newcastle West 2-07

The post-match hair-dryer treatment is a phrase usually used in reference to the aspect of Alex Ferguson’s role as manager of Manchester United after his side puts in what he considers a less-than-acceptable performance. If Newcastle West manager Mikey Quilligan is anything like the Scot, then one would love to have been a fly on the wall in their dressing-room yesterday. But, away from the game as a sports contest for a second and what will surely dictate most talk this morning were the unsavoury scenes in the aftermath. Limerick GAA chiefs will meet in the next 48 hours to discuss what sanctions will arise from such a shocking incident.

Newcastle West came into this game as underdogs against their neighbours from Dromcollogher-Broadford, the powerhouse club of Limerick senior football since the turn of this century. Playing with power, pace and no little precision, however, the underdogs were a goal ahead after 16 minutes, and full value for that lead. Full-forward James Kelly had the Drom-Broadford rearguard in complete disarray, notched 1-2, and Kelly was ably abetted by young Michael Quilligan, while the third inside forward, Thomas Quilligan, roamed the plains to excellent effect. Wing-forward and Shannon rugby player Stephen Kelly was also causing Drom-Broadford major problems with his pace and intelligent distribution. And then, for no apparent reason, Newcastlewest seemed to sit back. Four consecutive points Newcastle West conceded before the break (Micheál Reidy with three, two of those from soft frees) and they trailed at the break 0-8 to 1-4.

Into the second-half and again Newcastle West started well, three Michael Quilligan points in the first nine minutes regaining the initiative, Drom-Broadford again struggling to contain the youthful zest of their big-town rivals. Again, however, Newcastle West seemed to turn off the tap and had the Drom attack brought their shooting boots, the next 10 minutes would have seen the game well and truly over. Three points Drom scored, the first an absolute cracker from wing-back Gareth Noonan, the impressive Derry McCarthy and captain Patrick Donnelly with the others; five wides though, one worse than the next, which meant this was still anyone’s game.

In the 54th minute, and for the third time, the pendulum again swung the way of Newcastle West, and again it was the burly James Kelly doing the damage, on the end of a fine move involving James Lee and Thomas Quilligan to finish with another powerful blast to the roof of the net – at 2-7 to 0-11, just over five minutes remaining, Newcastle West’s first title since 1992 was within their grasp. Derry McCarthy narrowed the margin to just a point in the 58th minute with his third point but then, in injury-time, the golden opportunity came for Newcastle West — an inviting cross-cum-lob by James Kelly for sub Paul Hannon to simply fist to the net. However, Hannon hesitated, tried to control, Drom keeper Keith Noonan was across like a shot, chance gone, the subsequent 45’ also missed.

A minute later James Kelly picked up a second yellow card for a needless foul and before he had even left the field Drom took a quick free, ball ended in the hands of the deadly Micheál Reidy – game-tying point from distance. And what of Quilligan’s assessment of his side’s performance? “You’re always disappointed when you draw but ultimately we didn’t play well enough to win that game – I thought we were absolutely atrocious. We played for about 20 minutes, for 40 minutes we were atrocious and there’s no point trying to hide that. I thought we played absolute rubbish, I think we were very lucky to get a draw.”

He continued: “We started well but our forward line is like any other forward line, if they get good ball they will hurt you. They were doing piles of damage but for some reason we stopped kicking them the ball – it beggars belief but these things happen. We’ll have to come back here four or five steps higher the next day.” And Drom-Broadford manager Mikey Fahy’s reaction? “We missed a lot of chances, in the second-half especially, playing with the wind we should have been more efficient.”

Scorers for Drom-Broadford: M Reidy 0-5 (2f); D McCarthy 0-3; M Brosnan 0-2; G Noonan, S Buckley, P Donnelly (f), 0-1 each.

Scorers for Newcastle West: J Kelly 2-2; M Quilligan 0-4 (2f); T Quilligan 0-1.

Sub for Dromcollogher-Broadford: B Noonan (O’Leary 23).

Subs for Newcastle West: B O’Doherty (McAuliffe 27); P Hannon (Lyons 52); B O’Sullivan (Dowling 52); S Kelly (Browne 60); G Reidy (Hannon inj. 60+2).

Referee: R Moloney (Bruff)

Match Preview from thescore.ie

Champions in 2008 and 2009, Drom-Broadford are back contesting a senior football decider in Limerick. They got the better of Fr Casey’s in their semi-final tie with Ray Lynch grabbing the crucial goal while the experience of Seanie Buckley, Jason Stokes and Micheál Reidy will be central to their hopes of success. James Kelly struck the crucial goal for Newcastlewest in their semi-final win over Ballysteen with Iain Corbett, Thomas Quilligan and Stephen Kelly other important figures in their side. They are searching for their first title since 1992 here.

Paths to Final

Group 2: Drom-Broadford 0-8 Newcastlewest 1-10; Drom-Broadford 1-10 Ballylanders 0-7, Newcastlewest 1-5 St Senan’s 0-7; Drom-Broadford 2-8 Monaleen 0-6, Newcastlewest 3-8 Ballysteen 1-7; Drom-Broadford 0-13 Ballysteen 0-6, Newcastlewest 0-9 Ballylanders 2-14; Drom-Broadford 0-15 St Senan’s 1-8, Newcastlewest 0-10 Monaleen 0-8.

Quarter-final: Drom-Broadford 2-13 Galbally 1-11.

Semi-finals: Drom-Broadford 1-10 Fr Casey’s 0-9; Newcastlewest 1-8 Ballysteen 0-9