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2023 Limerick Senior Football County Final – Newcastlewest 3-5 Adare 0-13

November 5, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Newcastlewest defeated Adare by 3-5 to 0-13 in the Limerick Senior Football County Final on Sunday November 5th at the TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick.

Hurley kicks Newcastle West to three in a row

Report by Tom Clancy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Limerick SFC final: Newcastle West 3-5 Adare 0-13

Resilient Newcastle West secured a third Limerick SFC title on the trot, with a tense victory over rivals Adare. They ruthlessly punished Adare mistakes and locked the back door in a strong defensive showing in a rain soaked TUS Gaelic Grounds. Man-of-the-Match Eoin Hurley held his nerve with frees, while also netting twice to claim the Fr. Casey Cup.

It is a first three-in-a-row on Shannonside since 1973 – 1975, which was achieved by Treaty Sarsfields. Indeed, since that time, Newcastle West have won all seven of their titles, with only Claughaun, with eight have won more in that 50-year period.

A brace of goals from Hurley, as well as Bryan Nix green flag meant that Adare chased this game for the entirety of the second half. Clonmel Commercials will provide the opposition next weekend, in the Munster Senior Club Championship, in a repeat of last years semi-final, won by the Limerick men.

After suffering the same fate three years on the bounce, runners-up Adare will rue this one most, as they controlled the opening half until turnovers cost them a potential interval lead.

Following a slow start by Adare, they would kick five points on the bounce, all without missing. In fact, the first half saw just one wide, which arrived inside two minutes from Newcastle West captain, Iain Corbett.

Hurley curled over the opening score, a free, after six minutes. John Brudair’s men were unable to get anything going as they struggled with the wet ball in the opening exchanged.

However, Adare’s accuracy was prominent between the 10th and 20th minute. They fired over six points including memorable efforts from Huge Bourke from range, Ronan Connolly from a near impossible angle and David Connolly’s point after a sustained period. Newcastle West looked lost, toothless and devoid of ideas but they got a foothold when Hurley landed a second free.

This was on the 45, but was brought forward after dissent. The gap was back to just a point, 1-2 to 0-6 when the Magpies netted their first goal. Mike McMahon didn’t connect with an effort from 25 meters only for Hurley to palm to the net from the edge of the square.

Adare tied the game for the second time, when Bourke got his fourth early in the second half but Bryan Nix immediately netted a third major for the champions. A poor pass across their half-back line was red by Corbett – he fed Nix who drilled low to the corner.

Adare were staying in touch with frees, as Bourke’s accuracy cut the gap to two after forty-five minutes. The rain, which fell heavily in the second half spoiled the quality of the contest somewhat, with Jimmy Lee’s side able to sit off with the lead they held. The slippery ball made for plenty of turnovers but there little getting beyond a well-drilled Newcastle West rearguard.

Newcastle West lost Corbett to a hamstring complaint with a quarter of the game remaining, an injury he picked up in the build up to the goal at the end of the first half. The captain would return to the field in the closing stages to help see out the game. His side didn’t concede from play in the second half.

With 58 played, Bourke curled a free off the post, which bounced clear of the goal. Newcastle West countered and won a free which match winner Hurley nailed as the game entered five additional minutes. Alfred cut the gap to the minimum with a free but he couldn’t repeat the trick deep into the additional five minutes and Lee’s side prevailed.

Lee and opposite number John Brudair will join forces with Limerick’s team management next season.

Scorers for Newcastle West: E Hurley 2-4 (0-4 frees); B Nix 1-0; M O’Leary 0-1.

Scorers for Adare: H Bourke 0-8 (0-7 frees); R Connolly; R Bourke, D Connolly, J English, J Alfred (free) 0-1 each.

NEWCASTLE WEST: M Quilligan; M O’Keeffe, D O’Doherty, M O’Leary; R O’Connor, J Kelly, B O’Sullivan; I Corbett (C), S Murphy; A Neville, E Rigter, B Nix; E Hurley, M McMahon, T Quilligan.
Subs: S Hurley for Corbett (Inj – 46); S Brosnan for Kelly (49); L Woulfe for T Quilligan (55); B Foley for O’Connor (blood – 56 – 58); B Foley for Neville (60); Iain Corbett for Rigter (blood – 62).

ADARE: J Alfred; C Sparling, D Connolly, J Fitzgerald; R Connolly, S Doherty ©, P Maher; J English, J Sweeney; S Costello, R Bourke, D Lyons; S O’Connor, H Bourke, A Canny.
Subs: J Twomey for English (45); W Griffin for Canny (46).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).

Match Streaming Information

Match Programme

Details

Date:
November 5, 2023
Time:
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Venue

TUS Gaelic Grounds

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA