Who Adares wins as English goal earns historic first title

ADARE 2-10 NEWCASTLEWEST 1-10

LIMERICK SFC FINAL ADARE are champions for the first time after a dramatic victory over Newcastle West at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

Jack English struck the crucial goal two minutes into added-time after Paul Hannan’s point looked to have seen Newcastle West to their second title in three years.

Charlie McCarthy then put over the insurance point for an Adare side that were only promoted this season after winning the 2016 Intermediate title.

Adare had led by two points as the game entered the final stages, but spectacular efforts from Iain Corbett and Michael Quilligan saw the game tied at 1-9 apiece heading into injury-time.

Hannan looked to have sealed it with a well-taken score from the left wing, but English’s goal saw Adare to victory.

Newcastle West had the better of the opening quarter to lead 0-6 to 0-3, but Hugh Bourke’s goal drew the side’s level.

Adare seemed to settle after that with the Bourke brothers, Robbie and Hugh, handing them a three-point lead at the break.

Newcastle West were firm favourites going into the final and looked to have regained their composure seven minutes into the second-half when Iain Corbett fired home a spectacular goal.

That levelled the contest for the fourth time, but Adare were soon ahead by three thanks to a Hugh Bourke goal and two points from Mikey Lyons.

Newcastle fought their way back, but English’s goal sealed a dramatic win.

SCORERS – Adare: H Bourke 1-5 (3fs), J English 1-0, R Bourke (2f) and M Lyons 0-2 each, C McCarthy 0-1.

Newcastle West: I Corbett 1-2, Jamie Lee 0-4 (f), S Kelly,T Quilligan (f), M Quilligan and P Hannan 0-1 each

ADARE: J Hickey; O Collins, A O’Connor, E Costello; E Ryan, D Connolly, P Maher; R Bourke, S Keeley; S Doherty, J English, M Lyons; N Mulvihill, M Connolly, H Bourke; Subs: S O’Connor for Costello (41), A O’Connell for Maher (55), C McCarthy for Lyons (64 b card).

NEWCASTLE WEST: A Ruddle; M O’Keeffe, B O’Sullivan, S Browne; M O’Leary, S Nix, P Hannon; C Sheehan, I Corbett; T Quilligan, S Kelly, S Murphy; J Lee, M McMahon, J Kelly; Subs: AJ O’Connor for Quilligan (38), D Woods for Murphy (38), E Murphy for O’Sullivan (46), M Quilligan for S Kelly (50), E Hurley for McMahon (57).

REF – J Murphy