Gleeson helps The Nire coast past Adare
WATERFORD’S The Nire made light work of Limerick champions Adare in their provincial quarter-final at the Gaelic Grounds.
The Nire did the majority of the damage in the opening half-hour with Waterford hurling star Conor Gleeson (right) outstanding.
The Nire made a fine start with the opening three points courtesy of Shane Walsh, Gleeson and Tholom Guiry before Adare eventually got to grips with the contest when Stephen Keeley opened their account, but missed two guilt-edged goal chances as both Hugh Bourke and Robbie Bourke hit the bar from close range.
Hugh Bourke then popped over a free before Gleeson and Craig Guiry restored the Waterford champions’ three-point advantage as they began to take control, with Shane Ryan scoring twice before Darren Guiry and goalkeeper Diarmuid Murphy sent over frees.
Hugh Bourke managed another free for Adare but The Nire went in at the break nine points clear thanks to a Jamie Barron point and a stunning Tom Barron goal.
There was no coming back for Adare in the second half with The Nire continuing to dominate and eventually cruising to a routine victory.
SCORERS – The Nire: S Walsh 0-4,C Gleeson and D Guiry (2f) 0-3 each, T Barron 1-0, S Ryan (1f), J Barron and T Guiry 0-2 each, C Guiry, D Murphy (1f) 0-1 each; Adare: H Bourke 0-6 (6f), R Bourke (1f) and S O’Connor 0-2 each, S Keeley and D Connolly 0-1 each.
ADARE: B Carmody; J Fitzgerald, A O’Connor, D Connolly; O Collins, E Ryan, P Maher; S Keeley, J English; D Lyons, H Bourke, M Lyons; M Connolly, R Bourke, C McCarthy. Subs: S Doherty for Keeley (h-t), S O’Connor for McCarthy (h-t), E Costelloe for Fitzgerald (48), R Connolly for English (54), J Hickey for Maher (58).
THE NIRE: D Murphy; D Meehan, T O’Gorman, M Moore; J McGrath, T Barron, D Guiry; S Walsh, C Guiry; S Ryan, D Guiry, C Gleeson; J Barron, S O’Meara, T Guiry. Subs: C Mulcahy for Meehan (h-t), D Ryan for O’Meara (44), C Walsh for Gleeson (51), J Mulcahy for Moore (55), K Brazil for Walsh (57), D Nugent for D Guiry (62).
REF: D Murnane (Cork)