NEWCASTLE West have firmly put themselves in contention of retaining their 2023 champion status after their second round victory over Kildimo-Pallaskenry, 0-14 to 0-3, in the Irish Wire Products Ltd County Senior Football Championship in Sean Finn Park, Rathkeale this Friday evening.
In a game where a couple of unfortunate injuries overshadowed the play, Newcastle West looked strong in possession and were able to retain the ball and work terrific scores from range to give them another win in this years championship.
There is now a six-week break in the senior football championship where Kildimo-Pallaskenry will aim to improve after one win and a loss so far.
Peter Nash, of Kildimo-Pallaskenry, opened the scoring after his side won the throw in and the Limerick forward called an immediate mark, firing the ball over the bar for the first score of the game inside 20 seconds.
This would be the only score in the opening 10 minutes until Newcastle West’s captain Iain Corbett fired over a free. This would be his only contribution to the game as the next play the half-forward went down with what looked like a hamstring injury.
Corbett’s injury halted the game for a number of minutes as Kildimo Pallaskenry’s only goal opportunity from Gary Sheehan was saved by the Newcastle West goalie after 11 minutes of play.
Despite the injury to their captain it was Newcastle West that bounced back after the opposition’s goal chance firing over four points before the 20th minute, leaving them 0-5 to 0-1 ahead.
The closing minutes of the opening half remained at a similar pace with last year’s champions looking very comfortable and in control. Kildimo Pallaskenry’s last score of the half came from a Peter Nash point from play as Newcastle West kicked on again with Eoin Hurley, Michael Cremin and Bryan Nix adding to the tally to put them 0-8 to 0-2 up at the break.
It was all one way traffic in the second-half as Kildimo Pallaskenry could not get through Newcastle’s defence as they pushed on from the back setting up well executed scores from range. Substitute Thomas Quilligan made his presence felt with two points from play.
Newcastle West were in cruise control by the 45 minute of the game going 0-11 to 0-3 up with their opposition looking slighty defeated as the rain made it difficult for their attacking passes to stick.
Kildimo Pallaskenry’s only score of the half came from mid-fielder Cathal Downes, who also went off later in the game with an injury, as Newcastle West pushed on finishing out the game with two points from Diarmuid Kelly leaving them with the 0-14 to 0-3 win.
SCORERS KILDIMO PALLASKENRY: Peter Nash 0-2 (0-1 free), Cathal Downes 0-1
NEWCASTLE WEST: Eoin Hurley 0-4 (0-1 free), Diarmuid Kelly 0-3, Thomas Quilligan 0-3 (0-1 free), Bryan Nix 0-2, Iain Corbett and Michael Cremin 0-1 each.
KILDIMO PALLASKENRY: Kevin Walsh, Mossy Sheehan, James Ranahan, Eddie McLoughlin, Matt Lucey, Ciaran McMahon, Ciaran Barry, Cathal Downes, James Pomeroy, Jack Mullane, Garry Sheehan, Ryan Kelly, Shaun Barry, Lorcan O’Leary, Peter Nash
SUBS: Cian O’Sullivan for M Sheehan (Half-Time), Ross Allen for M Lucey (46 minutes), Sean Hartigan for S Barry (46 minutes), Matt Lucey for C Downes (61 mintues)
NEWCASTLE WEST: Michael Quilligan, Michael O’Keeffe, Todd Donovan, Colm Foley, Ruadhan O’Connor, Aaron Neville, Michael Cremin, Lee Woulfe, Sean Murphy, Iain Corbett, Diarmuid Kelly, Michael O’Leary, Eoin Hurley, Michael McMahon, Bryan Nix
SUBS: Thomas Quilligan for I Corbett (10 minutes), John Whelan for B Nix (55 minutes)
REFEREE: Michael Woulfe
