Newcastle West require extra-time to retain Limerick football title

Newcastle West 1-11 Adare 2-05 (AET)

It took extra-time, but defending champions Newcastle West captured their fourth Limerick SFC title in eight years after a dramatic game in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock, on Sunday afternoon.

In what was a meeting of the two standard bearers on Shannonside over the past decade - the sides have won seven of the last eight county titles between them - the Magpies' win now puts the West Limerick men level with Oola Monaleen on six senior titles.

In what was the last of all 32 county finals to be played across the island, it was Jimmy Lee’s Newcastle West side that started the brightest and were two points to the good inside the opening eight minutes thanks to scores from Emmet Rigter and Diarmuid Kelly.

Adare were left to rue three early wides as they faced a strong crossfield breeze.

Adare had reduced the losing margin to one midway through the half after Mark Connolly kicked over a close-range free on the 15th minute mark.

From here, Newcastle West added another free – Kelly’s second of the afternoon – before towering full forward Mike McMahon fisted into the net for the game’s opening goal after 20 minutes.

McMahon rose highest above Adare full back Darren O’Doherty before punching a long ball past the incoming Jeffery Alfred in the Adare goal. The Newcastle West full forward reacted the quickest as Nix’s shot dropped short.

The goal, which opened up a five-point lead, looked like it had set Newcastle West on their way to victory, but Adare had other ideas and a first half injury time Robbie Bourke brought it back to a one-point game at the half time break, 1-03 to 1-02.

John Brudair’s Adare side finished the opening 30 minutes without a score from play – a clear sign of the Magpies’ defensive