FR CASEY’S of Abbeyfeale were impressive winners (3-12 to 1-6) over Na Piarsaigh in the quarter-final of the Limerick Senior Football Championship.
The club are now just a hurdle, in the form of Mungret St Paul’s, away from a first final appearance since 2009.
Casey’s won the last of their eight county titles back in ‘06, and are worthy contenders to lift the cup (Fr William Casey Memorial) which the club presented as the prize to the winners in recent times.
Eoin Joy’s side were never in any bother at Rathkeale’s well-presented Seán Finn Park and had the issue wrapped up by the interval, ahead 3-3 to 1-1. Those early goals for the west outfit came through Adrian Enright (1-3 overall, and now with a tremendous 2-20 in C’ship 2024), David Ward (1-1), and Eliah O’Riordan (1-0).
Earlier in the season, Fr Casey’s captured the County League title at the expense of fancied Newcastle West.
In the other quarter-final, Adare swept past Galtee Gaels, 0-10 to 0-1, at a rain-lashed Fitzgerald Park, Kimallock.
It was a lob-sided contest in which Hugh Bourke shone with five delightful points.
Adare now run up against holders and four-in-a-row chasing Newcastle West in a repeat of last year’s wholly enjoyable final.
The semi-finals are listed for the weekend ending October 20.
In the relegation final, survival specialists Ballylanders preserved their top-flight status with an exciting 2-10 to 0-13 defeat of Ballysteen at Carroll Park, Ballyagran. The winners had very early goals from Shane O’Donoghue and Tom O’Dwyer, while a monster point at the end arrived from club legend Kieran O’Callaghan, a former captain of the county team.
In the Intermediate Football Championship quarter-finals, Galbally breezed past Gerald Griffins (5-12 to 1-12) and Claughaun easily overcame Newcastle West, 3-11 to 1-8.
The semi-finals are: Dromcollogher/Broadford v Galbally and Rathkeale v Claughaun.
In the relegation final, Glin survived at the expense of Castlemahon.
Elsewhere, the closing date for the Limerick Inter-Firm GAA Championships is Friday October 11. Information is available from Oliver Fitzpatrick (086 845 5373).
