MUNGRET St Paul’s became first-time winners of the prized IWP Limerick Senior Football Championship with a shock, but wholly deserved, 0-12 to 1-5 defeat of Newcastle West in the final at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.
After the opening half, Kevin O’Hagan’s charges were 0-5 to 0-3 ahead.
In the new half, lovely scores from stars such as Oisín Moss and Brendan Giltenane (two pointer), stretched the advantage of the underdogs.
On 45 minutes, Eoin Hurley goaled to keep alive the hopes of a fightback from the Magpies.
In the run-in, however, St Paul’s finished the stronger with timely points from captain John Hutton, Diarmuid Hynes, and Frank Corcoran.
Mungret St Paul’s: Ronan McElligott; Jason Hassett, Robert Hegarty, Ciaran Uwatse; Frank Corcoran (0-1), Oisín Moss (0-1), James Garvey; Darragh O’Hagan, Jack McCarthy; Killian Ryan, Darragh O’Sullivan (0-1), James Killian (0-1); John Hutton, captain, (0-4), Shane Barry (0-1), Brendan Giltenane (0-2).
Substitutes used: Tom Lloyd, Diarmuid Hynes (0-1), Darragh Bridgeman, Jack Somers.
Newcastle West: Michael Quilligan; Micheal Cremin, Darren O’Doherty, Brian O’Sullivan; Ruadhán O’Connor, Seamus Hurley, Arron Neville; Iain Corbett, captain,(0-1), Seán Murphy; Mike O’Keefe, Bryan Nix, Brian Hurley; Thomas Quilligan, Mike McMahon (0-1), Eoin Hurley (1-3)
Substitutes used: Emmet Rigter, Lee Woulfe, Todd Donovan, Brian Foley.
Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola).