Adare to dream

Adare star Declan Hannon

Late Saturday-night drama in Kilmallock saw Adare move within touching distance of a Limerick SHC quarter-final berth.

At the end of an absorbing derby duel with Patrickswell, Sam Hickey’s dangerous last-gasp delivery went all the way to the net to give Adare a precious 2-16 to 1-18 victory. Consequently, only an unlikely sequence of results can now deny them a place in the last six.

Trailing by 1-8 to 1-4 at the break (Patrick Kearney with the goal in the second minute and Diarmuid Byrnes netting for the Well), Adare stayed in touch thanks to eight points from Willie Griffin, and Mark Foley’s resolute men got their rewards in the dying embers of a dramatic contest.

Elsewhere, roaming corner back Aaron Costello was the match-winner with 1-2 as Kilmallock confirmed passage to the semi-finals with a 1-21 to 0-20 win over Ahane in Bruff, which guarantees them top spot in Group One, while Ballybrown and Monaleen moved level with Doon in second place when playing out a 0-20 apiece draw in a game where the sides were level 13 times at Claughaun.