Limerick unearth new star in attack

Gaelic Games McGrath Cup Semi-finals/Limerick 3-11 Tralee IT 0-8: Hit by the defection of top scorer Stephen Kelly from their panel last week, Limerick manager Liam Kearns seems to have unearthed a ready-made replacement in Colm Hickey.

Hickey, who won a Munster championship medal at under-21 level five years ago, was mainly seen as a fringe player with the seniors until now. But presented with his chance in this rather tame McGrath Cup semi-final against Tralee IT at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, he grasped it with both hands.

Despite being given an early fright by their visitors through a Michael Collins point, Hickey led the charge to a comfortable victory. He kicked the equalising point but it was his 11th minute goal from a penalty, after he had been brought down, that sent Limerick on their way. In the second half, he popped up again to claim a second goal.

The Shannonsiders' reward is a home date with Cork IT in next Sunday's final (Páirc na nGael, 2.0) and, on the evidence of this slick performance, they must be fancied to retain the cup for the first time. They will be demanding bigger support, though, as no more than 200 were present yesterday.

Tralee were never a match for their more experienced opponents and, although they took an early lead, found themselves in arrears by 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval, with their scores coming from Collins's frees.

Apart from Hickey, a very much under-strength Limerick had other marksmen in Johnny Murphy, Conor Mullane and newcomer Jim O'Donovan.

Fired on by veteran John Quane and O'Donovan in midfield, Limerick were not prepared to relax their grip on the change of ends and goals from Hickey and Johnny Murphy left them in a very commanding position.

Substitute Richard McAuliffe knocked over a brace of points for the visitors, who had been denied a goal by goalkeeper Michael Jones who got down to effect a fine save from Brendan O'Flaherty.

LIMERICK: M Jones; J MCarthy, D Sheehy, P Browne, D Reidy, S Lavin, A Lane (0-1); J Quane, J O'Donovan (0-1); S Buckley (0-2), P Fitzgerald (0-1), C Mullane (0-1), G Ahern, J Murphy (1-3), C Hickey (2-2). Subs: J O'Connell for Mullane, S Gallagher for Lane, E Keating for Ahern.

TRALEE IT: S Murphy; M O'Mahony, E O'Mahony, E Lawlor, E Cullinane, B McMahon, T O'Leary (0-1); D Murphy, J Best; S Moloney, E Coughlan (0-1), B O'Flaherty, P O'Connell, S O'Shea, M Collins (0-4). Subs: R McAuliffe (0-2) for Best, C O'Sullivan for E O'Mahony.

Referee: J Geaney (Cork).