First half flyer puts Na Piarsaigh into yet another Munster Club Final

Na Piarsaigh are into the 2018 Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship Final for the fifth time in eight years after a 3-22 to 0-13 victory over Clonoulty-Rossmore at the Gaelic Grounds today.

Paul Beary’s men will play Waterford’s Ballygunner in that final for the second year running after they beat Clare’s Ballyea after extra time in the other semi final. Na Piarsaigh won that game and also beat Ballygunner in the 2015 decider.

The Northside club were dominant all through today’s game against the Tipperary champions, leading by 2-13 to 0-5 points at the end of the first half. Their goals coming from Kevin Downes and Peter Casey.

Na Piarsaigh continued to impress when the game resumed for the second half and Casey’s second goal four minutes into the second half finished the game as a contest. Adrian Breen also impressed for the Caherdavin, scoring 0-6 from play.

However, they will be awaiting further injury news after Shane Dowling, Ronan Lynch and Kieran Kennedy left the game injured.

Dowling had five frees scored by the time his day ended with a shoulder injury on 29 minutes. He looked in serious discomfort and in a sling when he came out to watch the latter stages of the game. That final against Ballygunner will be played on November 18 at a venue that is yet to be confirmed.

Na Piarsaigh Scorers: Peter Casey 2-2, Adrian Breen 0-6, Shane Dowling 0-5 (5f), Kevin Downes 1-1 (1f), Ronan Lynch 0-3 (1f), Thomas Grimes 0-2, David Dempsey, Alan Dempsey and Conor Boylan 0-1 each.

Elsewhere, Adare bowed out of the Munster Senior Club Football Championship at the quarter final stage with a 1-18 to 0-12 defeat to The Nire in the second game of the afternoon at the Gaelic Grounds.

Harry Gleeson’s side never got going and were comprehensively beaten by the Waterford champions The Nire, who had inter county hurlers Jamie Barron and Conor Gleeson very much to the fore.

Adare trailed by nine points at the short whistle after Tom Barron hit them with a sucker punch goal deep into added time.

The same trend continued in the second half and Limerick have not won a game at this level since Drom-Broadford won the title in 2008.

Adare Scorers: Hugh Bourke 0-6 (6f), Robbie Bourke (1f) and Shane O’Connor 0-2 each, Stephen Keeley and David Connolly 0-1 each.