“A great task lies ahead if we are to bring it home”| Kilmallock’s Oisin O’Reilly acknowledges strength of Na Piarsaigh ahead of SHC Final

The South Limerick side will be hoping to retain the title for the first time in almost fifty years.

Kilmallock have reached their fifth SHC final in ten years but face the tough task of Na Piarsaigh if they are to retain their title this Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds.

Their opponents in the final are the only team to beat the Balbec this season with a solitary point separating the two sides when they met in the second round of the group stages.

The reigning champions still secured an automatic semi-final place where a late flurry against Doon saved the side from crashing out at the last four stage with a last minute goal from Robbie Egan edging the side over the line.

And ahead of the final, Kilmallock captain Oisin O’Reilly praised the side’s substitutions who were instrumental for the side in adverse weather conditions.

“It was a right tough game and the weather conditions weren’t great, we were down a couple of points coming down the home straight but we’ve had great contributions from the lads coming off the bench throughout the year not just yesterday (against Doon) but look it’s a great problem to have for the management but the lads made a great impact and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Kilmallock and Na Piarsaigh have dominated the Limerick hurling scene in recent years, winning ten Daly Cups from the last twelve available between the sides.

That number will reach eleven come Sunday and O’Reilly was full of praise for their opponents who have ‘raised the bar’ over the last few years.

Yet, he acknowledges that his side have helped to do the same.

“They’ve (Na Piarsaigh) raised the bar in Limerick hurling over the last kind of ten, twelve years but we’re no strangers to county finals either and we know what lies ahead but we’re just looking forward to it now and it can’t come quick enough.”

If the Balbec are victorious on Sunday, it will be the first time in nearly fifty years that the side have retained the title at senior level, the last coming in a three-peat from 1973 to 1975.

The Kilmallock captain is hopeful his side can achieve the feat but is aware of the task in front of them as they’ll be taking on the competition favourites.

“Kilmallock haven’t retained the cup since they won it in ’73, ’74 and ’75, a long time ago now. It’d be unbelievable but a great task lies ahead if we are to bring it home.”

“We know a good bit about them and they know a good bit about us, obviously we’ve been playing each other on numerous occasions over the last couple of years so we know what they’re about and they know likewise for ourselves so I’m looking forward to it.”

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Kilmallock face Na Piarsaigh at 4:30pm next Sunday at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship Final.