O’Donoghue v Hanley, Who Picks Up O’Brien, ‘Keeper duel | Key Battles as Na Piarsaigh and Kimallock gear up for SHC Final

Two of Limerick’s hurling heaveyweights meet in the Daly Cup decider in the Gaelic Grounds this Sunday.

The stars will be on show this Sunday when Kilmallock and Na Piarsaigh meet in the Limerick SHC Final in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Defending champions Kilmallock aim to retain their title for the first time since the 70’s against six times champions Na Piarsaigh who only won their first title in 2011.

Each are bolstered by All-Ireland winners with no fewer than 15 All-Ireland expected to take to the field.

With so much talent on either side, both teams will have to get their match ups spot on if they are to succeed.

Ahead of Sunday’s final, we pick out four of the key battles across the field.

William O’Donoghue v Robbie Hanley

Two perennial All-Irleland winners, it will be a massive clash in midfield that could go a long way towards deciding the outcome of the game. William O’Donoghue has been a mainstay of Limerick’s all-conquering midfield since nailing down a starting berth in 2019, winning a long overdue All-Star in 2021. Arguably the premier midfielder in the country, it sometimes seems like men against boys when the Caherdavin man is on form.

Hanley appears to be the heir to the throne and has many similarities to O’Donoghue with his centrefield play. Although brilliant hurlers in their own right, it is the impact they have on the opposition that is most striking. Neither allows any time to dwell in possession with the pair often the starting point of attacks with their ability to turn over the ball.

O’Donoghue is unmatched when it comes to his role but Hanley will be vital if Kilmallock are to curb his influence. Similarly, like he demonstrated in the 2017 U21 All-Ireland final, Hanley can be the difference maker in his own right.

Who marks Adrian Breen?

Na Piarsaigh are blessed in an attacking sense that they are the envy of all other club sides across the country. Even with All-Star Shane Dowling forced into goals for the Intermediate team, the Caherdavin outfit can call upon Daithi Dempsey, Peter Casey, Conor Boylan, Kevin Downes, Adrian Breen and Will Henn as their attacking unit.

Between them they boast , over a dozen All-Ireland medals with all but Henn a part of the first Limerick side to claim the national club title back in 2016. Casey was an All-Star in 2021 and has integrated back into the county set up as Limerick made it three on the bounce. Dempsey has been the standout club player for years while Downes has taken over the free taking duties with aplomb.

But Breen is arguably the pick of the lot when it comes to danger men with his scoring rate from play staggering. He was the man to settle the side in the county semi-final with Liberties, ending with 0-6 from play. That brought his 2022 championship tally to 2-23 from just six games, each coming from play.

Kilmallock do have a number of options in the full back line with Dan Joy, Philip or Mark O’Loughlin holding firm this season. They also could spring Aaron Costello from wing back if needed but with so much talent to choose from, the Balbec will need to get their match ups right with the firepower at Na Piarsaigh’s disposal.

Who picks Shane O’Brien?

However, the Caherdavin outfit aren’t the only team with an array of forwards to choose from. Last year, Kilmallock’s forward unit powered them to the title as they found their scoring boots in the knockout stages. Oisin O’Reilly was the standout player in the competition as he earned a recall to the Limerick senior side. Micheal Houlihan was their scorer in chief and was too called into Kiely’s panel while the evergreen Graeme Mulcahy hit 0-7 in the final.

Yet, this year their star forward has arguably been Shane O’Brien with the teenager taking no time to adapt to adult hurling. A key figure on Limerick underage teams in recent years, his explosion onto the scene has taken few by surprise such was his pedigree. In just his second game at the grade, he was sublime in the defeat to Na Piarsaigh, with the Caherdavin outfit having to use a number of different players throughout the hour in a bid to curb his influence.

At just 18 years of age, O’Brien already has all the physical attributes to succeed at the highest level and will take some stopping on Sunday. Mike Casey is an All-Star nominee and could be tasked with the Balbec teenager while Jerome Boylan and Emmett McEvoy are also contenders to pick him up.

Whoever it may be, they will have their hands full.

Battle of the keepers

The role of the goalkeeper is become increasingly prevalent in the world of hurling and Sunday’s final will be no different as Barry Hennessy and Evan Condon take to opposite ends of the field.

And it will be a vastly different experience for the keepers who have contrasting priors with county final day. Barry Hennessy was the netminder as Kilmallock ended an eight year wait for SHC honours last October as he added the county title to All-Ireland honours. Additionally, Hennessy was between the sticks for Kilmallock’s previous three triumphs dating all the way back to 2010.

For Condon, it will be a maiden senior hurling final amongst the starters with Na Piarsaigh heading into the final without Paraic Kennedy for the first time, Incredibly, Kennedy started in nine county finals for the Caherdavin, including their first ever in 2009, winning six in that timespan. But Condon served his apprenticeship and has shown a capability of adapting to the top tier with Nap conceding just three goals in this year’s championship.

Condon has recent experience of county final day as he started the 2020 Intermediate Hurling final where Newcastle West edged the City outfit after extra-time. But this is a huge step up with Hennessy hugely experienced at this stage of the season as he prepares for a seventh final appearance.