GAA
Na Piarsaigh edged out 2021 SHC champions Kilmallock by one point in a repeat of the 2017 decider.
Limerick SHC favourites Na Piarsaigh have made it two wins from two in this year’s championship after narrowly defeating reigning champions Kilmallock 1-19 to 1-18 on Saturday.
It was the most anticipated game of the weekend and with good reasoning, as both sides got off the mark in round one with victories and Na Piarsaigh being the number one choice for Kilmallock’s crown.
And Nap proved worthy contenders in a thrilling game that could’ve went both ways with Kilmallock even leading close to the end. However, a late flurry of points from the Caherdavin outfit earned them the victory and put an extra two points on the board for the side.
Na Piarsaigh left it relatively late against Doon in round one, with two goals in the last ten rescuing the side. This week saw them get the victory in similar fashion, and Na Piarsaigh’s Mike Casey admits there’s still work to be done.
“It’s a learning curve, we’re only back with the group a couple of weeks so there’s a bit of bedding in still to be done.
“But we’re an experienced bunch, we kind of know what we need to do and the standards we need to get back up to.”
Casey was a part of the Limerick All-Ireland winning side that made it three titles in a row and says there’s no complaints from any of the players that were integrated back just two weeks after the historic win.
“We’ve had some unbelievable days with the club and it’ll always go back there. There’s never any moaning out of us going back to the club, we love going back to all the lads we grew up playing hurling with, winning underage titles with. I always love going back for that challenge.”
The sides will now have a three-week break to accommodate the return of the football championship.