Na Piarsaigh record first win in Limerick Senior Football Championship with victory over St Kieran's

NA Piarsaigh defeated St Kieran's 2-11 to 1-11 in Ballybrown on Thursday evening to get their first win of the Limerick SFC. 

The victors were ferecious in the tackle and frustrated St Kieran's for long periods. Na Piarsaigh never trailed throughout 60 minutes. 

After a six week break, the action in Limerick senior football championship resumed. St Kieran's came into this clash on the back of two victories over Ballylanders and Monaleen. Na Piarsaigh were searching for their first victory after a heavy to Mungret St Paul's and a narrow defeat to Ballylanders. 

Na Piarsaigh set the tempo straight away, bringing numbers behind the ball and breaking at huge pace at any chance they got. 

The Caherdavin side raced into a 0-2 lead after 11 minutes when wing back Fionn O'Tiarnaigh drove forward for a neat finish and that was quickly followed up by good link up play from Evan Egan and Dylan Cronin and Cronin made no mistake in front of the post. 

Na Piarsaigh were forcing their opponents into mistakes.

On 13 minutes St Kieran's applied huge pressure on the oppositions kickout and that resulted in St Kieran's winning possession high up the field. Liam Kennedy ran in by the inline and fisted the ball over the bar to leave the minimium between the sides on 13 minutes. 

Michael Lynch's side began to take control of the contest landing the next five points through Dylan Cronin, Evan Sweeney and former Limerick footballer Gordon Brown in a ten minute spell. 

St Kieran's finished the first half strongly strongly when Eoin McEnery pointed from range, that quickly followed up by a Liam Kennedy placed ball and Noel Callanan chipped in with a score on the half hour mark to have the West Limerick side trailing 0-7 to 0-4 at the break. 

Dylan Cronin was immense all day long for the City side and Cronin pushed his side 0-8 to 0-4 ahead on 32 minutes. Substitute Sean Long responded to make it a three point game. 

Cronin took on the St Kieran's defence and the Na Piarsaigh attacker played the ball across to Reuben McCarthy and he palmed the ball into the net to push his club 1-08 to 0-5 ahead. 

The three time county champions didn't panic and the lively Alan Daly was off the mark. Na Piarsaigh goalkeeper Evan Condon misplaced a kickout which fell to Alan Daly and Daly shot from his distance and his shot wen over the head of Evan Condon to raise the second green flag of the day. 

Na Piarsaigh led 1-8 to 1-6 and Dylan Cronin stood up once again chipping in with the next three points to have Na Piarsaigh leading 1-11 to 1-6 on the third quarter mark. 

St Kieran's replied from a placed ball through Dylan Moloney. On 50 minutes, Gordon Brown set up teammate Ian Leonard for a terrific goal chance but his shot was blocked. Referee Michael Browne awarded a penalty to Na Piarsaigh for a footblock on Leonard's shot. 

Cronin stepped up and slotted the ball into the back of the net to have leading 2-11 to 1-7. 

Alan Daly brought St Kieran's back into the game late on. Daly was on target on four occasions to give his side some hope but St Kieran's could never get that goal to force a draw. Na Piarsaigh hung on for a three point victory. 

Dylan Cronin stood out in Ballybrown the Na Piarsaigh attacker finished with 1-7. 

Na Piarsaigh will look to back up this victory against Monaleen next Thursday, while St Kieran's will look to get things back on track against Adare. 

SCORERS:

St KIERAN'S:Alan Daly (1-5, 0-3 frees), Dylan Moloney (0-1 free), Liam Kennedy (0-2, 0-1 free), Noel Callanan, Sean Long and Eoin McEnery 0-1 each. 

NA PIARSAIGH: Dylan Cronin (1-7, 0-3 frees), Rueben McCarthy 1-0, Evan Sweeney (0-2, 0-1 free), Gordon Brown and Fionn O'Tiarnaigh 0-1 each. 

ST KIERAN'S: Ray Noonan; Michael Shanahan, Brendan McCarthy, Mossie Shine, Aaron Heffernan, Darragh Treacy, Michael Long, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Cormac Mann, Dylan Moloney, Eoin McEnery, Anthony Mullins, Alan Daly, Liam Kennedy, Noel Callanan.

SUBS: Lorcan Murphy for Shine (20 minutes), Sean Long for Mullins (20 minutes), Kevin Meade for Diarmuid Mulcahy (41 minutes), Darragh McMahon for Cormac Mann (41 minutes). 

NA PIARSAIGH: Evan Condon, Christy O'Hagan, Jack McCarthy, Shane Walsh, Fionn O'Tiarnaigh, Ralph Leonard, Ronan Houlihan, Ruairi O'Conaill, Rueben McCarthy, Ian Leonard, Evan Sweeney (Captain), Dylan Cronin, Gordon Brown, Evan Egan, Cathal McMullan.

SUBS: Sam Jordan for Sweeney (injury, 38 minutes), James Linnane for McMullan (39 minutes), Darragh Jordan for Egan (injury, 56 minutes)

REFEREE: Michael Browne (Dromcollogher Broadford)