Na Piarsaigh too strong for Mungret St Paul's in final round robin game of Limerick senior hurling championship

NA PIARSAIGH have finished up their round robin games in the Bons Secours Hospital County Senior Hurling Championship with a comprehensive 2-21 to 1-15 victory over Mungret St Paul's in Kilmallock this Sunday evening. 

The Caherdavin side had already qualified for the semi-final's of the championship with Mungret St Paul's demoted to the Senior B ranks next season after a challenge campaign.

It was Na Piarsaigh's Conor Boylan that opened the scoring for his side closely followed by JJ Carey and Kevin Downes efforts to put them 0-3 to 0-0 up after three minutes of play.

Mungret struggled to maintain possession as Na Piarsaigh pressed hard on their puck-outs resulting in easy scores for the Caherdavin side. Mungret's first score of game came from a Conor O'Halloran effort after six minutes. This point was doubled by Paul O'Brien's free after nine minutes, immediately followed by Liam Lynch's point to level the game on 0-3 a piece. 

After these scores Na Piarsaigh pushed on scoring a further three points before Will Henn sprinted towards the goal making a lovely hand-pass to Kevin Downes, who rifled the sliothar into the back of the net to put them well ahead, 1-6 to 0-4.

Na Piarsaigh slotted over three more points from play courtesy of Keith Dempsey, Dylan Lynch and Mike Foley before Mungret got their opportunity at a goal as Dowling did well to save the first shot fired at him, with midfielder Barry Duff reacting quickly to the deflection making no mistake with the shot to put Mungret back into the game after 20 minutes.

Both sides finished off the half with two points each with Na Piarsaigh still ahead at the break, 1-11 to 1-7.

The Mungret St Paul's side were just getting into their rhythm as the half-time whistle blew with 2023 champions Na Piarsaigh coming out of the blocks quicker after the break with four quick points, three of which from Dylan Lynch.

Brian Barry broke the stalemate for Mungret after 36 minutes with their first score of the second-half but Na Piarsaigh looked to be in their shooting groove at that stage.

A further three points were slotted over by JJ Carey, Conor Boylan and Ronan Lynch.

The damage was done at that stage with Mungret unable to get scores putting seven attempts wide in the closing 30 minutes with Dylan Lynch putting the final nail in the coffin with a goal on 60 minutes to well and truly seal the victory for Na Piarsaigh, 2-21 to 1-15. 

SCORERS NA PIARSAIGH: Dylan Lynch 1-5, Ronan Lynch 0-6 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65), Kevin Downes 1-1, Keith Dempsey 0-2, Conor Boylan 0-2, JJ Carey 0-2, Mike Foley and Daithí Dempsey 0-1 each. MUNGRET ST PAUL'S: Mark O'Brien 0-4 (0-4 frees), Barry Duff 1-1, Paul O'Brien 0-3 (0-2 frees), Liam Lynch, Fintan Fitzgerald, Conor O'Halloran, Sean Duff and Shane Barry 0-1 each

NA PIARSAIGH: Shane Dowling, Vince Harrington, Gearoid Synott, Emmet McEvoy, Mike Foley, Willium O'Donoghue, Jerome Boylan, Ronan Lynch, JJ Carey, Keith Dempsey Will Henn, Conor Boylan, Dylan Lynch, Daithí Dempsey, Kevin Downes SUBS: Sean Long for J Boylan (33 minutes), Wayne Kearns for K Dempsey (40 minutes), John Fitzgerald for JJ Carey (43 minutes), JJ Carey for C Boylan (44 minutes)

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S: Conor O'Brien, Billy Molyneaux, Matt O'Sullivan, Liam Harrington, Brian Barry, Sean Duff, Eoin O'Doherty, Barry Duff, Rory Duff, Niall Mulcahy, Fintan Fitzgerald, Brian O'Meara, Conor O'Halloran, Liam Lynch, Paul O'Brien. SUBS: Cian O'Brien for L Lynch (43 minutes), Mark O'Brien for P O'Brien (43 minutes), Shane Barry for S Duff (46 minutes), Darragh O'Hagan for C O'Halloran (49 minutes), Cillian Archer for L Harrington (58 minutes)

REFEREE: Declan O'Driscoll (Ballinacurra Gaels)