Na Piarsaigh meet Kilmallock in Limerick Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

NA PIARSAIGH and Kilmalllock renew their rivalry in the semi-finals of the Whitebox Limerick senior hurling championship on Sunday in Bruff at 1.45pm.

Since 2009, Na Piarsaigh have appeared in 12 Limerick senior hurling finals winning eight county titles. Na Piarsaigh come into this game as favourites but they will be well aware of the challenge Kilmallock pose in knockout hurling.

Cathal King and Kevin Downes are the survivors from the Na Piarsaigh team that have appeared in all 12 county finals for the Caherdavin outfit.

Kilmallock last tasted county final success in 2021 and 2020 was the last time they defeated Na Piarsaigh in the Limerick SHC.
Na Piarsaigh have looked the form team throughout the competition finishing on nine points to top of the table in group one.

Shane O'Neill's side have gradually started to get their best players back on the pitch as the championship has progressed.
Limerick senior hurler Peter Casey featured in Na Piarsaigh's last two group games and his return to full fitness is a significant boost for last year's finalists.

Na Piarsaigh defeated Kilmallock 2-23 to 1-14 in round four of this year's Limerick SHC. Kevin Downes has rolled back the years scoring an impressive 1-31 throughout the campaign. Adrian Breen has chipped in with 2-13 and Dylan Lynch who was part of Limerick panel this year has been on target with 2-7 for the city side.

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Kilmallock have gone deep into their squad throughout this year's championship with a number of key players struggling with injury.

Graeme Mulcahy, Micheal Houlihan and Gearoid Enright all missed Kilmallock's quarter-final victory over Monaleen. Ciaran O'Connor and Phelim O'Reilly both made their return from injury for the south Limerick club.

Limerick star Shane O'Brien has been in outstanding scoring form hitting 4-49 for James Hickey's side during the championship.

Manager James Hickey sees Na Piarsaigh as one of the best teams that Kilmallock have played this year. Hickey was part of Peter Queally's backroom team last year with Kilmallock and this year Hickey took over as manager of the side.

“You can't go into games being fearful, Na Piarsaigh are probably the best side in Limerick in my opinion and that's not blowing them up. We'll enjoy the lead-up to the game and we will need an awful lot to go right on the day,” said the Cratloe native.

Na Piarsaigh coach Thomas Downes feels his side are improving as the championship has gone on. O'Neill has added Downes to his backroom team.

“We are step by step getting a little better, we are nowhere near where we need to be in an overall context. We have improvement to make yet, we'll keep working and keep searching for that improvement as we go,” said Downes.