Na Piarsaigh turn focus to Munster Senior Hurling Club Championship

NA PIARSAIGH goalkeeper Shane Dowling said the Munster Club Championship is something that the Caherdavin club is targetting.

Shane O'Neill's side will face Waterford champions Ballygunner in the Munster SHC quarter-final in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on on November 2. Ballygunner defeated Na Piarsaigh at the semi-final stage in the Munster SHC in both 2022 and 2023.

“In the back of our minds, we know we have a Munster Championship game in two weeks’ time on in the Gaelic Grounds against a serious Ballygunner team. It's one now that we really want to go after and we will go after but we will go worry about that on Tuesday or Wednesday,” Shane Dowling told Leader Sport after Sunday's Limerick SHC final win.

Na Piarsaigh lifted the Daly Cup for the ninth time when they defeated 2-25 to 2-18 after extra time. Adrian Breen, Kevin Downes and Cathall King won their ninth Limerick SHC medal last weekend.

“We've been extremely consistent for a long number of years. We've got a great bunch of players, we've got great people coaching the underage and the likes of Shane O'Neill, the work that he has given and the service that he has given to the club for a long period of time.

“And having Tomas Downes back as coach this year as well, one of our own, he would have coached a lot of us from a long way up so it's a big day for him and his family.”

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The former Limerick minor hurling manager feels that the competitiveness within the Na Piarsaigh squad is what keeps them hungry for success.

“We are just a very competitive bunch, even if we are playing pool or darts whatever it is after training, fellas would take the hand off you to win. I just think there is a big winning factor within the group and they just want to keep on winning.

“A county medal is lovely but the craic afterwards and the craic on a Monday is a big driving factor because the memories that we create are huge.”

Dowling described 2025 as a ‘mad year’ for himself after the Na Piarsaigh shotstopper was called into John Kiely's Limerick senior squad this year.

“It was a mad year, the way things panned out. Two years ago, that was my first county title since coming back from the injury, that was obviously extra sweet. It's great to be consistent in my own levels of being able to be on the field of play. For three years now, I've had a consistent run of it, that's very pleasing for me,” Dowling said.

Winning a county title is not something Dowling takes for granted. Na Piarsaigh and Doon were level 2-17 apiece at the end of normal time. The victors outscored their opponents 0-8 to 0-1 in extra time and that proved to be the difference the sides as Na Piarsaigh reclaimed the Limerick SHC after coming up short in last year's decider.

“A county title is very sweet, I certainly don't take it for granted. The motivating factor for myself and the lads was to get our hands on a county medal,” he added.