Younger players stepping up for Na Piarsaigh is 'a sign of a good group' says Shane O'Neill

NA PIARSAIGH senior hurling manager Shane O'Neill said they will continue to intergrate younger players onto club's senior hurling team to help to drive the club forward.There was a plenty of younger players that made an impact for Na Piarsaigh at adult level this year.

JJ Carey established himself as a starter on the Na Piarsaigh senior hurling team this year. Carey could potentially earn a call in into John Kiely's squad on the back of an impressive club championship.Limerick U20 hurler James Finn and Wayne Kearns saw more gametime this year for the Caherdavin side.Ardscoil Rís Harty Cup captain Eoin Brosnan made his first appearance for Na Piarsaigh this year at the weekend.

“In the county final, we had five or six changes including extra time. On Sunday, we had more changes. It's a sign of a good group, we have to drive that on in the years to come,” Shane O'Neill told Leader Sport.

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Ballygunner defeated Na Piarsaigh 0-18 to 0-15 in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final on Sunday afternoon in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

“We are very disappointed, really disappointed dressing room. Firstly, the boys gave absolutely everything. they worked so hard, we couldn't have asked for anymore from a workrate point of view. We effectively maxed out everywhere we could,” added O'Neill.

Limerick senior hurling star William O'Donoghue missed Sunday's defeat for the city outfit through injury.

“He (William O'Donoghue) had a hamstring injury from the county final but he'll be alright in a few weeks I'd say, unfortunately he wasn't available today. He was a huge loss on the pitch, off the pitch, the whole lot.

“He is just a leader of this whole group, he was magnificent with his performance in the county final. So many of the boys stepped up there again , we are extremely proud of them, I thought they were absolutely immense.”

O'Neill feels his side can still look back on 2025 with pride. After coming up short in last year's decider, Na Piarsaigh won the Limerick SHC in 2025 getting the better of Doon after extra time in the county final.

“The priority at the start is always to win the county championship, anything after that is a bonus. We are absolutely delighted in that regard but we are disappointed not to be able to progress (in Munster).”