Na Piarsaigh see off Doon to book Limerick Premier U20 hurling final place

A DOMINANT and slicker performance from Na Piarsaigh propelled them into the Limerick Premier U20 Hurling final at the expense of rivals Doon, thanks to a 3-12 to 2-8 semi-final win at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Monday night.

Indeed, it is a first final at the grade since 2021, then U21, and an eleventh final since 2010 for the northside outfit.

Na Piarsaigh's seven-point winning margin sets up a final meeting with Mungret St Paul’s or Monaleen who meet on Tuesday evening in the second semi-final at the TÚS Gaelic Grounds, 8pm.

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A goal from David O’Keeffe as well as a green flag from the impressive Eoin Brosnan were key to Na Piarsaigh's success over Doon, who themselves had an early goal from Shane O’Grady.

Played on bitterly cold conditions at Mick Neville Park, the dry winter evening saw the game open with three goals, as O’Keeffe and O’Grady traded majors before Eoin Brosnan pounced for the second for the Evan Condon’s men.

The lively David O’Keeffe buried low from around 20 meters, after a defence splitting surge from Mark Hogan. The reply was a stunning finish from O’Grady who picked out the top corner from nearing twenty meters.

Eventually the white flags came, with Alex Kearns and Eoin Brosnan on target, while brothers Darragh and Donal Coughlan fired over for Doon.

By half-time, there had been fourteen wides, eight for a wasteful Doon while Na Piarsaigh had registered six. The scoreboard read 2-4 to 1-3 with Darragh Coughlan, helping to cut the gap closing the half.

The Doon surge never came and with scores from Kearns (free and 65) as well as Eoin Brosnan, the gap widened to seven by the 40th minute. Eamon Richardson was doing his best to keep the easterners in fight but the killer goal arrived six minutes from time.

O’Keeffe pounced on a mistake from the Doon rearguard and flicked to an empty goal mouth. A sixth point from Kearns swelled the margin for the Caherdavin men before a consolation goal from Seán McDonnell brought the scoring to a close.

SCORERS: Na Piarsaigh: David O’Keeffe 2-2; Alex Kearns 0-6 (5f, 1 ‘65); Eoin Brosnan 1-2; Sam Jordan, Ronan Benson 0-1 each. Doon: Shane O’Grady, Seán McDonnell 1-0 each; Eamon Richardson 0-3 (frees); Darragh Coughlan 0-2; Donal Coughlan 0-2 (frees); Denis Blackmore 0-1.

NA PIARSAIGH: Darragh Jordan; Mike Duggan, John O'Keeffe, Harry McGann; Tadgh Mullane, James Finn, Adam Fitzsimons; David O'Keeffe, Ronan Benson; Eoin Brosnan, Paul McDonogh, Sam Jordan; Alex Kearns, Josh Sheehan, Mark Hogan. Subs: Ger O’Tiarnaigh for McDonogh (53 minutes); Ben O’Regan for O’Keeffe (57 minutes); Ferdia Minihan for Alex Kearns (57 minutes); Padraig Murnane for Sheehan (59 minutes).

DOON: Ciaran Hynes; Seán Ryan, Seán Blackmore, Fionn Roche; Emmet Roche, Aidan O’Connell, Seán McDonnell; Seán Hanly, Eamon Richardson; Darragh Coughlan, Donal Coughlan, John Stokes; Denis Blackmore, Tom Ryan, Shane O’Grady. Subs: Cathal Hayes for O’Grady (45 minutes); Conor Kenny for D Blackmore (54 minutes); Padraig Crowe for E Roche (58 minutes).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Glenroe)