Na Piarsaigh crowned Limerick senior hurling league champions

NA PIARSAIGH are the All County Hurling League Division One champions after they beat Patrickswell by a point in dramatic fashion in the final at Mungret this Sunday.

The city side ended up 1-18 to 2-14 winners in a final that doubled as the Limerick City Division SHC final.

The Caherdavin side were four points down in the final minute of the game but Conor Boylan’s goal and a point each by Peter Casey and Ronan Lynch snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

A masterclass of free taking from Shane Dowling helped Na Piarsaigh into a three-point half time lead but Aaron Gillane’s goal 22 seconds into the second half put the side’s level.

Peter Harty’s goal 14 minutes from time put the Well in firm control and the title looked theirs for the taking until Na Piarsaigh’s late salvo. 

Scorers: Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling 0-13 (11 frees, ’65), Conor Boylan 1-0, Ronan Lynch 0-2, Adrian Breen, David Shepard and Peter Casey 0-1 each; Patrickswell: Aaron Gillane 1-4 (three frees), Peter Harty 1-2, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 (free, ’65), Kevin O’Brien, John Flynn, Thomas O’Brien, Barry Foley and Lar Considine 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: Evan Condon; Kieran Kennedy, Mike Casey, Evan O’Brien; Niall Buckley, Alan Dempsey, Tommy Grimes; Ronan Lynch, Gordon Browne; Shane Dowling, David Dempsey, Conor Boylan; Adrian Breen, David Shepard, Kieran Daly. Subs: Kevin Ryan for Condon (h-t), Pat Gleeson and Peter Casey for Browne and Daly (45 mins), Browne for A Dempsey (52 mins).

PATRICKSWELL: Brian Murray; Thomas Nolan, James Mann, Neil Carmody; Mark Carmody, Diarmaid Byrnes, Nigel Foley; John Flynn, Barry Foley; Aaron Gillane, Seanie O’Brien, Kevin O’Brien; Lar Considine, Thomas O’Brien, Peter Harty. Sub: David Woulfe for T O’Brien (46 mins).

REFEREE: John O’Halloran (Bruree)