Limerick kingpins Na Piarsaigh claim penalty shoot-out win to reach Munster club IFC final

LIMERICK champions Na Piarsaigh, courtesy of a penalty shootout, secured their place in the Munster Intermediate football Championship final, where they’ll face Rathmore of Kerry in mid-December when seeing of Ballina, of Tipperary, in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock on Sunday afternoon.   

Goalkeeper, Eoghain Sherlock, proved to be the Na Piarsaigh hero, saving two of the shootout spot-kicks, as well as another during the second half.

Four spot kicks - converted by Gordon Brown, Jack Barry, Kieran Daly and Evan Egan – sent the Caherdavin men through to a Munster club intermediate football final meeting with Rathmore, of Kerry, on December 11.

The sides were level 1-1 to 0-4 at halftime and 1-3 to 0-6 at fulltime in Sunday's semi-final. By the end of the 80 minutes, they were still deadlocked, 1-5 to 0-8.

Overall, this was a game that failed to get to near the standard expected, but untimely, a first Munster club football final berth for Na Piarsaigh is their reward.

The only goal of this contest arrived after just five minutes, with Jack Brady – Treaty United goalkeeper – making an initial save but Dylan Cronin was to follow in to blast home.

This gave Na Piarsaigh a 1-1 to 0-1 lead but they failed to score for another 30 minutes. Two points each from Eoghan Power and Steven O’Brien had this level at the short whistle.

O’Brien would see his penalty saved by Sherlock on 32 and from here the sides would trade scores, untimely, Cronin’s free was cancelled out by sub Jack O’Mahoney, to take the game to extra-time.

Ballina, who won their maiden Tipperary Intermediate title earlier this season, stole a march in extra-time. With David Kelly and O’Brien (free) pushing them clear. But back came Michael Lynch’s side and efforts from Kieran Daly (free) and a poachers effort from Evan Sweeney meant peanlties were required.

After Sherlock saved the first two and Na Piarsaigh scored theirs, Ballina were chasing. They couldn’t deny the fifth effort, which came from Evan Egan to the joy of those supporting the city club.

Their prize is a clash with Rathmore – with the Kerry side looking to make it eight on the bounce in the Munster Intermediate Championship for Kerry clubs.

SCORERS: NA PIARSAIGH: Dylan Cronin 1-2 (0-1f, 0-1m); Kieran Daly 0-2; Evan Sweeney 0-1. BALLINA: Steven O’Brien 0-4 (0-3f); Eoghan Power 0-2; Jack O’Mahoney, David Kelly 0-1 each.