Kilmallock and Na Piarsaigh earn Limerick SHC round four wins

KILMALLOCK booked their spot in the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick SHC semi-finals following a 2-22 to 2-20 win over Patrickswell in Cappamore.

Na Piarsaigh also earn a victory in group one by an eight-point margin in their game against Ahane and are now favourites to join Kilmallock in the last four ahead of the final round of fixtures in two weeks.

The Balbec and Patrickswell provided a stunning contest where the result was in doubt up until the final puck of the ball. Graeme Mulcahy's 55th minute goal proved crucial but Patrickswell had the chance to level with a late penalty after Aaron Gillane was fouled.

However, Diarmaid Byrnes' effort skewed off his hurley and went over the bar and Kilmallock earned a two-point victory.

Patrickswell raced into a four-point lead but Kilmallock were level by the eight minute in a game that was played at a ferocious pace.

The game was level three times in the opening quarter with Jason Gillane making a stunning save from Mulcahy but Oisin O'Reilly soon found a way past 'The Well' keeper on 19 minutes to put his side 1-7 to 0-7 ahead.

Cian Lynch responded immediately with a sensational solo goal and two Aaron Gillane frees saw them two to the good, before the same man diverted a long range Byrnes free to the net for their second goal.

The high level and intensity of the game continued up to half time and it was Patrickswell that went into the break ahead by 2-11 to 1-11.

It was nip and tuck after the break but Kilmallock began to turn the game in their favour in the third quarter with Shane O'Brien having a major influence on the game.

The game was level on eight occasions and it needed a second Kilmallock goal to settle the result. It arrived courtesy of Mulcahy's shot to the net from close range following superb build up play by O'Brien.

Patrickswell did have that one final chance deep into added time but it was not to be for Byrnes and it was Kilmallock that maintained their 100% record.

Na Piarsaigh eventually wore down a gallant Ahane effort in their game in Claughaun to move onto six points in group one and in doing set up a grandstand final round fixture against Kilmallock.

It was a tight contest in the first half with Ronan Lynch opening the scoring with a free but Ahane responded with the next four from Ronan Fox and Tom Morrissey (3).

It was Fox and Morrissey that were the sole thorns in the Na Piarsaigh side in the first half with the former's goal on 24 minutes putting them 1-6 to 0-6 in front.

Howver, Na Piarsaigh recovered to be level at the break and were never in danger of winning the game once JJ Carey found the net on 34 minutes.

Lynch was imperious from placed balls and finished with 0-10 in the end as the Caherdavin side cruised, in the end, to a 1-21 to 1-13 victory.