Limerick SHC: Doon look to bounce back in county final rematch with Na Piarsaigh
2012 was the last time Doon failed to reach at least a county quarter-final
STRUGGLING Doon look to get their Whitebox Senior Hurling Championship campaign back on track this Thursday night when they take on Na Piarsaigh.
The repeat of the last two county finals takes place in Kilmallock at 6pm and is live-streamed on Limerick GAA TV.
Derek McGrath’s Doon have just one win from three outings in the Championship to date. The County Hurling League Division 1 champions backed up their pre-season form by beating Ballybrown in their SHC opener.
Since then, defeats to Kilmallock and Monaleen have them fighting to stay in the championship.
2012 was the last time the east Limerick side failed to reach at least a county quarter-final - and while defeat tonight would not be fatal, Doon will have it all to do to reach the knock-out stages should they lose this evening.
Recent form against Na Piarsaigh is encouraging. They drew last year in the group stage - also in Kilmallock - and while the Caherdavin men took the Daly Cup, they did so after extra time.
Doon won both 2024 Championship meetings by a single point meaning you have to go back 12 months further for the last time the Caherdavin side beat the east Limerick men in 60 minutes.
Na Piarsaigh too have had a setback in this campaign. They lost to Kilmallock in round 1.
Since then, big wins over Monaleen and Ballybrown have gotten Shane O’Neill’s side back on track.
A win tonight will assure them of a place in the quarter-finals and, through a combination of positive head-to-head records and the best score difference in the group, makes a semi-final spot likely.