Na Piarsaigh edge Galbally to win Intermediate football championship
The Caherdavin side earned a two-point win over a gallant Galbally effort
NA PIARSAIGH are heading back to senior football in Limerick after a 2-11 to 2-9 victory against Galbally in the Griffins Coaches Intermediate Football Championship final at Fitzgerald Park in Kilmallock.
The Caherdavin side were full value for the win but were pegged back from an eight-point advantage down to two late on.
However, Na Piarsaigh held on to win the game and return to senior after relegation from the grade last year.
It was a quick start for Na Piarsaigh with a Christopher O’Hagan point after a spell of pressure but Galbally responded with a two-point free courtesy of goalkeeper Peter Morrissey.
Eoin O’Mahony then gave Galbally a two-point lead with a free that was quickly cancelled out by a fine team move for Na Piarsaigh that was finished off by Ralph Leonard.
Josh Quinlan and Kieran Daly then traded placed balls before Na Piarsaigh levelled the game for the first time with Jack McCarthy fisting a point over the bar on 19 minutes.
It was all Na Piarsaigh for the remainder of the half. A Daly free, Evan Egan, Mark Hogan (from a goal chance) and Sean Long all raised white flags in the lead up to half time. Ciarán Sheehan replied for the south Limerick side.
Galbally also had goal chances in the first half through Dylan O’Shea and Josh Dineen but it was Na Piarsaigh that went in at the break leading 0-8 to 0-5.
Hogan nabbed the first score of the half to increase the lead to four and then it was seven after Daniel Collins was fouled for a penalty. Daly did the necessary from the spot for the first goal of the contest.
The same man then increased Na Piarsaigh’s lead to eight with a cracking score from play and Galbally looked in real danger.
The introductions of Paddy Kennedy and Gary McCarthy, however, saw the tide began to turn.
Mike Donovan had already missed a goal chance in the second half but made no mistake in the 40th minute with a defence splitting run and finish to the net to cut the gap to five.
Three Eoin O’Mahony scores on the trot soon had Na Piarsaigh’s advantage hauled back to two with 13 minutes remaining.
The introduction of Dylan Cronin in the final quarter gave Na Piarsiagh some much needed impetus and his score in the 51st minute had them three to the good once again.
O’Mahony replied with a placed ball but Mark Hogan’s goal five minutes from time looked to have swung the game back in Na Piarsaigh’s favour, finally.
However, there was still a kick in the Galbally tail and O’Mahony’s goal three minutes from time gave the south Limerick side some hope.
There was a chance of a goal with the last action of the contest as Eoin McGrath gloated the ball towards goal but Kennedy’s fisted effort went with and Na Piarsaigh were crowned champions once again.
SCORERS - NA PIARSAIGH: Kieran Daly 1-3 (1-0 pen, 2f), Mark Hogan 1-2, Christopher O’Hagan, Ralph Leonard, Jack McCarthy, Evan Egan, Sean Long and Dylan Cronin 0-1 each; GALBALLY: Eoin O’Mahony 1-5 (2f), Mike Donovan 1-0, Peter Morrissey 0-2 (1 tpf), Ger Quinlan (1f) and Ciarán Sheehan 0-1 each.
NA PIARSAIGH: Eoghan Sherlock; Ferdia Minihane, Cian Counihan, Cathal McMullan; Christopher O’Hagan, Sean Long, Adam Jordan; Ralph Leonard, Jack McCarthy; Daniel Collins, Kieran Daly, Tommy Glynn; Evan Egan, James Daly, Mark Hogan; Subs: Conor McLoughlin for Jordan (24 mins); Tommy Grimes for Collins (36 mins), Dylan Cronin for J Daly (44 mins), Fionn Ó Tiarnaigh for Leonard (55 mins), Odhran Gilroy for Egan (59 mins).
GALBALLY: Peter Morrissey; Cathal O’Mahony, Robert Sampson, Jack O’Mullane; Callum Sheehan, Eoin McGrath, John English; Josh Dineen, James O’Sullivan; Dylan O’Shea, Ger Quinlan, Jamie Morrissey; Ciarán Sheehan, Eoin O’Mahony, Mike Donovan; Subs: Paddy Kennedy for O’Sullivan (39 mins), Gary McCarthy for J Morrissey (39 mins), Cathal Glynn for Callum Sheehan (57 mins).
Referee: Kieran Guina (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).