WATCH: Na Piarsaigh senior hurling manager Shane O'Neill: 'William O'Donoghue was a huge loss'

"He (William O'Donoghue) had a hamstring injury from the county final but he'll be alright in a few weeks I'd say, unfortunately he wasn't available today. He was a huge loss on the pitch, off the pitch, the whole lot. He is just a leader of this whole group, he was magnificent with his performance in the county final. So many of the boys stepped up there again today, we extremely proud of them, I thought they were absolutely immense," Na Piarsaigh senior hurling manager Shane O'Neill told Leader Sport. 

NA PIARSAIGH were defeated by Ballygunner 0-18 to 0-15 in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final on Sunday evening in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. 

Ballygunner outscored their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 in the final seven minutes of the second half, and that late surge ultimately proved decisive as Na Piarsaigh fell just short. Ballygunner found scores more freely, with 0-13 of their points coming from play, while over half of Na Piarsaigh’s total came from frees and a 65. 

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On 52 minutes, Shane O'Neill's side led 0-14 to 0-13 but it was Ballygunner who finished strongly to hang on for a victory. 

Na Piarsaigh's William O'Donoghue and Ballygunner sharpshooter Pauric Mahony were both ruled out through injury before the game. 

The sides have developed an intense rivalry over the last decade in the Munster SHC. 2017 was the last time Na Piarsaigh got a victory against Ballgunner in the provincial championship and this was Ballygunner's fourth victory in-a-row over Na Piarsaigh in the Munster SHC. 

After Na Piarsaigh's defeat to Ballygunner, manager Shane O'Neill spoke with Leader Sport.