THE Limerick Senior Hurling Club Champions for 2011 will be know this coming Sunday at Ahane take on Na Piarsaigh in the club showpiece final.The clash, which throws in at 3.30pm at the Gaelic Grounds is expected to attract a large crowd to the Ennis Road venue.
Na Piarsaigh, beaten finalists in 2009, will be looking to land the Daly Cup for the first time ever, while Ahane, beaten finalists in 2008, will be looking for their 20th crown.
The bookies have Na Piarsaigh as favourites for this game based on their season of form. Wins over Croom and Bruree in the Groups stages, along with a draw against Adare, meant that the Limerick City side faced Doon in the quarter finals.
A 4-14 to 0-17 win for the light blues in that quarter final made the entire county stand up and take notice. An even better display, it that was even possible, say the Ennis Road side defeat Patrickswell in the semi final on a scoreline of 0-20 to 0-15.
The biggest hurdle for Na Piarsaigh on Sunday might just be themselves. That is no disrespect to Ahane, but the last time Na Piarsaigh appeared in the final, they only mustered three points against Adare, in a game which left scars in the club. Current Chairman, Timmy O’Connor spoke to PostSport this week about that game and what has gone on since.
“We have talked a lot about that game since it happened. I think that this side has learned a lot from that defeat in 2009. Two years ago we were in four county finals as a club and we lost all four. That will stand to us this year. I am sure of that. Sean Stack has always believed in this team. Right from the very first time he met them. He knows that they are capable of more than 2009”
The path to the final has been a convincing one and one that will strike fear into neutrals around the county. It would be easier to name the county finals that Na Piarsaigh are not in this year. The club is in so many.
“The work at underage is be seen now. The lads have benefited hugely from their experiences with Ard Scoil Ris and with Limerick panels. We know that the team is more settled now and as a club and a team, we are all looking to this Sunday”, added O’Connor.
So what of Ahane? The east Limerick side drew one, lost one and won one in the group stages. Their performances in the quarter finals and semi finals though tell the true story of this vastly decorated club.
Wins over Adare, 2-16 to 0-18 and Emmets, 3-13 to 1-12 in a replay, make Ahane a strong force to be reckoned with.
Speaking ahead of the final to PostSport, Ahane manager John Meskell said that the side had been improving all year.
“Someone once told me that if you are hurling in August and still improving in August, then you are going the right way. We were devastated after the loss to Doon in the first round of the championship. It was not what we needed. We were battling relegation last season and we needed wins to get the confidence back in the lads. In some games this season we have been behind and we have had to work to get the right result. That suits us. That suits our mentality. We had a reasonable league and we have kept a large panel. That makes for competition for places and it has shown.”
The Ahane side has treble county winners in their side, something that Meskell believes will stand to them this weekend.
“We will hope that the experiences of the past will help on Sunday. The older lads are our inspiration. They will lead by example. As they have done all year”
So the final scene is all set. In what was a great year for Limerick hurling the club showpiece pits a young up and coming club against the 19 times east Limerick masters. It’s all to play for and it is going to be a contest to be at. Best of luck to both sides.
Probable Na Piarsaigh Team: Padraig Kennedy, Aidan Hennessy, Kieran Breen, Kieran Bermingham(capt), Alan Dempsey, James O Brien, Brian Hartnett, Cathal King, Pat Gleeson, Shane Dowling, David Breen, Kevin Ryan, Adrian Breen, Shane O Neill, Kevin Downes. Backroom team: Sean Stack, Paul Beary, PJ Breen and Donal Hartnett.
Probable Ahane Team: Tadgh Flynn, Alan Doherty, Darragh Madden, John Doheny, Cathal O’Reilly, Mike Carr, Padraic Treacy, Fergus Ahern, John Meskell, Dan Morrrissey, Niall Moran , Richard Ryan, Brian Healy, Ollie Moran, Sean Madden.
Backroom team: John Meskell, Phelim Macken, James Moran, Eamonn Meskell, John Ryan and Larry O’Connor.
