This will be a first appearance in the All-Ireland semi-final for Na Piarsaigh while Loughgiel are in their sixth semi-finals having lost in 1971-72-1990-2011 and won in 1983, the year they went on to become the first – and so far only – Ulster club to win the hurling title.
Na Piarsaigh, enjoyed their best ever year in 2011, winning the Limerick and Munster titles for the first time. They are now hoping to become the first Limerick club to reach the All-Ireland final since Kilmallock in 1993. No Limerick club has ever won the All-Ireland senior club title so there’s a massive incentive for the light blues.
Managed by former Clare star, Sean Stack, they saw off a highly-rated Ballygunner (Waterford) side in the Munster semi-final (3-9 to 0-12) in a game where teenage star, Shane Dowling scored 1-4 while Kevin Downes and David Breen landed a goal each.
Crusheen (Clare) were Na Piarsaigh’s opponents in the Munster final, where it took two games to separate them. Crusheen led by three points midway through the second half of the replay but, once again, Na Piarsaigh finished very strongly and eventually ran out comfortable seven-point winners, 1-13 to 0-9. This time, it was another teenager, Adrian Breen (19) who took the scoring honours for Na Piarsaigh, notching 1-3 while Shane Dowling landed 0-3.
Captained by Kieran Bermingham, it was a special day for Na Piarsaigh as they brought the Munster crown back to Limerick for the first time in 17 years (Kilmallock won in 1994 but lost the 1995 All-Ireland semi-final to Birr).
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game, Kieran Bermingham was quick to praise his management team.
“Our management have got it spot on this year. We have had some long breaks over the year but we are feeling fresh and we know that they will have us ready”
Words echoed by elder statesman, (Kieran Bermingham’s words, not mine) Shane O’Neill, “We are well prepared by our management. The younger lads on the team have been going for over a year now and their time, had to be and was, managed well”
The silver haired forward is defying father time with his performances this season and he puts that down to a youthful dressing room.
“I have tried to mingle in with the younger lads. (Laughs) Their freshness and will to win have given the whole squad a lift to be honest. I get more nervous as the seasons go on to be fair. The wins this season have been amazing and hopefully we can get one more win on Saturday as Loughgiel are a serious outfit”
The style of hurling played by Na Piarsaigh is one to be admired. The high tempo, high work rate, high scoring mantra is one facilitated by their backroom team. One member of that team is steeped in Na Piarsiagh history. Trainer, Paul Beary, “My late father Jim Beary was a founder member of the club back in 1968 and I played myself of course. Most notably, in my eyes anyway, in the 1984 Feile winning side. I have been playing with the club now for several years and then I was asked to train the lads. I jumped at the chance to work with Sean and the lads and we have been lucky enough to have won titles this year after all the hard work was put in. We train 95% of the time with the sliothar so we hope that will help us come game time” added Paul
The club is all set for this weekend. The Limerick side are 1/3 favourites, but the final words from Kieran Bermingham as I left the Na Piarsaigh club house were clear.
“Some people might under estimate Ulster hurling but we don’t. They have won a title. We haven’t. This is all new ground to us. We will only worry about ourselves and let all the people outside do the talking. It as worked for us so far. We just need it to work once more this weekend”.