NA PIARSAIGH of Limerick are the 2013 AIB Munster Club Senior Hurling champions. The Sean Stack coached side secured their second Munster club title in three years following a 4-14 to 0-8 demolition of Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park last Sunday 24 afternoon.
In what was a dominant performance, Na Piarsaigh reclaimed the Munster crown in record fashion. Only once before, back in 1975, has there been a bigger margin of victory, Blackrock of Cork beating Mount Sion of Waterford 8-12 to 3-8 (19 points, against 18 here).
Goals at the start of both halves saw Na Piarsaigh gain a foothold in the game, something that Clare champions Sixmilebridge had no answer for.
Shane Dowling thread a through ball to Kevin Downes inside the first minute to raise the first of four green flags.
After just 19 minutes, the blues from Limerick lead the Banner men 1-5 to 0-1. Adrian Breen, Pat Gleeson and David Dempsey were to the fore in these opening salvos, dominating their positions from the off.
Leading by six at the break, Na Piarsaigh went for the jugular on the restart. Kevin Ryan netted inside the opening minute of the second 30. Leading 2-9 to 0-5, the assembled crowd knew the victory was Na Piarsaigh’s long before the third green flag was hoisted. Adrian Breen, in the 43rd minute, did the honours there.
With the game all but over, Na Piarsaigh’s David Sheppard rattled the fourth and final goal for the city side to cement their victory.
Sean Stack, coach of Na Piarsaigh, himself a native of Sixmilebridge, will now prepare his charges for the assault on the All Ireland club crown.
The memories of Na Piarsaigh’s 2011 semi final loss to Lougheil Shamrocks is still very much in the mind’s eye ahead of this year’s last four battles with Portumna of Galway.
With the venue yet to be decided, the semi final is pencilled in for the weekend of February 8.
NA PIARSAIGH SCORERS: Kevin Ryan 1-3, Adrian Breen 1-2, Shane Dowling 0-5 (4 frees), Alan Dempsey 0-2, Kevin Downes and David Sheppard 1-0 each, David Dempsey, Pat Gleeson 0-1 each.
NA PIARSAIGH: Padraic Kennedy; Niall Buckley, Kieran Breen, Michael Casey; Alan Dempsey, David Breen, James O’Brien; Cathal King, William O’Donoghue; Pat Gleeson, Kevin Downes, David Dempsey; Kevin Ryan, Shane Dowling, Adrain Breen. Subs: Kieran Kennedy for Niall Buckley (42mins), John Madden for David Dempsey (48mins), David Sheppard for Adrian Breen (56mins), Brian Hartnett for James O’Brien (59mins), Damien Quigley for Kevin Downes (59mins),
