Na Piarsaigh outgunned by Waterford champions

Na Piarsaigh manager Kieran Bermingham

NA PIARSAIGHโ€™S bid to land a fifth Munster Club Hurling title came unstuck at the semi-final stage when holders Ballygunner of Waterford staged a superb comeback to emerge 2-20 to 2-15 winners at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.ย 

Opening-half goals from Keith Dempsey and Jerome Boylan helped the Limerick kingpins into a healthy 2-11 to 1-9 interval advantage.

Kieran Berminghamโ€™s side, however, were restricted to just points in the closing half as the visitors turned happenings completely around.ย 

Pauric Mahony was easily the stand-out player on show, contributing three settling points on the restart in an overall contribution of 0-13. Ballygunnerโ€™s goal too was crucial, arriving midway through the second-half from teenager Patrick Fitzgerald.ย 

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Na Piarsaighโ€™s disappointment turned to concern afterwards following an injury picked-up by Mike Casey, the All-Star nominated full-back forced to leave the final inside the last few minutes.ย  Casey only returned to the county setup this season after missing both the All-Ireland winning campaigns of 2020 and โ€™21 with a cruciate problem.ย 

Casey had been brilliant for both club and county throughout 2022.ย 

Next weekend, Na Piarsaigh have a home Munster Intermediate Football semi-final date with Tipperaryโ€™s Ballina.

Elsewhere, there was better returns from both Monaleen and St. Kieranโ€™s who have qualified for Munster Hurling Finals the weekend after next.ย 

At Kilmallockโ€™s Fitzgerald Park, Mark Oโ€™Dwyer (1-6, with his majestic goal already viewed several thousand times on social media) shone like a beacon as Monaleen overcame St. Josephโ€™s Doora-Barefield, 2-13 to 0-16. Eoin Brislaneโ€™s side now run-up against Roscrea of Tipperary in the decider.

At Cusack Park in Ennis, super fit St. Kieranโ€™s accounted for Banner, 0-17 to 0-16, after extra-time.ย  Chris Madiganโ€™s team will meet holders Ballygiblin of Cork in the final.ย 

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