A POTENTIALLY brilliant Bon Secours Hospital Limerick Senior Hurling Championship Final is on the cards when Na Piarsaigh and Patrickswell cross sticks at the Gaelic Grounds this evening (Saturday at 5.15pm).
It’s only the third ever meeting between the clubs in the decider, with the ‘Well winning in 2019 and Na Piarsaigh taking home the prize four years earlier.
In the opening group match of Championship 2023, Patrickswell defeated Na Piarsaigh (2-15 to 1-16), but that outing, only a couple of months back, isn’t much of a benchmark as both sides have improved immeasurably en route to this weekend’s showdown.
Na Piarsaigh topped their group to reach the last four, whereas Patrickswell slipped through in third and took home a necessary victory over their fellow parishioners to qualify for the semi-finals.
A couple of weeks ago at Na Piarsaigh, it was the heroics of 2018 All-Star forward Shane Dowling who kept Shane O’Neill’s team in the competition, producing four superb blocks along with netting twice in the dramatic penalty shoot-out win over luckless Doon in the opening semi.
Aside from Dowling, other key figures for the defending champions include captain Mike Casey, Kevin Downes, David Dempsey, Conor Boylan, Ronan Lynch, Peter Casey, and Adrian Breen. Towering midfielder William O’Donoghue and Will Henn remain injury doubts for Na Piarsaigh.
In the second semi, Patrickswell were well above the subdued challenge of Kilmallock, coming through by a massive ten points (2-25 to 2-15).
If Dowling was the stand-out performer the previous afternoon, it was skipper Aaron Gillane who shone like a beacon the following afternoon, pocketing an astonishing 1-12.
The three-time All-Star is not alone at the ‘Well pump this season, as fellow county performers Diarmaid Byrnes and Cian Lynch, along with Mark Carmody, Jack Kelleher, Jordan Higgins, John Kirby, and Tom O’Brien are all reliable support figures for a side managed by Eamon Kelly, who previously held the reigns with Laois and Offaly.
While, surprisingly, Na Piarsaigh – certainly on the basis of their sub-par display in the semi – remain odds-on favourites to win the John Daly Cup back-to-back it’s certain that Patrickswell will provide a stern test and are well capable of landing the title for a stunning 21st occasion (NaPiarsaigh are in search of title number eight).
Bruree’s Michael Sexton will referee.
Verdict: Na Piarsaigh.
