MODERN-DAY Limerick flag bearers Na Piarsaigh succumbed to their great rivals Ballygunner of Waterford (0-16 to 1-9) in the semi-final of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship at the Gaelic Grounds.
The visitors were four points ahead on 20 minutes, but a strong half finish from Na Piarsaigh – that yielded lovely scores from Ronan Lynch – left only the minimum between them at the interval, 0-7 to 0-6.
As was the case in those opening 30 minutes, Pauric Mahony was on fire in the closing period and his overall contribution of 11 points was crucial to the ten-in-a-row Waterford kingpins advancing to a showdown with Clonlara (0-23 to 1-19 winners over Kiladangan, Tipperary).
Adrian Breen nipped through for the game’s only goal late-on.
Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling; Emmet McEvoy, Mike Casey (captain), Cathall King; Vince Harrington, Will O’Donoghue, Mike Foley; Conor Boylan, JJ Carey; Kevin Downes, Peter Casey, David Dempsey; Will Henn (0-1), Ronan Lynch (0-7), Adrian Breen (1-1).
Substitutes used: Keith Dempsey, John Fitzgerald, Wayne Kearns.
Meanwhile, Limerick’s marvellous Premier Intermediate Hurling winners Dromin/Athlacca were squeezed-out by Corofin, 1-19 to 1-15, in the semi-final of the Munster Championship at Cusack Park, Ennis.
County ace David Reidy top-scored, with ten points, for D/A.
And, in the semi-final of the Junior Hurling Championship, Feenagh/Kilmeedy stunned The Banner (Clare), 0-20 to 0-16, at Cusack Park, Ennis. Diarmuid Coleman shone like a beacon for the Limerick side, knocking over an incredible 13 points.
St. Catherine’s of Cork won the other semi.
