Report: Munster Club Quarter-Final 

Na Piarsaigh 0-15

Ballygunner 0-18

The 2025 season came to an agonising end for our senior hurlers on Sunday afternoon in the Gaelic Grounds following a 3-point loss to Ballygunner. Our Waterford opposition won their 12th county championship on the trot this year, setting up a quarter final meeting with ourselves. This was the seventh meeting between the clubs in the Munster championship. We were victorious in our first 3 meetings, defeating Ballygunner in the semi-final of 2011 and the Munster finals of 2015 and 2017. We lost out to the Waterford side in the 2018 final, and the semi-final in both 2022 and 2023. 

William O’Donoghue had to sit out the game due to a hamstring injury picked up in the county final 2 weeks previous. He was replaced by Tommy Grimes in midfield. Conor Boylan also came into the starting line-up, taking Dylan Lynch’s spot at corner forward. Ballygunner looked the more impressive team from the opening exchanges, scoring 3 points without reply. Peter landed our first score after 10 minutes, adding his second not long after. We had 10 missed scoring opportunities in the first half, between missed frees, wides and balls dropping short. Ballygunner would go in 3-points to the good at half time. Our standout performer in the opening half was Mike Casey at centre back. The All Star nominee was simply outstanding at the heart of our defense. Half time score: Na Piarsaigh 0-05 Ballygunner 0-08

The Waterford side were quickest out of the blocks again in the second half, extending their lead to 5 points. Our lads were doing their utmost to wrangle their way back into the tie thanks in no small part to the powerful performance of Daithí Dempsey. He didn’t get his name on the score sheet but Daithí was central to much of the positive Na Piarsaigh play all throughout the 60 minutes. 

We managed to reel in Ballygunner with 10 to play, Downesy drawing the game level from a free. Ronan would put us up by one moments later with another placed ball. Unfortunately for us, we would only register one more point in the remaining minutes while our opponents roared ahead. Ballygunners rearguard was proving very difficult to break down as we chased a goal with time almost up. The Waterford side looked so assured in defense, coupled with their well oiled running game. They would run out 3-point victors. 

I find it important to mention Shane Dowling’s fantastic campaign for Na Piarsaigh in 2025. Whether it be some of his exceptional saves throughout the championship along with his puckouts, executed to the highest precision. He was instrumental in both the semi-final and final this year, almost similar to a quarter-back in American football, always an option to receive a pass back from our defense for our outfield players to reset again. Shane’s second retirement from Limerick was announced early this week. A true inspiration for so many Na Piarsaigh and Limerick people alike. There’ll be a few more years for him in the sky blue jersey yet. 

Conor Boylan and Peter Casey showed their importance to Na Piarsaigh, both making full returns to the pitch in 2025. Peter gave a man of the match performance in our semi-final win over Kilmallock, scoring 5 from play in the opening half and also proving influential in the final against Doon. Conor made his first appearance in the 2025 championship in the county final, coming on in the second half and burying a goal to bring the game to extra time. Both big players for the big day and fantastic to see both men back doing the business for Na Piarsaigh after lengthy and undoubtedly frustrating spells on the sideline. 

Lastly, it was great to see Eoin Brosnan make his senior championship debut against Ballygunner on Sunday, coming on as a late sub close to the end of normal time. You’ll have a chance to see him, James Finn and a host of other young Na Piarsaigh talent take on Kildimo Pallaskenry in the U20 championship later this week. Updated fixture to follow in the coming days. 

Team: Shane Dowling, Jerome Boylan, Vince Harrington, Ronan Lynch(0-03f), Emmet McEvoy, Mike Casey, Mike Foley, Tommy Grimes(0-01), JJ Carey, Will Henn, Peter Casey(0-03), Daithí Dempsey, Kevin Downes(0-06, 0-04f 1'65), Adrian Breen(0-01), Conor Boylan(0-01).

Subs: Keith Dempsey for Will Henn, James Finn for Mike Foley, Dylan Lynch for Adrian Breen, Eoin Brosnan for Tommy Grimes, Wayne Kearns for JJ Carey.