Vs Kilmallock

📍 Mick Neville Park 

📅 Wednesday 

⌚ 19:30

All roads lead to Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale on Wednesday evening as our U18 hurlers look to bring a minor championship back to Na Piarsaigh for the first time since 2016. The lads recorded an impressive win over Mungret in round 1, followed by a dogged 2-point victory over Ahane in round 2. We went down to a 4-point defeat to Kilmallock in the last group game which meant we qualified as group runners up. This pitted us with Monaleen in the county semi-final, them having topped the other group. We battled through a tough semi-final with our city rivals Monaleen, eventually coming out on top by 4 points. 

We would like to take this opportunity to wish manager Shane Dowling, his management team of Peter Casey, Evan Sweeney, Richard O’Keeffe and James Ryan, along with all the players the very best in Wednesday’s county final. We’d encourage all members and friends to get out to support the lads in what has the potential to be a great evening's hurling.

Na Piarsaigh 3-17

Ahane 0-10

Our senior hurlers put in a seriously impressive display on Thursday evening in what were incredibly challenging conditions in Claughaun. The heavens opened that afternoon and didn’t let up until well after the final whistle. Our lads were coming in off the back of a powerful performance against Monaleen in round 2, while Ahane suffered defeat to Ballybrown at the same juncture. 

We had a good spread of scorers in the opening half, with 6 different names raising the white flag. JJ Carey got us off the mark from open play with a neat point while Peter calmly floated 2 of his own over. Ahane were providing strong pressure at the other end bar some porr shooting from their forwards. Shane Dowling was also called to action on 18 minutes, pulling off an exquisite save, with the ball bound for the corner of the net. Our touch looked sharp all throughout the hour. No better example of this was for Dáithí Dempsey’s goal on 24 minutes. The ball was held up well by Eoin Brosnan in a ruck of sorts. Dáithí timed his run to perfection, scooping the ball from the edge of said ruck, moving towards goal, pinging the ball to the net. A minute hadn’t elapsed before Dáithí once again found himself bearing down on goal before finding Eoin Brosnan with a pass on the edge of the square. Brozzie placed the ball coolly to the net. Our 2 goals in as many minutes almost put the tie to bed before the break. James Finn got the point of the half, twisting and turning to manage his way out of a grapple before driving the ball over his shoulder, and over the bar. We lead 2-09 to 0-06 at half-time.

We picked up from where we left off in the second half, Peter adding 3 points to add to his 2 in the first half. Whatever about his 5 point haul, Peter’s link up play and passing was just as impressive over the 50 minutes he was on the field. Aside from the free scoring display from our forwards, our backs also deserve great credit for their assured display on Thursday evening. Jerome gave a captain's performance at corner back while Vince Harrington kept Tom Morrissey at bay from full back. Dylan Lynch buried a goal in the dying moments to put the game to bed.

Our next game sees us take on Doon on Thursday evening in Kilmallock, with the throw-in fixed for 6pm. Credit to Claughaun for having the pitch in such great condition on Thursday evening. It held up incredibly well considering the amount of rain that fell all throughout the game and earlier in the day. 

Team: Shane Dowling, Jerome Boylan, Vince Harrington, Ronan Lynch(0-04f), Emmet McEvoy, Mick Casey, James Finn(0-01), William O’Donoghue, JJ Carey(0-01), Keith Dempsey(0-03, 0-02f), Peter Casey(0-05), Dáithí Dempsey(1-02), Eoin Brosnan(1-00), Will Henn, Conor Boylan.

Subs: Mark O’Connor, Mike Foley, Dylan Lynch(1-01), Kevin Downes, John Fitzgerald.

Na Piarsaigh 3-17

Knockainey 4-15

Our intermediates suffered an agonizing one-point defeat to Knockainey on Thursday night in Caherelly. We came into the game without a handful of our regular starters. Evan Sweeney missed out due to injury while our minors Alex Kearns, David O’Keeffe and Danny Sheehan were also unavailable for selection. Knockainey hit us for 4 goals inside the opening 20 minutes, which wasn’t ideal. We trailed by 10 at half time, 4-08 to 1-07, our goal coming from Marcus Hogan. We battled back in the second half, bringing the game right to the wire. Mark Hogan registered a wonderful goal in that time but unfortunately, the lead we coughed up in the opening 30 minutes was too high a hill to climb. 

Team: Darragh Jordan, Christy O’Hagan, Sean Long(0-01), Conor Richardson, Jim Beary, Evan Gilvarry, Adam Fitzsimons(0-01), Wayne Kearns(0-04f), Sam Jordan, Paul McDonogh(0-01), Pa O’Neill(1-01), Jack McCarthy(0-02), Marcus Hogan(1-04), Kevin Daly(0-01), Mark Hogan(1-02). 

Sub: Mike Duggan, Padraic Heaney, Harry McGann. 

Na Piarsaigh 1-17

Blackrock 3-25

Na Piarsaigh 4-19

Drom Broadford 3-07

Our Junior C hurlers recorded their first win of the championship on Sunday afternoon in Páirc Uí Dromgúil, making amends for the opening round loss to Crecora 3 weeks ago. Some notable performances throughout the field with Cathal Hassett and Colm Downey leading the charge from our full back line. Sparky Ryan rolled back the years, giving a man-of-the-match display from midfield. He notched 3 points along with a well taken goal in the second half. Johnny Madden made his long awaited return to the Na Piarsaigh jersey following an 8-year hiatus. He put in a solid hour at wing forward. Justin buried 2 goals to go with his 4 points, while Brian Kelly got the goal of the day, pulling first time in a nicely weighted pass from Gareth Airey. Gareth came away 2 points of his own in the first half. Sunday’s result was a welcome win, getting us off the mark in the championship. Our next game sees us face off with St. Kieran’s next Sunday evening in Coolcappa. 

Team: Podge Kennedy, Cathal Hassett, Neil O’Gorman, Colm Downey, Eoin Doyle, Aidan Hennessy, Brian Buckley, Mark Ryan(1-03), Leon Power, John Reynolds(0-03), Brian O’Neill(1-03), John Madden(0-01), Gareth Airey(0-02), Paul McNamara(0-03), Justin Nordon(2-04).

Sub: Jason Ronan and Shane Downey.