Limerick SHC Final

PATRICKSWELL 1-17 NA PIARSAIGH 0-15

By John Fallon at LIT Gaelic Grounds

Ciaran Carey’s Patrickswell moved top of the roll of honour in Limerick when they claimed their 20th title at LIT Gaelic Grounds with an impressive display.

Patrickswell survived a scoreless spell of almost 25 minutes either side of half-time to win their first title since 2016.

Champions Na Piarsaigh never led in the contest and while they came from six points down to draw level in the second-half, Patrickswell pulled away in the closing stages.

Patrickswell were the better side in the opening half in ideal conditions at LIT Gaelic Grounds and led by 1-9 to 0-6 at the interval.

Patrickswell pulled away to open up a double scores interval lead after a tight opening which saw the sides level three times in the opening eleven minutes.

Tom O’Brien and Josh Considine landed good points for Patrickswell as they pulled away with some good hurling led by Cian Lynch in midfield and Diarmuid Byrnes at centre-back.

Jack Kelleher set Considine away for the key score of the opening half and the midfielder dispatched a superb shot to the top right corner of the net to open up a 1-5 to 0-3 lead after 15 minutes.

Na Piarsaigh responded with a couple of frees from Will Henn but Patrickswell, boosted by the availability of county star Aaron Gillane who was doubtful with a facial injury, hit the next four points.

Gillane got his third free, Kelleher hit two good scores and wing-forward Andrew Carroll also found the range.

Ronan Lynch landed a point from distance for Na Piarsaigh just before the break to reduce to the margin to six at the interval.

Na Piarsaigh enjoyed their best spell just after the break when a third free from Henn and two more points from play by Peter Casey saw them reduce the margin to three inside five minutes.

Patrickswell failed to score in the third quarter and also hit six wides before Na Pairsaigh reduced the gap to the minimum with points from Adrian Breen and impressive substitute Alan Dempsey to leave it at 1-9 to 0-11.

Peter Casey’s fifth point of the game from play levelled the sides with just over 12 minutes remaining in the contest.

Diarmuid Byrnes edged Patrickswell back in front with a point from distance and Gillane added a free before Casey’s sixth point cut the gap to the minimum again.

However, Patrickswell pulled away in the closing stages with county stars Lynch and Byrnes leading the way and they claimed the title with a string of points as Na Piarsaigh surrendered their crown.

Scorers for Patrickswell: Aaron Gillane 0-6 (6f), Josh Considine 1-2, Cian Lynch 0-3, Jack Kelleher 0-2, Diarmuid Byrnes 0-2 (1f), Andrew Carroll 0-1, Tom O’Brien 0-1.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Peter Casey 0-7 (6f), Will Henn 0-3 (3f), Adrian Breen 0-2, Ronan Lynch 0-1, David Dempsey 0-1, Alan Dempsey 0-1 (f).

PATRICKSWELL: Brian Murray; Seanie O’Brien, Nigel Foley, Tom Nolan; Paudie Maher, Diarmuid Byrnes, Mark Carmody; Josh Considine, Cian Lynch; Jack Kelleher, Kevin O’Brien, Andrew Carroll; Aaron Gillane, Jason Gillane, Tom O’Brien. Subs: Paul O’Brien for Carroll (half-time), John Flynn for P O’Brien (55), Calvin Carroll for J Gillane (57).

NA PIARSAIGH: Podge Kennedy; Kieran Kennedy, Mike Casey, Niall Buckley; Mike Foley, Ronan Lynch, Tommie Grimes; Conor Houlihan, Will O’Donoghue; Conor Boylan, Peter Casey, David Dempsey; Will Henn, Kevin Downes, Adrian Breen. Subs: Alan Dempsey for Houlihan (29), Kevin Ryan for K Kennedy (55).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree)