Limerick SHC: Na Piarsaigh win thriller

Limerick SHC Final: Na Piarsaigh 1-22 Patrickswell 4-12

Kevin Downes led the way for Na Piarsaigh as they claimed their third Limerick SHC title in an enthralling decider at the Gaelic Grounds.

Downes hit 1-5 in all, while fellow county star Shane Dowling added six points as Na Piarsaigh made it two county crowns in three years.

Na Piarsaigh lost last year's final to Kilmallock and looked set to lose another, when they were five points in arrears with a quarter of the game remaining, but they fought back.

They were 1-12 to 2-7 up at the break - Kevin Downes bagged the goal for the winners, but that was answered by strikes from brothers Kevin and Thomas O'Brien.

Patrickswell took the initiative on the resumption with two Diarmuid Byrnes penalties finding the net. But Na Piarsaigh held on, and advance to play Sixmilebridge in the Munster championship.

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Scorers - Na Piarsaigh: K Downes 1-5, S Dowling 0-6 (0-4 frees), K Ryan, P Casey 0-3 each, A Dempsey 0-2, W O'Donoghue, D Dempsey 0-1 each.

Patrickswell: D Byrnes 2-3 (0-3 frees, 2-0 pens), T O'Brien 1-1, K O'Brien 1-0, J Kelleher (0-1 free), L Considine, C Lynch 0-2 each, S O'Brien, A Gillane (0-1 each).

Na Piarsaigh: P Kennedy; M Casey, K Breen, K Kennedy; M Foley, R Lynch, C King; A Dempsey, W O'Donoghue; D Dempsey, K Downes, A Breen; P Casey, S Dowling, K Ryan. Subs: N Buckley for K Breen (37), D Breen for A Breen (45), P Gleeson for Ryan (52).

Patrickswell: B Murray; K Lynch, B Foley, J Carrig; M Carmody, D Byrnes, S O'Brien; N Foley, C Lynch; A Gillane, J Kelleher, A Carroll; T O'Brien, K O'Brien, L Considine. Subs: T Sheehan for Carroll (52), P Harty for Gillane (52).

Referee: Michael Sexton