AIB Munster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship Semi Final – Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 0-20 Passage (Waterford) 3-9

Downes inspires Na Piarsaigh to reach Munster senior hurling final

Report by Jackie Cahill for thescore.ie

Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 0-20 Passage (Waterford) 3-9

KEVIN Downes inspired Na Piarsaigh to yet another hard-fought victory in the AIB Munster senior club hurling championship this afternoon. The Limerick star notched six points from play as Na Piarsaigh, provincial champions in 2011, advanced to a second final in three seasons. There, they will face Cork champions Midleton or Clare representatives Sixmilebridge in a fortnight’s time.

In a humdinger at the Gaelic Grounds this afternoon, Na Piarsaigh dug out a two-point victory against Passage in a fixture watched by 1,350 spectators. On an overcast afternoon, late points from Alan Dempsey and that man Downes settled a seesaw affair that was level eight times. And for Na Piarsaigh manager Sean Stack, the nightmare scenario could now unfold if he’s pitted against his beloved Sixmilebridge in the final. Midway through the second half, it appeared that Na Piarsaigh were on course for a comfortable win, after the Limerick kingpins opened up a five-point lead, 0-15 to 2-4. They could have been further ahead too, but for a string of fine saves by brilliant Passage goalkeeper Eddie Lynch, who preserved a clean sheet. At the other end, Na Piarsaigh conceded three goals and could have let in another had corner-forward Kevin Ryan not denied Eoin Kelly with a brilliant penalty save in the second half. Former Waterford star Kelly had rattled the back of the Na Piarsaigh net with a first half penalty, after the full-forward was himself fouled.

That followed a fortuitous early goal for Owen Connors, as Na Piarsaigh goalkeeper Padraic Kennedy fumbled a speculative long-range effort into the net. A third goal for Passage, in the 47th minute, was brilliantly finished from an acute angle by John Whitty, after Thomas Connors had created the opening. Back to within a point, Passage were then level through sub Joe McClean and although Na Piarsaigh ensured parity again, two points from Owen Connors nudged a dogged Passage ahead.

In a gripping finish, the sides were level twice more but Na Piarsaigh, lining out without suspended full-back Kieran Breen, found the extra gear to claim victory, with Downes lofting over a sensational late score. Passage can look back with huge pride on a landmark campaign that saw them capture a very first county title and they performed heroically again yesterday without county star Noel Connors, who is travelling abroad.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Kevin Downes 0-6, Shane Dowling 0-5 (0-3f), Pat Gleeson & Adrian Breen 0-3 each, Alan Dempsey, William O’Donoghue & Kieran Kennedy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Passage: O Connors 1-4 (0-2 65′s, 0-1f), Eoin Kelly 1-1 (1-0 pen), John Whitty 1-0, Killian Fitzgerald 0-2, Thomas Connors & Joe McClean 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: Padraic Kennedy; Niall Buckley, Cathal King, Michael Casey; Alan Dempsey, David Breen, James O’Brien; Shane Dowling, William O’Donoghue; Kieran Kennedy, Kevin Downes, David Dempsey; Kevin Ryan, Pat Gleeson, Adrian Breen.

Subs: Brian Hartnett for O’Brien (53), John Madden for Kennedy (53), Aidan Hennessy for Gleeson (60+1).

PASSAGE: Eddie Lynch; Jason Roche, Mark Wyse, Joseph Upton; Pa Walsh, Stephen Mason, Mitchell Baldwin; Killian Fitzgerald, John Whitty; Owen Connors, Conor Carey, Thomas Connors; Rory Walsh, Eoin Kelly, Sean Hogan.

Subs: Joe McClean for Walsh (47).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Fixture Details

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10th

AIB Munster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship Semi-Final

Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) v Passage (Waterford)

Venue: Gaelic Grounds Limerick @ 2:00pm

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Extra time if necessary

When – Sunday November 10^th at 2:00pm

Where – Gaelic Grounds Limerick

Referee – Colm Lyons (Cork)

Extra time – (2 periods x 10 minutes only) to be played if sides finish level at the end of 60 minutes

Replay date – Saturday November 16^nd at a Waterford venue

Next Round – the winners qualify for the Munster Club Final on Sunday November 24^th

Admission Prices –
Adults – €15
Student/OAP – €10
All Under 16s free

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information

For the Record

Munster GAA HURLING Club Senior Championship 2013

Quarter-Final

Sunday October 27^th

@ Semple Stadium Thurles           Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 3-17 Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) 2-18

Semi-Finals
Sunday November 10^th (Replay date – Saturday November 16th)

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick Passage (Waterford) v Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 2:00pm

Sunday November 17^th (Replay date – Saturday November 23rd)

@ Cork venue Newmarket-on-Fergus or Sixmilebridge (Clare) v Midleton (Cork) 2:00pm

Final

Sunday November 24^th (Replay date – Saturday November 30^th)

2:00pm throw-in

Odds and Ends

From 2010 through 2013, the travelling team has won 9 of the 10 matches played in the Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals. The victory of Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) over Sarsfields (Cork) at Semple Stadium in the 2012 Semi-Final is the only exception in the past 4 seasons.

Na Piarsaigh’s first appearance in the Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship saw them finish as winners following a replay victory over Crusheen (Clare) in 2011. Their Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship record to date is 3 wins and 1 draw.

Passage will take part in the Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship for the first time having won their maiden Waterford title against Ballygunner on Sunday October 13^th. Waterford clubs have won their first game in the Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship for five consecutive years dating back to 2008, the longest streak of any county since Tipperary champions had a five year run of winning one game from 2003 to 2007. Can Passage extend this run to six consecutive years with victory over Na Piarsaigh?

Of the 5 participating counties in this year’s Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship, Waterford have the best record since 2000 with 18 victories and 1 draw out of 28 matches played. Tipperary has the next best record with 15 wins and 2 draws out of 27 games.

The Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship is very competitive with only one score separating the champions and runner-up in each final from 2004 through 2011 (drawn match). Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) won the 2012 final versus De La Salle (Waterford) by five points.

Munster GAA Club HURLING Senior Championship Roll Of Honour

Cork (17) – 1964, 1965, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1987, 2003, 2005, 2009

Tipperary (12) – 1966, 1969, 1970, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1993, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012

Clare (9) – 1967, 1968, 1984, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Limerick (6) – 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2011

Waterford (5) – 1981, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010

Munster GAA Club HURLING Senior Championship – List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began 1888 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/shclub_teams/

All Ireland GAA Club HURLING Senior Championship

In the Club Senior Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork clubs have won 9 titles followed by Tipperary with 3 and Clare with 2. Galway lead the roll of honour with 12 club titles followed by Kilkenny clubs with 10.

Munster Club Senior HURLING Cup

Club Championship Senior Hurling Cup – O’Neill Cup

Presented by Sarsfields Club, Cork, in 1972 to commemorate Billy O’Neill who founded their club in 1903.