Na Piarsaigh GAA Club Notes:
Senior Hurling Championship Round 2:
Na Piarsaigh 0-21 Ballybrown 1-10
Our senior hurlers got their first win of the championship against Ballybrown on Friday evening in a sunny Claughaun, getting their campaign rightly up and running following a draw in round 1 against Doon. We played with a slender breeze in the first half, taking a 6-point lead into the break. JJ Carey looked at home in the Claughaun field (some of ye might get that one.), scoring 3 points with Keith Dempsey scoring 2 beauties from out on the right hand side, the second a carbon copy of the first. With 5 minutes to play, Mike Foley landed a huge one from his own 65. This followed a 10-minute barron period for both teams. Ronan and Downesy were both 100% from placed balls for the day. Kev converted 3 in the opening half with Ronan getting 2 long rangers.
Ballybrown brought a physicality to the first half that wasn’t to follow them into the second. While they had only scored 1 from play in the opening 30, they did have a shout of a penalty but for our full back line to sweep away. Adrian clocked 2 points in the second period, proving a terror for the Ballybrown backs all throughout the hour. He had a perfectly good goal disallowed for square ball in the first, after Daithí’s shot beat the keeper, but to be saved off the line by the Ballybrown corner back. Adrian pounced on the rebound. The ref’s decision to disallow the goal was an unusual one considering Adrian raced in after the ball.
The second half was uneventful in many ways as our lads powered through their opponents. Following another solid night on the frees, Downesy would get 2 from play in the closing minutes to settle the tie. Ballybrown did get a goal close to the end following a blocked clearance. Shane saved their first attempt but for Aidan O’Connor to bundle the ball to the net. Daithí Dempsey was awarded man of the match following his exceptional display from minute 1 to the final whistle. His link up play and work off the ball was immense, driving into tackles and causing havoc for the Ballybrown defense. It was great to see.
Team: Shane Dowling, Emmet McEvoy, Cathall King, Vince Harrington, Mike Foley (0-01), Ronan Lynch (0-04, 0-04f), Tommy Grimes, William O’Donoghue, James Finn, JJ Carey (0-03), Keith Dempsey (0-03), Daithí Dempsey, Kevin Downes (0-08, 0-06f), Will Henn, Adrian Breen (0-02). Subs Sean Long, Wayne Kearns, Dylan Lynch.
Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 2:
Na Piarsaigh 1-13 St. Kierans 0-11
It was probably not the greatest hurling spectacle on Sunday afternoon between ourselves and St. Kieran’s in round 2 of the intermediate championship, but we claimed the win and that’s all that matters at the end of the day. After a cagey first half we would go in 2-points to the good at half time, Evan Sweeney registering our only score from play, Pa O’Neill converting 6 frees. We would lose Mark Hogan early on following a head injury. He was replaced by Josh Sheehan. Alan Dempsey would then be withdrawn at half time with a pinched hamstring. Evan Gilvarry came on for him.
We scored 4 unanswered points at the start of the second with Eoin Brosnan racing through the middle, directly from the throw-in to dart one over from 30 yards. Kevin Daly clipped one over before Marcus Hogan pointed 2-in-a-row. That put us 6 ahead before St. Kieran’s gathered their bearings and reeled us back in. On the hour, there was a point between the sides with the ball coming out easy enough from the St. Kieran’s defense. Their keeper won a free out following a Kieran Daly foul but for their net minder to retaliate and shove our man after the whistle. Ball thrown in, won by a Na Piarsaigh man, and coolly popped over the bar by Kevin Daly. That put us 2-points to the good but there was still time for our opponents to respond. We survived some shaky moments at the back and managed to get the ball back up to the St. Kieran’s goal. Sub Kieran Daly gathered possession inside the 21, heading for goal. He slipped the ball low past the keeper in what looked to be wide of the posts but for it hit a divot and sneak inside the right-hand upright. That put us 5 up and the game settled.
Team: Evan Condon, Ronan Benson, Mark O’Connor Padraig Heaney, John O’Keeffe, Gordon Brown, Adam Fitzsimons, Dean McLoughlin, Eoin Brosnan (0-01), Kevin Daly (0-02), Pa O’Neill (0-07, 0-06f), Evan Sweeney (0-01), Marcus Hogan (0-02), Alan Dempsey, Mark Hogan. Subs: Josh Sheehan, Evan Gilvarry, Jack McCarthy, Kieran Daly (1-00)
Junior C Hurling Championship Round 2:
Na Piarsaigh 3-15 Kilteely Dromkeen 0-07
Our junior C hurlers maintained their 100% record following a comprehensive win in round 2 of the championship on Sunday evening. We had a great support with many making the lengthy trip over from our intermediate’s victory in Askeaton. We got off to a blistering start with Ben O’Regan rattling the net inside the opening minutes. Colm Downey registered 2 more goals in the opening half, one from his stick, and another from his boot, to put us firmly in the driving seat. Adamm Hallihan and Cian Brosnan also added their names to the scoreboard in the opening 30. Our younger crew really drove it on for Na Piarsaigh on Sunday evening, bringing great energy to the performance. Thomas Fitzgerald and team captain Leon Power got on the world of ball in the half forward line, with Tadhg Mullane proving a handful for our opposition at midfield. Gareth Airey would be introduced at the break to score a neat point, with Shane Downey getting himself into some excellent scoring positions but for post and the keepers hurley denying him on 2 occasions. A solid evening’s work for our lads, although sterner tests await. Team Conor Stack, Jason Ronan, Neil O’Gorman, Cathal Hassett, Brian Hartnett, Aidan Hennessy, Brian Buckley, Tadhg Mullane, Cian Brosnan, Leon Power, Gordon Leonard, Thomas Fitzgerald, Adam Hallihan, Colm Downey, Ben O’Regan. Subs: Shane Downey, Peter Hodnett, Gareth Airey, David Broderick, Tom Quinn.
Fixtures This Week:
Junior B City Championship v Ballybrown, Páirc Uí Dromgúil, Monday 19:00
Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final v Doon, Kilmallock, Wednesday 18:15
Senior Football Championship v Monaleen, St. Patrick’s, Thursday 19:00.
