Limerick senior champions face glamour Munster club tie with Waterford’s Ballygunner:
By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport
NA PIARSAIGH’S quest for a fifth ever Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship title begins this Sunday afternoon when they welcome Waterford kingpins Ballygunner to the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Ballygunner ended Na Piarsaigh’s drive for five last year with a five-point victory at the same venue, before beating Clare’s Ballyea in the provincial decider.
The Waterford champions have already swept aside Cork champions Sarsfields on a 2-20 to 0-9 winning scoreline and will be full of confidence heading to the Ennis Road venue for the Munster semi-final. They are going for their third title on the bounce.
Na Piarsaigh come into the last four clash after winning their eighth ever Limerick championship a few weeks ago. Shane O’Neill’s men put in an excellent performance in seeing off Patrickswell and came away with a four-point win.
O’Neill would have been delighted with that performance in the county final and will be hoping for further improvement this afternoon.
Kevin Downes and Conor Boylan were star performances against Patrickswell and William O’Donoghue will be all the better for playing the full 60 minutes, and his All-Star award, in his first game since Limerick’s All-Ireland win over Kilkenny back in July.
Ballygunner have a host of Waterford stars in their lineup with the likes of Dessie Huthinson, Pauric Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald putting in excellent displays in their win over Sarsfields in the quarter-final.
Ballygunner are big favourites to win both the Munster and senior club All-Irelands but Na Piarsaigh know that they have the ability to cause problems against the Waterford club.
Na Piarsaigh’s performance in the county final should provide a springboard for success but they will need an even better showing against Ballygunner in the game that is live on TG4 at 4pm this afternoon.