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Welcome to Semple Stadium for this afternoon’s AIB Munster senior club hurling final.
As you can see, it’s a nice, sunny day in Thurles, but cold, with a breeze blowing towards the Town End of the venue.
Here’s the Ballygunner team and subs that will attempt to win the club’s first Munster title since 2001. Philip Mahony, the Waterford defender, is a big loss as he is ruled out through suspension.
And here’s the Na Piarsaigh team aiming for a third Munster crown in five years.
We’ve picked out six players to watch ahead of this afternoon’s tie. You can read all about them here.
Late blow for Na Piarsaigh as Kevin Downes is ruled out through injury. Pat Gleeson will take his place on the team.
A couple of early wides for Ballygunner but we still await the opening score.
6 min: Alan Dempsey opens the scoring for Na Piarsaigh.
7 min: Brian O’Sullivan’s free for Ballygunner levels the game at 0-1 apiece.
8 min: Na Piarsaigh 0-2 Ballygunner 0-1
Kevin Ryan brilliantly controls and points for Na Piarsaigh
11 min: Na Piarsaigh 0-2 Ballygunner 0-2
Pointed free for Brian O’Sullivan, his second
12 min: Na Piarsaigh 0-2 Ballygunner 0-3
Goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe points a long-range free for Ballygunner
14 min: Na Piarsaigh 0-2 Ballygunner 0-4
Brian O’Sullivan registers his third pointed free for Ballygunner.
15 min: Na Piarsaigh 0-2 Ballygunner 0-5
Stephen Power rescues what was looking like a lost cause before shooting a point for Ballygunner.
19 min: Na Piarsaigh 0- Ballygunner 0-5
Ronan Lynch slots over a free for Na Piarsaigh.
GOAL for Na Piarsaigh!
20 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-3 Ballygunner 0-5
Mike Foley’s crossfield ball causes havoc in the Ballygunner rearguard and David Dempsey sweeps the ball home. Hesitation in the Ballygunner full-back line punished.
22 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-3 Ballygunner 0-6
Level again as JJ Hutchinson points for Ballygunner just seconds after coming on to replace Peter Hogan.
27 min: Na Piarsaigh 0-7 Ballygunner 1-3
Shane Dowling with an excellent score from play for Na Piarsaigh.
GOAL for Ballygunner!
28 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-4 Ballygunner 1-6
Ballygunner appeared to have butchered a goal chance but as Na Piarsaigh struggle to clear their lines, Tim O’Sullivan pounces for a Ballygunner goal.
30+2 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-4 Ballygunner 1-7
Brian O’Sullivan’s 4th point is a 65 for Ballygunner.
Half-time: Ballygunner 1-7 Na Piarsaigh 1-4
Second half underway.
31 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-5 Ballygunner 1-7
Shane Dowling’s free cuts the deficit.
Pretty disappointing attendance of 2320 has been revealed.
33 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-6 Ballygunner 1-7
All-Ireland U21 winner Peter Casey reduces the deficit to a single point.
35 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-7 Ballygunner 1-7
Will O’Donoghue’s point levels the game, Na Piarsaigh in the ascendancy.
37 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-8 Ballygunner 1-7
Mike Foley hands Na Piarsaigh the lead with a monster point from distance.
40 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-9 Ballygunner 1-7
Shane Dowling’s point extends Na Piarsaigh’s lead.
41 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-9 Ballygunner 1-8
Brian O’Sullivan’s free steadies Ballygunner after Na Piarsaigh hit five in a row after half-time.
43 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-11 Ballygunner 1-8
Na Piarsaigh back in control with points from Shane Dowling (free) and David Dempsey.
44 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-12 Ballygunner 1-8
David Breen, on as sub, does brilliantly to force a turnover. Shane Dowling feeds Kevin Ryan for a Na Piarsaigh point.
47 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-13 Ballygunner 1-8
Peter Casey’s second point is an excellent one from play.
50 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-13 Ballygunner 1-9
Brian O’Sullivan with a 65 for Ballygunner, who trail by four.
51 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-13 Ballygunner 1-10
Shane O’Sullivan hauls Ballygunner right back into contention with a fine point from play.
52 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-14 Ballygunner 1-10
David Dempsey points to push the Na Piarsaigh lead back out to four.
53 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-15 Ballygunner 1-10
Alan Dempsey makes it a five-point game, Na Piarsaigh looking good.
GOAL for Ballygunner!
56 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-15 Ballygunner 2-10
It’s not over yet as Brian O’Sullivan finds the net for Ballygunner, touching home Conor Power’s shot.
58 min: Na Piarsaigh 1-17 Ballygunner 2-10
Inspirational Ronan Lynch point for Na Piarsaigh and Peter Casey adds another to push them five clear.
GOAL for Na Piarsaigh!
60 min: Na Piarsaigh 2-18 Ballygunner 2-10
And that’s that as Shane Dowling hammers home a brilliant Na Piarsaigh goal. The Limerick champions on course for a third Munster crown in five seasons.
60+1 min: Na Piarsaigh 2-18 Ballygunner 2-11
Stephen Power with a consolation Ballygunner point, a free.
Full time – AIB Munster senior club hurling final: Na Piarsaigh 2-18 Ballygunner 2-11
That’s it from Thurles, Na Piarsaigh make it three Munster crowns in five years, as Ballygunner fall short in their quest for a first title since 2001.
Thanks for reading.
