Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 1-22
Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford) 0-20
Jackie Cahill reports from Semple Stadium
LIMERICK AND MUNSTER champions Na Piarsaigh emerged after extra-time against Oulart-the-Ballagh in Thurles this evening to set up an All-Ireland senior club hurling final clash with Ruairí Óg Cushendall on St Patrick’s Day.
Na Piarsaigh made it through to their very first final – but not without a huge whiff of controversy in front of 2,566 spectators in chilly Thurles.
Oulart cried foul in first half stoppage time when David Breen’s controversial goal was allowed to stand.
Ronan Lynch appeared to foul the ball before delivering a long-range free that Breen pounced on before slotting home from inside the 20m line.
That score handed Na Piarsaigh a 1-8 to 0-9 half-time lead but Oulart recovered in the second half to somehow force extra-time.
Early in the second half, they trailed by five points and they needed four on the bounce – including a late Nicky Kirwan free – to ensure two extra ten-minute periods.
But Na Piarsaigh came on strong in extra-time to book their slot at GAA HQ on March 17.
Will O’Donoghue claimed the man of the match award but alongside him at midfield, Alan Dempsey was brilliant too as he slotted over four points from play.
Kirwan hit 0-10 for Oulart, including eight frees, but he failed to score in extra-time and the Wexford men will have to settle for that maiden Leinster success before Christmas, as Na Piarsaigh march on to possible Tommy Moore Cup glory.
Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: David Breen 1-2, Shane Dowling 0-5 (4f), Alan Dempsey & Kevin Downes 0-4 each, David Dempsey & Peter Casey 0-2 each, Ronan Lynch (f), William O’Donoghue & Adrian Breen 0-1 each.
Scorers for Oulart-the-Ballagh: Nicky Kirwan 0-10 (8f), Des Mythen 0-3, Eoin Moore 0-2 (1f), Conor O’Leary (f), Shaun Murphy, Garrett Sinnott, Tomas Storey & Billy Dunne (f) 0-1 each.
Na Piarsaigh
1. Padge Kennedy
2. Mike Casey
3. Kieran Breen
4. Kieran Kenneedy
5. Mike Foley
6. Ronan Lynch
7. Cathal King (captain)
8. Alan Dempsey
9. Will O’Donoghue
10. Shane Dowling
11. David Breen
12. Kevin Ryan
13. Kevin Downes
14. David Dempsey
15. Peter Casey
Sub:
24. Adrian Breen for Ryan (38)
Oulart-The-Ballagh
1. Conor O’Leary
4. Barry Kehoe (captain)
3. Keith Rossiter
20. Anthony Roche
7. Kevin Sheridan
6. Shaun Murphy
5. Eoin Moore
8. David Redmond
9. Michael Jacob
11. Tommy Storey
12. Des Mythen
19. Peter Murphy
13. Rory Jacob
10. Garrett Sinnott
15. Nicky Kirwan
Subs:
21. Tomás Dunne for P Murphy (42)
17. Kevin Nimmo for M Jacob (44)
30. Billy Dunne for Redmond (52)
26. Darren Stamp for T Dunne (58)
29. Stephen Doyle for Sinnott (70)
8. Redmond for Mythen (70)
23. Darren Nolan for Kirwan (72)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
