Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 2-15
Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) 0-17
LIMERICK’S NA PIARSAIGH remain on course for a third Munster club SHC title in five years after today’s four-point semi final win over Tipperary’s Thurles Sarsfields.
Na Piarsaigh will now play Waterford’s Ballygunner in the final next Sunday as they bid to add to their Munster titles of 2011 and 2013.
Second-half goals from Limerick All-Ireland U21 winners Peter Casey and David Dempsey set the winners on their way.
Before the game there was a minutes silence for the memory of Thurles Sarsfields selector Jack Griffin, who died in a road accident just two weeks ago.
At half-time it was Thurles who were 0-12 to 0-9 ahead, after playing with the aid of a gentle breeze. The Tipp champions set the early pace and had six points from play in the opening 12 minutes to lead 0-6 to 0-3.
It was the 10th minute when Kevin Ryan had the first Na Piarsaigh score from play but points from Aidan McCormack (2), Pa Bourke (2), Stephen Cahill and Conor Lanigan had the Thurles side three points to the good.
McCormack had his third point of the day to move Thurles 0-8 to 0-5 clear on 17 minutes but with Peter Casey and Alan Dempsey scoring, Na Piarsaigh were now finding some form.
Two in a row from free-taker Pa Bourke maintained the Thurles advantage until back-to-back scores from Shane Dowling (free) and Dempsey again cut the lead to 0-10 to 0-9. But Thurles finished the stronger with John Maher and Lar Corbett points putting three between the sides at the interval.
Nine minutes into the second half came the first Na Piarsaigh goal when Peter Casey crashed high to the net for a 1-12 to 0-13 lead for the Limerick city side.
Pa Bourke and Billy McCarthy hit back but two Dowling frees kept Na Piarsaigh ahead. Seven minutes from time came the clinching second goal from David Dempsey. It was to be the final score of the semi final.
Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling 0-7 (7f), Peter Casey 1-1, David Dempsey 1-1, Alan Dempsey 0-2, Kevin Ryan 0-2, Kevin Downes 0-1, Cathal King 0-1.
Scorers for Thurles: Pa Bourke 0-8 (5f, 1 ‘65), Aidan McCormack 0-3, Stephen Cahill 0-2, Conor Lanigan 0-1, John Maher 0-1, Lar Corbett 0-1, Billy McCarthy 0-1.
Na Piarsaigh
1. Podge Kennedy
2. Mike Casey
3. Kieran Breen
4. Kieran Kennedy
5. Mike Foley
6. Ronan Lynch
7. Cathal King
8. Alan Dempsey
9. Will O’Donoghue
10. David Dempsey
11. Kevin Downes
12. Adrian Breen
13. Peter Casey
14. Shane Dowling
15. Kevin Ryan
Subs
20. Pat Gleeson for Mike Foley (52)
Thurles Sarsfields
1. Patrick McCormack
2. Michael Cahill
3. Stephen Maher
4. David Maher
5. David Kennedy
6. Padraic Maher
7. Ronan Maher
8. Stephen Cahill
9. Billy McCarthy
10. John Maher
11. Aidan McCormack
12. Pa Bourke
13. Conor Lanigan
14. Lar Corbett
15. Denis Maher
Subs
23. Stephen Lillis for David Kennedy (50)
17. Tommy Doyle for Denis Maher (55)
20 Richie Ruth for Lanigan (57)
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).
