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The Na Piarsaigh team celebrate. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
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5 Talking Points as Na Piarsaigh become Munster senior hurling champions

The Limerick side won the county’s seventh provincial title in this grade yesterday.

1. Na Piarsaigh hit full speed at the right time

Captain James O’Brien expressed his view last week that Na Piarsaigh’s form this year had not hit the heights they demanded.

They had engineered a route out of tight places in the Limerick final against Adare by two points and in Munster clashes against Loughmore-Castleiney (by three) and Passage (by two). Yet the team was frustrated at their inability to tap into their best form.

Yesterday they did just that and in some style too. They set the tone with Kevin Downes first minute goal, rounded it off with David Sheppard’s and in between dominated Sixmilebridge to win with 18 points to spare.

It was the second ever biggest winning margin in a Munster senior club hurling final – only eclipsed by Blackrock’s 8-12 to 3-8 win over Mount Sion back in 1975. Na Piarsaigh hit full speed at the right time.

2. Jaded Sixmilebridge have no answer

John O’Meara watched on from the sideline and Niall Gilligan watched on from the pitch as Sixmilebridge slumped to a heavy defeat yesterday. Trying to explain an 18-point loss is never easy.

Yet both manager and player pointed afterwards to the frenzied schedule that saw them play their seventh game in eight weeks as a potential reason for their demise.

Yesterday looked a bridge too far for the Clare club. The buzz and energy that had characterised their three previous wins in November was a glaring absentee on this occasion.

Shane Golden was the only one of their attackers to score from play. Their tally of 0-8 paled in comparison to their 2013 scoring record where they have averaged just under two goals per game and hit an average of 13 points. Ultimately their talented young team looked tired, suffering from their recent demands.

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Kieran Breen of Na Piarsaigh clears the danger at the end of the game
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

3. Clean sheets prove key statistic

We spoke here on Friday about how a clean sheet could be significant in Ennis. Thus it transpired. Sixmilebridge had kept three clean sheets in their four previous games before yesterday and only shipped one goal, Midleton’s Conor Lehane striking home last Sunday.

Yesterday it went pear-shaped for them at the back as they leaked four goals, a stark statistic considering they had conceded seven goals in their previous seven championship ties in 2013.

The timing of the strikes by Kevin Downes, straight after the throw-in, and Kevin Ryan, straight after half-time, hammered Sixmilebridge. There was an element of fortune to the goals by Ryan and substitute David Sheppard but the damage was done.

And at the other end Na Piarsaigh shut up shop to record their first clean sheet this year in Munster. They had seen five green flags raised against them in their previous two games but yesterday an outstanding defence never looked like being prised apart. Cathal King, Kieran and David Breen, and Michael Casey were all in brilliant form.

4. Na Piarsaigh establish their credentials

Na Piarsaigh’s run to glory in 2011 featured a one-sided final win in Limerick against Ahane, an opportunistic win against Ballygunner before a replay win over fellow provincial novices Crusheen in the Munster final.

David Breen pointed out that there were accusations they had been fortunate two years ago. They can hardly be accused of that on this occasion. The 2013 Limerick title was achieved after hard-fought wins over heavyweights Kilmallock and Adare. Then clipping the wings of the Tipperary, Waterford and Clare representatives increased the value of their Munster title.

Na Piarsaigh have now become the third two-time Munster champions from Limerick after Patrickswell (1988 and 1990) and Kilmallock (1992 and 1994). Their credentials have been firmly established.

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Shane Dowling and Cathal King of Na Piarsaigh celebrate after the final whistle
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

5. Now Na Piarsaigh think of the national stage

The chat on the Cusack Park pitch yesterday after James O’Brien had lifted the cup didn’t take long to move from the game just finished to the game that was ahead of them.

Portumna over the last decade have become the national club hurling benchmark. They now obstruct Na Piarsaigh’s path to St Patrick’s Day. Na Piarsaigh’s ambitions are clear yet they will need to hit the heights they failed to do against Loughgiel in February 2012. Trying to keep their post-Christmas form at pre-Christmas levels is another challenge.

It’s the seventh time that a Limerick club have set sail into the All-Ireland senior hurling series. No side has managed to go all the way on St Patrick’s Day. Ballybrown (1990), Patrickswell (1991) and Kilmallock (1993) all suffered final disappointment. Can Na Piarsaigh end that record?

Na Piarsaigh boss Sean Stack: ‘My heart goes out to the ‘Bridge’

Beating Tipp, Waterford and Clare champs makes Munster title one to savour

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