Doon are Limerick Premier U21 hurling champions for the first time since 2005 after a thrilling win over Na Piarsaigh at the Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick posted a predictably straightforward victory in this Allianz Hurling League Division One quarter-final on Saturday evening.

The summer game always looks strange when the players’ breath is visible in small clouds at every facemask.

A crowd of 3,224 is not what you expect for a first-round Munster SHL fixture on a cold and, at times, wet evening in mid-December. Then again, this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill pre-season blowout.

Cork’s side for tonight’s Munster U21HC semi-final against Waterford in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm) will feature five players who have played in this year’s provincial senior championship while none of the Déise side saw action.

Limerick U21 manager Pat Donnelly was correct to say this performance won’t be sufficient to overcome Tipperary in the Munster semi-final on June 21.

Clare’s Jason McCarthy expects tonight’s Banner crowd “will be going mad” for the county’s U21 clash with All-Ireland champions Limerick in Cusack Park.

Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 3-15 Slaughtneil (Derry) 3-8: At half-time on Saturday afternoon, Shane O’Neill felt a familiar hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

UCD manager John Divilly said that his Kerry midfield pairing of Jack Barry and Barry O’Sullivan have all the attributes to develop into a superb midfielder partnership who could do a great job for the Kingdom.

A determined performance from Limerick saw them crowned All-Ireland U21 hurling champions for the second time in three years.

For the first time this summer, Limerick’s U21 hurlers were made to sweat.

With Kilkenny not exactly lighting up Cusack Park on Wednesday evening, it was left to Limerick to fire the first warning signal in the race for All-Ireland U21 glory.

Limerick fired an early warning shot that they are one of the leading contenders for All-Ireland U21 glory with this comprehensive 12-point Munster quarter-final dismissal of Tipperary.

Tipperary 1-21, Limerick 0-17: Of course it was unfair to expect Tipperary to click for a third consecutive game.

Monaghan are through to a first Ulster U21 FC final since 2007 after a comfortable semi-final win over Armagh in Newry last night.

St Kieran’s College (Kilkenny) 1-15 Ardscoil Rís (Limerick) 1-13: The terms of engagement may have been changed for this latest joust, but the students draped in black and white still prevailed.

Ardscoil Rís 2-11 St Francis Rochestown 1-7: Two goals in a four-minute spell midway through the second-half propelled Ardscoil Rís into the penultimate round of the Harty Cup.

Ardscoil Rís Limerick 4-11

Galway 1-14 Limerick 0-13: Galway boss Jeffrey Lynskey is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Kilkenny in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final on August 16.

Revenge could well be a dish best served cold to Cork’s minor hurlers by Leo O’Connor’s Limerick on July 1.

Harty Cup Quarter-Final

Ahane 0-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-10

Thurles CBS (Tipperary)3-12 Ardscoil Rís (Limerick)0-12

Donegal 2-12 Armagh 0-10

In 1976, Páirc Uí Chaoimh hosted its first Munster senior and minor hurling double-header.

Armagh 1-13 Cavan 0-6

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS from Kilkenny claimed their first Féile na nGael Division One title when they defeated Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh (3-7 to 0-4) at Pearse Stadium in Galway yesterday.