Skipper O’Brien hails Na Piarsaigh for digging out result

The performance left a lot to be desired but a win is a win is a win, says Na Piarsaigh captain James O’Brien following Sunday’s close shave against battling 13-man Loughmore-Castleiney in the first round of the Munster SHC at Semple Stadium.

“The important thing was getting over the line which we did, and that leaves us with a semi-final to look forward to — that was the main thing.

“Obviously Loughmore-Castleiney are on a serious roll, Tipperary county senior hurling champions and also in the senior football final [against Aherlow Gaels this Sunday]. This was one we had to grind out again.”

Oddly enough, while the extra two players was certainly an advantage, it also caused them problems, a major lack of patience and composure that was a mark of their winning campaign in Limerick increasingly evident as the game wore on.

Indeed, it could be argued Na Piarsaigh played their best hurling in the opening 20 minutes when into the gale, when the game still had some semblance of shape.

O’Brien agreed: “Yes, any time the opposition loses a player you’re thinking it’s going to open up space, but often it works out the opposite way, it’s the team down a man that wins. Against 13 players it was just messy, there was no shape, no structure to the game. It wasn’t a free-flowing game at all, it was just mental to be honest.”

In the final minutes, with Na Piarsaigh full-back Kieran Breen also suffering a moment of red-mist syndrome, it was back to a one-man advantage and it was only in those final minutes that O’Brien’s team finally got their noses in front.

The outstanding Noel McGrath, however, did have one final say, almost squeezing out a draw for the doughty Tipp men.

“Three players sent off, fellas very hyped up for a big game, wanted to get to the semi-final, and they did something silly,” said O’Brien.

“It was an epic display by Noel, an unbelievable display.”