Na Piarsaigh make another Limerick hurling final with injury-time winner
Will Henn's injury-time point for Na Piarsaigh was the difference when they faced Kilmallock in the Limerick SHC semi-final. Pic: INPHO/Ken Sutton
Will Henn’s stoppage-time point was enough to send three-in-a-row chasing Na Piarsaigh to a 12th Limerick SHC final in just 16 seasons.
A goal in the 49th-minute goal from man-of-the-match Ronan Lynch was the turning point. Kilmallock appeared firmly in the driving seat prior to this.
That score cut the gap from five points to two and seemed to seep the energy from the 'Balbec' while giving the Caherdavin men the extra shot needed in the closing stages.
Defeat represents a fifth semi-final defeat for Kilmallock in seven seasons. This was certainly one of those that got away. Conor Staunton and Conor Hanley Clarke each had chances in stoppage time to tie this clash up, but the champions held firm to set up a mouthwatering tie with Doon.
Peter Queally’s Kilmallock were ferocious in their approach, willing to put in the graft need to halt any sign of fluidity from Na Piarsaigh. By the quarter hour it was 0-5 to 0-3 with Robbie Hanley, Michael Houlihan and Pierce Connery all on target.
Hanley Clarke, match winner last weekend, was also on target after being included from the start. Na Piarsaigh looked short of ideas without the injured David Dempsey but JJ Carey provided some inspiration with a remarkable effort from the sideline.
Hanley Clarke nailed two frees to make it 0-11 to 0-7 at half-time, with Barry Hennessey’s fine save denying Conor Boylan from the only real goal opening of the half.
There was real belief in Kilmallock when they hit a run of scores to move 0-15 to 0-10 clear. The impressive running of Robbie Hanley and Graeme Mulcahy caused the light blues problems.
However, seemingly running out of ideas, Lynch sent a mishit shot goalbound and it trickled into the corner. Out of catches, out of road, it was a speculative effort that appeared to deceive 'Balbec' skipper Barry Hennessy.
Na Piarsaigh's Mike Foley and Henn then landed their first points of the contest to level the game for the first time after 52 minutes.
They went ahead when Wayne Kearns stepped up to send over a point from a testing angle. Conor Hanley Clarke had more to say in this contest, which was very well attended in Rathkeale. The talented forward landed another brace of frees.
Lynch continued his fine run in front of the posts with a close-range free and then a 65. The ever-elusive Oisin O’Reilly tied the game for the fourth time in just nine minutes but there was one more score.
Henn was accurate and the late free from Hanley Clarke, from near 75 metres, tailed off wide. Na Piarsaigh held on but will know they have plenty to improve on ahead of that clash with Doon, to whom they lost to by a point in the group phase.
R Lynch 1-9 (0-6 frees, 0-2 ’65); JJ Carey and W Henn (0-2 each); A Breen, M Foley, W Kearns 0-1 each.
Conor Hanley Clarke 0-9 (0-7 free); R Hanley, P Connery, O O’Reilly (0-2 each); M Houlihan, P O’Loughlin (free), S O’Brien (0-1 each).
S Dowling; E McEvoy, M Casey, V Harrington; M Foley, W O’Donoghue, J Boylan; R Lynch, T Grimes; JJ Carey, W Henn, C Boylan; K Dempsey, K Downes, D Lynch.
A Breen for Dempsey (half-time); W Kearns for D Lynch (39); S Long for Grimes (56); J Fitzgerald for Carey (58).
B Hennessey (C); L English, D Joy, A Costello; R Hanley, K O’Donnell, P O’Loughlin; M Houlihan, C Hanley Clarke; P Connery G Mulcahy, O O’Reilly; G O’Mahony, S O’Brien, P O’Reilly.
C Staunton for O’Mahony (47); R Egan for Connery (56).
K Guina (Feohanagh).
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