Limerick SHC: Downes and Breen lead the way as Na Piarsaigh crush Ahane
Kevin Downes scored 0-8 for Na Piarsaigh, three coming from play, in an impressive Limerick SHC victory over Ahane. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Eight-time Champions Na Piarsaigh all-but confirmed their place in the knockout rounds of the Limerick SHC, when claiming a runaway 15-point victory over Ahane in Claughaun.
With the result, they move top of Group One, which contains the ‘top six’ in Limerick, a result that also means winless Patrickswell cannot reach the quarter-finals. It is the first season since 2014 that the 'Well fail to make the last six or better.
Na Piarsaigh flexed their prowess when introducing Mike Casey and fellow Limerick panellist Dylan Lynch, just when the east Limerick outfit were clawing back a lot of the nine-point interval gap.
A goal created by William O’Donoghue and finished by Adrian Breen killed off the contest after a spirited Ahane revival. Shane O’Neill’s men will now eye results over Kilmallock, next weekend, and Patrickswell in the final round to take the direct route to the semi-finals.
Backed by a strong opening half breeze, John Meskell’s charges failed to take advantage and didn’t raise a white flag until the fifteenth minute.
At this stage, Kevin Downes, Ronan Lynch and Tommy Grimes had all worked the scorekeeper and it was 0-6 to just Tom Morrissey’s point.
Indeed, the Limerick star accounted for all of his side's five first half points, with the gap 0-14 to 0-5 at the change of ends. Key to this was the long-range free taking of Ronan Lynch, but so too were nine Ahane wides.
Adrian Breen, who ended with 1-3, bagged a quick brace of points after 21 and 22 minutes as the Caherdavin side began to find space in attack.
However, when Dan Minihan pointed off the throw-in, the Castleconnell side smelled something. Morrissey soon added a point and despite a first for Keith Dempsey, 19-time winners Ahane had momentum. Morrissey from play was soon added to by a goal, as youngster John O’Connor finished after good work from Mark Donnellan and Gavin Rowsome.
Two more frees from Morrissey cut the gap to just three, 1-10 to 0-16, but this was as close as the sides would be.
A run of 2-8 to just 0-2 in the final quarter ensured a safe brace of points for the Limerick city side. Key here was the elusive Kevin Downes, that goal from Breen while sub Dylan Lynch accounted for 1-2, including a powerful stoppage time green flag.
Good work from Daithí Dempsey allowed him the space to power past Cathal Ryan who was unlucky not to save the effort.
Ahane can still make the knockout rounds, but will require victories over both Patrickswell and Doon to stand any chance.
K Downes 0-8 (5f); A Breen 1-3; R Lynch 0-5 (3f, 2 65); D Lynch 1-2; K Dempsey 0-3; T Grimes 0-2; M Foley 0-1; D Dempsey 0-1.
T Morrissey 0-11 (8f); J O’Connor 1-0; D Minihan 0-1, R Fox 0-1.
S Dowling; E McEvoy, V Harrington, J Boylan (C); M Foley, R Lynch, T Grimes; W O’Donoghue, J Finn; JJ Carey, W Henn, K Dempsey; K Downes, D Dempsey, A Breen.
M Casey for J Boylan (40); D Lynch for Henn (40); W Kearns for Finn (44).
C Ryan; A Rowsome; D Morrissey, E O’Leary; S O’Grady, C Barry, C Heffernan; C Ryan, D Minihan; R Fox, M Donnellan, J O’Connor, J Rennison, T Morrissey, G Rowsome.
C Bickford for O’Leary (inj – 18); W McCormack for Rennison (44).
M Sexton (Bruree).
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