Piarsaigh young guns come of age

A BITTERLY cold afternoon in Semple Stadium yesterday, biting wind and heavy showers; a disappointing afternoon also for the players and supporters of gallant Crusheen.

And yet it was a game to stir the blood and warm the heart of even the most cynical as Na Piarsaigh continue their Cinderella season — adding a first Munster Club SHC title to the ground-breaking Limerick crown won just a few weeks ago.

In front of another disappointing attendance (2,486, down 500 from last week), from the opening minutes it was obvious this was going to be a very different contest to the sporting but almost bloodless affair that was the drawn match. As was the case on Sunday last, both sets of players were totally committed, individually and as a group gave it everything with neither time nor space easily found.