Minor Hurling Championship FinalNa Piarsaigh 0-15Kilmallock 1-15Mick Neville Park was the venue for the 2026 Minor Hurling Final, our second appearance in 3 years having lost out to Monaleen in the 2024 decider, at the same venue. Kilmallock were our opponents on this occasion, having defeated us earlier in the group stage.We traded scores inside the opening minutes, both David O’Keeffe and Shane Waters registering points from play early on. Ronan Gleeson had to be replaced after just 8 minutes following a bad ankle injury. Ronan was ever-present in the team, playing a key role at full back during the opening rounds before switching to wing back for the semi-final and final. His injury would have been a significant loss to the team, but luckily, we had young Liam Sheahan, captain of our Féile-winning squad, ready to step in. Liam performed diligently in Ronan’s place.Kilmallock edged slightly ahead in the following minutes, Padraig Murnane and Alex Kearnes helping us to keep in touch, in addition to some placed balls from Shane Waters. Kilmallock struck for a goal with 3 to play in the opening half. A concession that we would struggle to recover from. We responded well, Shane Waters scoring an exceptional point from close to the sideline to cut the margin back to 4 points. Half-time score: Na Piarsaigh 0-08 Kilmallock 1-09Marcus Murphy was performing well at full back, along with Sean O’Brien and Ben Murray in either corner, while Bobby Collins’ puck-outs were on-point in the opening thirty. Ferdia Minihan and Danny Sheehan both held firm in the half back line for the hour. Conor Bermingham and Charlie Ryan both worked tirelessly in the full forward line throughout the hour while James McGann was tasked with the thankless man-marking job, performing his role well. Daniel O’Donovan had come into the starting team for the semi-final, giving an exemplary display at wing forward. He had a repeat of that performance in Wednesday’s final. We were slowly but surely making our way back onto the game. Shane kept the frees ticking before driving one over from play on 47 minutes to leave 1 point between the sides. It was around this time, however, that our discipline started to let us down, conceding a number of scorable frees to our opponents. Sean Connolly came off the bench to grab a neat point to keep us in the reckoning but we still looked to be chasing it. Kilmallock were a strong physical side, winning the majority of rucks and 50:50 balls. Their captain and full back Jackie Dwane gave a man of the match display, not giving an inch to our front line. It’s fair to say we’ll be hearing his name again. They grabbed the last score of the game with 65 minutes played to win it by 3. Credit to Shane Dowling and his management team of Richard O’Keeffe, Peter Casey, Evan Sweeney and James Ryan for the work they put into the group throughout the season. We don’t have a good record in minor finals sadly but in saying that, it hasn’t stunted our growth in the past. There’s a serious group of young hurlers in this squad with potential for bigger and better things. With the right direction and guidance, there should be nothing stopping them going to great heights with Na Piarsaigh.Team: Bobby Collins, Sean O'Brien, Marcus Murphy, Ben Murray, Ferdia Minihane, Danny Sheehan, Ronan Gleeson, David O'Keeffe(0-02), Padraig Murnane(0-01), Alex Kearns(0-03), Shane Waters(0-08, 5f), Dan O'Donovan, Charlie Ryan, Conor Bermingham, James McGannSubs used: Liam Sheahan, Sean Connolly(0-01), Ross O’Flanagan, George Stack.Subs not used: Finn Conlon, Aodh Keating, George Bourke, Cillian Chawke, Harry O’Sullivan, Cian Moore, Rian McHugh, Cian Moloney, Odhran Gilroy, Joe Kehoe, Eoin O’Sullivn, David Murphy, Ferdia O’Brien, Conor Kelly, Ed Hillary. Our Minor hurlers that were defeated by Kilmallock last Wednesday evening. U14 Hurling Championship Semi-FinalNa Piarsaigh 3-12Mungret 2-12Our U14 hurlers had a famous win on Saturday morning in the county semi-final against Mungret in Mick Neville Park. Our lads battled their way to 3-point win in what was an outstanding display. Huge credit to the player, their parents and of course the management team who have put in great work throughout the season to this point. We wish them all the players and management the very best in the county final. Fixture to be announced this week. Team: Conor Flanagan, Ronan Connolly, JJ Noone, Harry Cronin, Dylan Barry, Will O’Leary, Leon Hanney, Peter Bowen, David Robinson, Luke Hartnett, Evan Waters, Ruairí Sheehan, Luca Ryan, Senan Quinn, Jack Lynch.Sub: Fionn O’Brien, Tadhg Moore, Rory Horkan, Tom Noctor, Jack Ryan, Harry Shine, Joey Griffin, Sean Bermingham, Daniel O’Riordan, Cillian Ryan, Charlie Collins. Our U14 squad and management following their 3-point win over Mungret on Saturday morning. Senior Hurling Championship Round 4Na Piarsaigh 2-20Doon 2-20Kilmallock was the venue for our senior hurling clash with Doon on Thursday night last. Conditions were fairly miserable to say the least but that didn’t stop either team serving up an enthralling contest. We were coming in off the back of two wins in a row, while Doon had suffered two losses on the trot. Doon powered ahead in the opening minutes, leading 5 points to 3 before Peter Casey struck our first goal. Excellent work by Conor Boylan and JJ Carey allowed Peter the space to move in on goal, dummy his man to avoid the hook, and drill the ball to the net. Our lead wasn’t long lived before Doon bounced back with a Pat Ryan goal. Questions of whether he caught the ball 3 times in the lead up but goal stood and Doon regained the lead. They led the game from that point on, adding a goal with 5 remaining in the opening half. Shane Dowling was blown for juggling the ball. This was followed by a quick free from Dean Coleman, with the ball ending up in our empty net. William O’Donoghue and Conor Boylan grabbed two important scores before the break to ease our blushes but we still went in 8-points behind. Half-time score: Na Piarsaigh 1-07 Doon 2-12We started brightly in the second half, getting 5 unanswered points. Keith nailed 3 frees in addition to an Eoin Brosnan point along with Mike Casey getting up the field for his second of the game. His first coming in the opening half. Doon settled down, easing our onslaught but Keith and Ronan Lynch kept our scoreboard ticking from placed balls. We managed to bring the deficit back to 2-points following a Dylan Lynch score on 53 minutes but we struggled to reel Doon in any further. Pat Ryan looked to seal it for Doon with a point from play with 2 minutes of added time played, putting them 4 points ahead. We had less than 2 minutes remaining with a 4-point deficit. It wasn’t looking great. Save for a floated delivery from Emmet McEvoy into Kevion Downes’ chest. Downesy turned and flashed the ball over the bar to reduce the margin to 3. A more inexperienced player may have dipped the head for goal but Kevin knew the point was more valuable at this stage. Doon resumed play with a puck out and, once again, Emmet McEvoy gathered possession and delivered the all important ball into the full forward line. Won by William on the edge of the 14, he gave an overhead handpass to an unmarked Peter on the edge of the square, before Peter expertly “guided” the ball to the net.The Doon protests ensued, with claims of a potential thrown ball, among other things. Ball pucked out, game over. But the protests continued. While our performance was far from perfect, it was encouraging that the lads still found a way not to lose. Regardless, it’s likely we’ll face Doon again later in the championship and Thursday’s result will undoubtedly add a bit more spice to whatever's to come. A word on James Finn who had to sit-out Thursday’s game due to injury. We wish James a speedy recovery and look forward to having him back for the next round against Ballybrown in two weeks time. Team: Shane Dowling, Jerome Boylan, Vince Harrington, Emmet McEvoy, Ronan Lynch(0-03, 2f), Mike Casey(0-02), Mike Foley(0-01), Will O'Donoghue(0-01), JJ Carey, Keith Dempsey(0-08f), Peter Casey(2-01), Dáithí Dempsey, Eoin Brosnan(0-01), Dylan Lynch(0-01), Conor Boylan(0-01)Sub: Kevin Downes(0-01) Our senior squad that drew with Doon on Thursday evening. Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 4Na Piarsaigh 1-17Knockaderry 5-11Our intermediates suffered a third loss of their championship campaign following a 6-point defeat to Knockaderry in Croom on Saturday evening. In what was an enthralling opening half of hurling from our lads where we looked to own the ball for large portions, we still entered the break 6-points behind. Unfortunately for us, we had 15 wides in said half which tells you all you need to know. Knockaderry had 3 goal opportunities, and pounced on each one. Half-time score: Na Piarsaigh 0-07 Knockaderry 3-05The second half continued along similar lines to the first with Knockaderry registering their fourth goal on 35 minutes. We needed a few green flags of our own but they were difficult to come by. Mark Hogan managed to get our solitary 3-pointer with 10 to play, and we followed this with 3 more points on the trot, cutting the deficit to 3. Injuries to Sean Long and Adam Fitzsimons forced both off in the dying moments before Knockaderry grabbed their fifth goal and final score of the game.A word on our minors that lined out on Saturday evening following their loss in the county final the previous Wednesday. David O’Keeffe, Danny Sheehan and Alex Kearns all putting in commendable performances. We take on Mungret in our final game in two weeks time with the fixture yet to be confirmed. Saturday’s loss along with other results means we cannot qualify for the quarter final, nor can we be relegated.Team: Evan Condon, Padraic Heaney, Evan Gilvarry, Adam Fitzsimons, Danny Sheehan, Sean Long, Jack McCarthy, Wayne Kearns(0-02), David O'Keeffe(0-01), Paul McDonagh, Evan Sweeney, Kevin Daly, Marcus Hogan(0-01), Pa O'Neill, Mark Hogan(1-03).Subs: Alex Kearns(0-05, 3f), Mike Duggan, Christy O’Hagan, Harry McGann. Our intermediate squad prior to their clash with Knockaderry on Saturday Junior B Hurling Championship Round 4Na Piarsaigh 3-12Croagh Kilfinny 1-19Our Junior B’s suffered a 1-point loss in questionable circumstances to Croagh Kilfinny on Sunday afternoon in Clarina. The ref blew for full time with what looked to be a couple of minutes of normal time remaining. Fortunately, we can still qualify for the knockout stage should we win our final group game against Granagh Ballingarry in 2 weeks time. Junior C Hurling Championship Round 4Na Piarsaigh 0-13St. Kierans 3-15 Our Junior C’s gave a spirited display in our loss away to St. Kieran’s in Ardagh on Sunday evening. We had a lovely blend of youth and experience in the team. Our Féile coach Billy O’Keeffe put in a solid performance at full back along with Ferdia O’Brien and David Murphy both making their adult hurling debuts further out the field. Micheál Lynch and Finbar Ryan rolled back the years also, both featuring the second half. St. Kieran’s were well worth their win. It’s not often you come across a Junior C team with a gameplan, the West Limerick side spraying the ball around the park in the opening 20 minutes. Our fate is still in our hands and a win for Na Piarsaigh in our final group game against Patrickswell would put us through to the knockout stage. That game is due to be played in 2-weeks time. Congratulations are also in order for manager Tom Quinn and his partner Rosie, who welcomed their second child earlier this week, Oisín. Team: Podge Kennedy(0-01f), Cathal Hassett, Billy O’Keeffe, Colm Downey, David Murphy, Neil O’Gorman, Brian Buckley, John Leahy, Leon Power, Kevin Bolger, Brian O’Neill, John Reynolds(0-01), Justin Norden(0-04), Gordon Leonard(0-07), Ferdia O’Brien.Sub: Micheál Lynch and Finbar Ryan. Our junior C hurlers that played St. Kieran's on Sunday evening.
