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Na Piarsaigh claimed back-to-back Limerick SHC titles for the first time in their history as goals from Adrian Breen and David Dempsey steered them past a brave Doon outfit.
Doon were chasing their first county title and only a couple of points separated the sides with ten minutes to go, but Breen’s strike and the free-taking of Shane Dowling saw last year’s All-Ireland finalists to their fifth club championship.
In the end it was the experience of Na Piarsaigh that told as Dowling added four frees in the closing stages to close out victory after Breen’s sweet goal from a tight angle.
There was moments to give Doon hope throughout this game, but when they let the reigning Munster champions back into this game after early goals in both halves, Na Piarsaigh were never going to surrender their crown.
Paul Beary’s side had won four county titles since 2011 and they held a 0-11 to 1-5 lead at half-time, despite Pat Ryan’s second-minute goal.
In the first ever Limerick senior hurling final under lights at the perishingly cold Gaelic Grounds, it was only a third appearance in the decider for Doon, and that lack of experience was always going to work against them in front of 7,526.
But Doon caught their opponents at the start of either half, with Dean Coleman on target for their second goal, which gave them hope of a historic victory.
Still Na Piarsaigh weren’t caught and Dowling scored a sweet dozen points, while Dempsey and Breen scored the crucial goals.
Barry Murphy added the late consolation for Doon.
Ryan found the net in the second minute but Na Piarsaigh held their composure and Breen drew the sides level, 0-3 to 1-0, in the tenth minute.
Doon were far too reliant on their full-forward line of Coleman, Ryan and Murphy, but the trio kept them in the game until the third quarter.
It was neck and neck throughout the first half, and Alan Dempsey put Na Piarsaigh ahead by two points for the first time with one minute of normal time remaining in the half.
Then the dead-eyed Dowling landed his fourth free and the reigning champions were 0-11 to 1-5 ahead at half-time.
When Coleman fired home a second Doon goal, after a brilliant run from Ryan, on the resumption Doon should have pushed on.
But instead Na Piarsaigh wore them down. Dowling kept putting frees over the bar, and they were firmly in command when Peter Casey provided the pbad for Dempsey’s goal in the 38th minute.
The second goal came courtesy of Breen’s bursting run and finish and there was no way back for Doon. Murphy scored a late consolation but Dowling rounded off the scoring.
Scorers – Na Piarsaigh: S Dowling 0-12 (8f, 1 ’65’), A Breen 1-2, D Dempsey 1-0, G Brown, P Casey 0-3 each, A Dempsey 0-2. Doon: B Murphy 1-7 (0-7f), D Coleman 1-2, P Ryan 1-1.
Na Piarsaigh: P Kennedy; J Boylan, M Casey, K Kennedy; R Lynch, W O’Donoghue, C King; A Dempsey, G Brown; D Dempsey, S Dowling, C Boylan; A Breen, K Downes, P Casey. Subs: Conor Houlihan for A Dempsey (52), Michael Foley for King (61), Kevin Ryan for C Boylan (62).
Doon: C McNamara; B McPartland, R English, S Ryan; D Moloney, M O’Brien, E Kiely; J Ryan, J Hayes; P Cummins, D O’Donovan, D Stapleton; D Coleman, P Ryan, B Murphy.
Subs: M Ryan for Hayes (30), Jack Cummins for P Cummins (45), Jack Ryan for Stapleton (57).
Referee: J O’Mahony (Limerick).
Sunday Indo Sport
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