SENIOR HURLERS

Our senior hurlers made a welcome return to action on Sunday morning when the travelled to Kilmallock to take on the locals.
The team was unrecognisable in comparison to our last outing but nevertheless the team on show fought admirably and got some great scores.
A superb block down by Evan O Brien on the kilmallock netminder led to our first goal scored by David Sheppard but it wasnt long before Kilmallock replied with a goal of their own.
Points from Peter Casey who took up the free taking mantle in the absence of Shane Dowling and did a fine job.
Adrian Breen, Gordon Brown and David Sheppard pushed us in to a 1-11 to 1-4 at the break.
Immediately on the resumption Kilmallock had their second goal and brought the deficit back to the minimum.
We responded well and had our second goal from David Sheppard following some great work from senior debutant Kevin Daly.
A third goal from Peter Casey sealed the deal on what was a very good performance.
We had good performances by Mike Andrews, Kevin Daly, Gordon Brown, Evan O Brien, Peter Casey and David Sheppard.
Final Score: Na Piarsaigh 3-23 Kilmallock 2-14
Team: Evan Condon, Brian Shannon, Kieran Kennedy, Mike Foley, Mike Andrews, CathalKing, Mark Buckley, Kieran Daly(0-2), Gordon Brown(0-3), Adrian Breen(0-1), Peter Casey(1-13, 06f), Kevin Daly(0-1), Evan O Brien,
David Sheppard(2-3), Dean McLoughlin

JUNIOR HURLERS

Our junior hurlers had a good win over Patrickswell in the City Junior Hurling Championship.
We led 2-09 to 0-8 at the break playing some good hurling.
The Well fought back in a tight second half and we ran out 4 point winners 4-16 to 4-12

Our junior B hurlers were also in action last week.
They fell short against a strong Ballybrown 15 on a final scoreline of 3-11 to 0-13


MINOR HURLERS

The MInor hurlers had a good victory in the Minor Hurling Championship when they travelled across town to face Mungret St Pauls.
Leading by 7 points to 3 at the break we powered on in the second half and got some excellent scores.
We ran out comfortable winners 1-17 to 0-5.
Well done lads keep it going.

UNDER 12 HURLERS

In terms of overall team performance this was one of our best matchesto date. Yes, we have won by wider margins in the past.
Yes we have won by bigger scores. But , given the conditions the match was played
in and the way the whole team pulled together this was very satisfying
indeed for the coaches.
Every single player on the team fought for each other and supported each other with great heart and
determination. Given the constant rain and drizzle on the night both
teams were to be commended for serving up a match full of skill and
passion.
We opened very brightly and had ourselves 2 goals up within a few
minutes. Vince Harrington collected a ball about 35 yards out on the
left, accelerating away from his marker, before cutting inside and
firing an unstoppable shot to the back of the net off his right.
Jim Beary, who was excellent throughout the entire match, quickly followed
suit when he danced his way through the Newcastlewest defence and
finished well giving the keeper no hope.
We were driving forward now at every opportunity. Harry Long and Wayne Kearns seemed to be
everywhere in the midfield area and had us well on top.
In defence Conor Hartney, who was hurling brilliantly in the opening period,
plucked 3  balls from the air to give great relieving clearances.
Ben Sheehan too, in the full back line was holding all at bay and also
cleared some great ball during this time.
Outside them Andrew Stack was hurling excellently, and having returned from a warm weather
training camp in France the evening before, looked refreshed and was
picking up great ball in the half back line.
As stated, the conditions were poor and this was to blame for NCW's
opening score when, following a long range shot, a wet ball was
deflected to the net.
Still, we were comfortable though and again,Vince Harrington picked up another ball at centre forward and,
bursting through, fired over a great point, this time off his left.
For the remaining 10 minutes of this half though we now sat back a
little. Were it not for some great defensive work by Sam Jordan (
again having another excellent game for the U12's) and James Finn , at
centre back, we could have let the home team back in front at this
point.
James, another of our younger contingent hurled very well all
night and  Wayne Kearns was putting in trojan work at midfield and was
proving a great link between the defence and attack.
Wayne puts a lot of work in outside of training and this is showing very much so in all
his recent performances.
NCW, though, finished the half with a well taken point to leave it standing, at the break,
Na Piarsaigh 2-2 NCW 1-1
The rain still came down for the second half and NCW came out determined.
Sam Jordan produced an excellent hook on the right hand touchline and Ben Sheehan came thundering in to complete the clearance.
Harry Long was giving great support to his half back line and giving some great relieving ball to the forwards where Adam Jordan was causing all sorts of trouble for his marker.
On another night Adam could have ended up with a hatful of goals but the home keeper was
having a stormer.
Vince Harrington , who was carrying an injury was given a break at full forward and Josh Sheehan was brought out to the half forward line in a straight swap.
Josh, who had been quiet up to now, burst into life and showed some lovely touches and great skill for the remainder of the match, all the small sided games with Brendan paying dividends now.
A very pleasing aspect was the amount of ball we caught cleanly from the air on the night.
This is something been actively worked on by the team and is starting to show dividends at last.
Likewise Jim Beary was showing some wonderful touches and not once,but twice, "a la TJ Reid", tapped the ball directly from the ground straight into his hand. Ah, there are things you can't teach.
After a couple of attempts from mazy runs into the oppositions square, where he was thwarted, it finally paid off for Jim when he finished a great ball to the net after coming in from the right.
We were now flying again, but it was tough, a battle. NCW kept themselves in the game with 3 well taken points.
We conceded another rather fortuous goal with about 5 minutes remaining we were only 2 points in front.
All over the field we were battling though. Conor Hourigan and James Naughton were giving it everything
and worked very hard for the cause.
Ben Sheehan and Conor Hartney were holding tough in defence and giving us great confidence. There was no
panic and Ben taking no prisoners gave the forwards great confidence.
Josh Sheehan lept and caught a great clearance in the middle of the field and following a great jink that left the NCW defender on the ground sent a great cross field ball for Vince Harrington to run on to.
Despite being in obvious discomfort, Vince showed massive heart and summoned one last searing run to fire in a rocket towards goal.
The keeper pulled off a  great save but Adam Jordan, deservedly, finished the rebound well. Shortly after, Jim Beary fired over a great point from a tight angle to bring his tally to 2-1 for the evening.
Vince followed up with another point from a free  to close out the game and we had a deserved victory secured.
As mentioned at the outset this was an excellent team performance and one that every player can be proud of.
The skill and character of the team improves week in week out and also there is a toughness which is great to see.
It was a great credit to both teams to serve up a cracker in atrocious conditions.
Final Score: Na Piarsaigh 4-4 NCW 2-4

LOTTO

The jackpot remains at €20,000 following Mondays draw.
The numbers drawn were 10, 13, 20, 21.
The lucky dip winners were Aine Lynch, Bill Slattery, Jer O Donnell and Mary Casey.
Sellers prize went to Paul Condon and the house draw went to Joe Heaney.

CAMOGIE

No luck on the camogie front from our players representing Limerick.
Sinead MacNamara on the losing Limerick Senior camogie team defeated by Cork.
Laura O Neill's Limerick Junior team beaten by Armagh and also Rachel Murray who was part of the Limerick Under 16 team beaten by Kilkenny.
 

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