JJ Carey, Na Piarsaigh, and Richie English and Darragh O'Donovan, Doon, in Limerick SHC action. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Limerick SHC Final
Doon 0-16 Na Piarsaigh 2-9
By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds
Adam English pointed the way as Doon collected their maiden Limerick Senior hurling crown, in a most tense hour of hurling on Shannonside.
In their fifth final, the east Limerick outfit collected the Daly Cup for the first time, after denying Na Piarsaigh a three-in-a-row. Eleven points from English was enough to see them come from six points down to claim the honours.
Having lost out to the Caherdavin outfit in their two most recent final appearances, this was the type of performance that was needed for Derek McGrath’s men. The former Waterford manager surely now a legend in Doon and their neighbouring village, Oola.
The early exchanges were hampered by the miserable October drizzle, with inaccurate passing, shooting and dropped balls all over the place. Conor Boylan opened the scoring, before Adam English got a settling score for his side.
The next two scores would also go to English, who has been unplayable at times during this seasons championship. But the champions showed their class to surge ahead around the quarter-hour mark.The two goals arrived through some magic from David Dempsey. The forward, who was listed as a sub having missed the semi-final through injury, replaced his younger brother in the side before throw-in.
He collected a long delivery 20 meters from goal, and attracting three Doon men, he slipped Adrian Breen through with a handpass and he finished with typical class to put Na Piarsaigh.
The East side had only recovered from that heartbreak when they were hit with another body blow within 75 seconds. This time Conor Boylan worked with Dempsey in the corner, and seemingly out of road the forward buried from the tightest of angles to put his side two goals up.
Shane O’Neill’s men would convert a free, from Ronan Lynch but there was no other score in the final 13 minutes of action for the city side. Instead, Doon, through Adam English (65) and Darragh Stapleton cut the gap.
English also scored two more frees and a trademark jink got him another from play to close the half. Trailing by just a point, the Doon faithful roared their side off as they headed for the dressing rooms.
Played before 7,612 at the Gaelic Grounds, Na Piarsaigh had Shane Dowling on the frees during the second half, with Ronan Lynch struggling in the worsening conditions. Dowling and Mike Foley traded points with Gareth Thomas and English, but the men in red powered into the lead during a productive six minutes at the three quarter-mark.
Another two frees from the rising star English as well a fine effort from captain Darragh O’Donovan propelled Doon into the lead.
Barry Murphy, Pat Ryan and English pushed the gap to three before Peter Casey got a much needed score for the 2016 All-Ireland Champions. Casey returned after six months out injured, for his first appearance, as a second half substitute.
Then, once Ronan and Dylan Lynch levelled it, English landed a pressure free with two minutes remaining.
An 11th English point and an 11th wide for the eight time champions in the dying stages proved the difference.
Meanwhile the Premier Intermediate hurling final, Newcastle West defeated Garryspillane to return to the top grade after over 30-years in the lower grades.
Scorers for Doon: Adam English 0-11 (6fs, 1 65), Darragh Stapleton 0-1, G Thomas 0-1, Darragh O’Donovan 0-1, Barry Murphy 0-1, Pat Ryan 0-1.
Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: Adrian Breen 1-0, David Dempsey 1-0, S Dowling 0-2 (2fs), Ronan Lynch 0-2 (2fs), Conor Boylan 0-1, JJ Carey 0-1, Mike Foley 0-1, Peter Casey 0-1, Dylan Lynch 0-1.
Doon: Tomas Lynch; Eoin Fitzgibbon, Tommy Hayes, Cian O'Donovan; Chris Thomas, Barry Murphy, Richie English, Jack Ryan; Darragh O'Donovan (Captain), Adam English; Pat Ryan, Gareth Thomas, Eddie Stokes; Kevin Maher, Darragh Stapleton.
Subs: Cormac Ryan for G Thomas (37); Mikey O’Brien for Stapleton (51); Patrick Cummins for C O’Donovan (59).
Na Piarsaigh: Shane Dowling; Vince Harrington, Mike Casey (Captain), Emmett McEvoy; Mike Foley, William O'Donoghue, Jerome Boylan; Ronan Lynch, Tommy Grimes; Kevin Downes, Will Henn, Conor Boylan; JJ Carey, David Dempsey, Adrian Breen.
Subs: Peter Casey for Henn (43); Dylan Lynch for Breen (51); Keith Dempsey for Downes (60).
Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).
