Patrickswell and Kimallock to meet in the Limerick SHC Decider after thrilling semi-final encounters

THE sides will meet in the Senior Hurling Championship Final on October 24^th.

Kilmallock and Patrickswell will contest the 2021 Bons Secours Limerick Senior Hurling Championship Final after overcoming their respective semi-finals in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Kilmallock overcame Doon while Patrickswell beat Na Piarsiagh 3-21 to 1-22.

In the games early throw in, both Kilmallock and Doon started with ferocious intensity that had it 0-3 apiece inside four minutes.

Kilmallock were two ahead after the first quarter and five points either side of the waterbreak pushed them 0-11 to 0-6 clear.

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A brilliant Josh Ryan effort reduced the margin to three but as many on the bounce from the Balbec saw them take a deserved 0-16 to 0-10 lead into the half.

The second half was only a minute old when Kevin O’Donnell buried the first goal of the game.

Five minutes later and Kilmallock had their second with Micheal Houlihan firing a penalty past Eoghan McNamara to give them a twelve point lead.

Three goals then followed in the space of three minutes as Doon responded firstly through Patrick Cummins. Oisin O’Reilly replied for the Balbec but Josh Ryan was on hand for Doon’s second.

Richie English’ score had it back to a six point game approaching the final quarter.

But with time running out, O’Reilly put the game beyond the East side as his second goal pulled them nine clear with three to play.

In the end the margin was ten as Kilmallock reached a first final in four years.

In the 4pm clash, Patrickswell started the better and got an early tonic when Kevin O’Brien goaled after some brilliant build up work from Aaron Gillane.

The ‘Well could have been out of sight but wayward shooting kept the Caherfdavin side in it. A Patrick Kirby goal did extend Patrickswell’s lead to eight as they dominated the first quarter.

David Dempsey found the perfect retort for the champions as his goal pulled Na Piarsaigh into the contest.

But the ‘Well’s reply was impressive and three on the bounce helped them maintain a five point margin into the half.

Na Piarsaigh started the second half brightly with a brace of points but an excellent catch from Cian Lynch set Kevin O’Brien free on goal and while his effort was saved, his brother Tom was on hand to tap in the rebound.

That pushed the Well back into the ascendancy and by the final waterbreak, there was six between the sides.

A William O’Donoghue brace had it back to four but the ‘Well replied with two of their own.

Brian Murray was needed to stop a driving Kevin Downes effort with time running out and from here the Well used all their experience to see out the game and book a place in the final for the second time in three years.

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