IT WAS a weekend to remember for Na Piarsaigh as the city flagbearers won both the Limerick Senior Hurling and Premier Intermediate Football Championships.
As a result, the club will join Adare and Monaleen as dual senior clubs in 2023.
First into the winners’ enclosure, at Askeaton’s Pairc naGael, were the footballers who toppled Dromcollogher/Broadford (2-8 to 2-6). Team captain Dylan Cronin excelled with 1-5.
24 hours later and Na Piarsaigh emerged clear-cut winners, 3-23 to 2-15, over holders Kilmallock in the hurling showpiece at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. A couple of top class opening-half goals from a razor-sharp Adrian Breen set Kieran Bermingham’s side on their way to a seventh outright victory.
Will O’Donoghue, for the third time, captained Na Piarsaigh to county glory.
And, returning after only a year’s absence from the senior ranks are the Lorcan Lyons captained Monaleen, who emerged 2-16 to 0-16 winners over Bruff in the Premier Intermediate Final at Kilmallock’s Fitzgerald Park.
Rugby: MUNSTER remain under considerable pressure in the United Rugby Championship following Saturday’s 14-15 loss to Ulster at Thomond Park.
It was Munster’s third inter-provincial defeat of the month and leaves them in 14th position in the table, and already qualification for the 2023/’24 Champions Cup looks a formidable challenge.
Only the top eight placed teams at the end of the current URC campaign will automatically qualify for Cup activity the following season.
At the weekend, the visitors led 15-3 at half-time.
A couple of Jack Crowley penalties narrowed the gap. Not long afterwards, the returning Simon Zebo created the home team’s sole try by offloading to Stewart Moore who set-up Shane Daly in the corner.
Crowley’s attempt at the extras hit the upright.
There was to be no late scoring chance for Graham Rowntree’s side in those hectic closing stages.
It’s a few weeks before the URC resumes.
Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Malakai Fekitoa, Rory Scannell, Patrick Campbell (Simon Zebo, 61); Jack Crowley, Paddy Patterson (Neil Cronin, 69); Dave Kilcoyne (Josh Wycherley, 60), Diarmuid Barron (Niall Scannell, 60 – 69), John Ryan (Roman Salanoa, 60); Edwin Edogbo, Eoin O’Connor (Cian Hurley, 50); Jack O’Donoghue (captain), John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.
On the resumption of the AIL, no Limerick side managed victory at the weekend.
Soccer:TRAILING 4-1 after the home leg of their SSE Airtricity First Division promotion semi-final play-off, Treaty United were given little hope of turning around the ‘inevitable’ on the weekend away leg to Waterford FC but produced one of their finest displays to earn a 3-3 draw at the RSC.
And, while Waterford progress 7-4 on aggregate Tommy Barrett’s brave amateurs earned widespread plaudits.
Penalty goals from Marc Ludden and Lee Devitt gave Treaty a 3-1 interval advantage, but the game swung in favour of the home side when referee Paul Norton awarded them a controversial spot-kick shortly into the second half.
Two of Treaty’s starting XI, captain Jack Lynch and Joe Collins, will not be around next season as the pair are emigrating to Australia.
Waterford now play Galway United in the play-off final.
Treaty United: Jack Brady; Marc Ludden, Sean Guerins, Callum McNamara, Joe Collins (Stephen Christopher 56), Lee Devitt, Success Edogun, Martin Coughlan, Matt Keane, Mark Walsh, Jack Lynch. Subs used: Joe Coustrain, Enda Curran, Fionn Doherty, Willie Armshaw.
