A REPEAT of last year’s Limerick SHC final is on the cards following weekend wins for holders Doon and Na Piarsaigh over Ballybrown and Kilmallock, respectively.
The showdown will happen at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday October 19.
The champions flashed home second-half goals through Eddie Stokes and Kevin Maher to dispose of their commendable challengers in Kilmallock.
At the interval, Ballybrown – for whom Aidan O’Connor was scorer-in-chief – held a narrow 0-8 to 0-7.
The teams were tied three times after the re-start before the goals arrived and decided the issue.
10 points from Adam English were also crucial to the advancement of Doon, for whom Donal Coughlan (0-3) excelled in the number 13 shirt.
20-year-old Coughlan featured in the early rounds of last year’s championship but missed out on the historic ending with a broken wrist.
“In the later stages last year, semi-final week and final week, it was good to be there but it wasn’t the same as you’re not playing,” man of the match Coughlan told TG4 afterwards.
“I knew this year there was the chance to get back there and to have that feeling of getting into a final. And, two weeks’ time now and we’ll have it.”
In Bruff, Na Piarsaigh breezed into a fourth consecutive decider courtesy of a 2-20 to 1-17 win over Kilmallock, securing their place in the final against old foes Doon.
Shane O’Neill’s side were better, ahead by a dozen points at one stage, with stellar scoring displays from man-of-the-match and five-point contributor Peter Casey, Adrian Breen (2-1) and Kevin Downes (0-6).
Dáithí Demspey was also productive for Na Piarsaigh.
Kilmallock’s lead man was once more Shane O’Brien (0-9).
It will be a fourth final appearance on the trot for eight-time winners Na Piarsaigh, who will be keen to avenge the shock loss to Doon 12 months ago.
Doon, however, will again relish the tag of underdogs.
