Kilmallock win county title with stunning victory over Na Piarsaigh

KILMALLOCK recovered from a slow start to defeat champions Na Piarsaigh 3-19 to 1-22 in the Whitebox Senior Hurling Championship final at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.

It means a 13th Daly Cup for the south Limerick side who had goals from Shane O’Brien, Oisin O’Reilly and a late, late Graeme Mulcahy major.

It is a first county title for them since 2021.

Conor Boylan got his team off to a flying start scoring the game’s first two points.

Keith Dempsey scored his first free as the men in sky blue led by three playing into the wind after just five minutes.

At the other end of the field, Kilmallock had three early wides before they settled into the contest.

They eventually got on the board through Shane O’Brien and Killian Hayes as they finally got to terms with the pace and strength of the Caherdavin men.

Boylan hit a wonderful score from near the touchline to bring his side back four in front.

However, Kilmallock were still well in this game. Graeme Mulcahy showed all his experience to get a fine score after two Pierce Connery frees as his side trailed 0-7 to 0-5 approaching the 20-minute mark.

Keith Dempsey stretched out the lead before Phelim O’Reilly got this side’s best score of the first half. He added another before a long-range Conor Hanley Clarke levelled the game at 0-8 apiece.

Connery’s fourth free of the afternoon gave the Balbec their first lead of this county final. He added another before Hanley Clarke got one from his own ‘45 to put James Hickey’s men three at the break, 0-12 to 0-9 at the short whistle.

A half-time altercation led to yellow cards for Michael Houlihan and Kevin Downes before the second half resumed.

While Peter Casey got the first of the second half, Kilmallock responded in style.

After the long puck out when to O’Brien, The Bull beat his marker and rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Casey and a Keith Dempsey free ensured the champions didn’t panic with this setback.

But the south Limerick men were here to play and a fine Mark O’Loughlin strike put them five clear.

Na Piarsaigh got back to within three and almost levelled the game when Boylan’s effort was well saved by Hanley Clarke.

A Ronan Lynch ‘65 and Mike Foley point reduced the gap to one before the drama kicked up a notch.

William O’Donoghue forced a turnover and went on a searing run. He then took on the shot himself and beat Hanley Clarke to give his side the lead.

It didn’t last long though as less than a minute later, Oisin O’Reilly had the ball in the net at the other end.

Another Lynch ‘65 had the game level with five minutes to go.

Connery tapped over his eighth of the game to give the south men the lead with time running out.

The title was sealed when a long-range Graeme Mulcahy effort beat everyone and went all the way into the net.

Kilmallock now progress to the Munster championship where they take on Ballygunner on November 15 in Waterford,

SCORERS - NA PIARSAIGH: Peter Casey 0-5; Ronan Lynch 0-5 (3f, 2 ‘65); William O’Donoghue 1-0; Conor Boylan, Keith Dempsey (3f) and Will Henn (3f) 0-3 each; Mike Foley 0-2; David Dempsey 0-1.

KILMALLOCK: Pierce Connery 0-8 (8f); Shane O’Brien 1-2; Graeme Mulcahy 1-1; Oisin O’Reilly 1-0; Phelim O’Reilly 0-2 and Conor Hanley Clarke (2f) 0-2 each; Killian Hayes, Mark O’Loughlin, Steven Quirke and Micheal Houlihan 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: Shane Dowling; Jerome Boylan, Vince Harrington, Emmet McEvoy; Ronan Lynch, Vince Harrington, Mike Foley; William O’Donoghue, James Finn; Keith Dempsey, Peter Casey, David Dempsey; Kevin Downes, JJ Carey, Conor Boylan.

Subs: Will Henn for Downes (38 mins); John Fitzgerald for K Dempsey (45 mins); Adrian Breen for Carey (51 mins); Thomas Grimes for Finn (58 mins)

KILMALLOCK: Conor Hanley Clarke; Jackie Dwane, Robbie Egan, Killian Hayes; Robbie Hanley, Ciaran O’Connor, Mark O’Loughlin; Graeme Mulcahy, Micheal Houlihan; Shane O’Brien, Oisin O’Reilly, Steven Quirke; Pierce Connery, Phelim O’Reilly, Gearoid Enright.

Subs: Conor Staunton for Quirke (45 mins); Paudie O’Brien for Enright (54 mins); Kevin O’Donnell for O’Loughlin (58 mins).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).