Casey kicks Na Piarsaigh to victory in Limerick decider

Na Piarsaigh 1-20 Patrickswell 0-19

TWELVE years since their first county senior title, Limerick kingpins Na Piarsaigh have won their eighth-ever John Daly Cup thanks to a four-point win over Patrickswell in TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening.

Na Piarsaigh, who made the short one kilometre trip from Dromgoole Park to the Gaelic Grounds, led by four points – 1-8 to 0-7 – at half-time with a Peter Casey kicked goal in the 25th minute setting the defending champions on their way.

In the end Na Piarsaigh's experience shone through with Shane O’Neill’s charges withholding a late Patrickswell comeback to hold out and maintain their four-point advantage to secure their sixth Limerick SHC title in 10 years.

Ronan Lynch top-scored for Na Piarsaigh with 0-8, seven of which were free, while Limerick star Aaron Gillane scored 0-7 for Patrickswell.

In what was a repeat of the 2019 decider, it was Patrickswell who got off to the brighter of starts against reigning champions Na Piarsaigh with All Star Hurler of the Year Aaron Gillane putting the 'Well two points up inside three minutes.

Both sides each began the game with three players that started in last July’s All-Ireland SHC with Limerick – Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes for Patrickswell, and Will O’Donoughe, Peter Casey, and Mike Casey.

Both sides were level four times in the opening half before Na Piarsaigh opened up a two-point gap when Lynch pointed two without response.

Minutes later, Peter Casey got the game’s only goal when the Limerick star dazzled through the Patrickswell before kicking the ball into the back of the net with his left foot as Patrickswell goalkeeper Jason Gillane was fast approaching. The goal five minutes before the break made it 1-7 to 0-5 in