Yet another twist in one of the most unpredictable club championships in many a year unfolded at Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon. A lot of head scratching will be done among the Ballygunner ranks after letting a seven point lead slip with 18 minutes left to eventually lose by six. On three separate occasions a member of the defence turned over possession cheaply which led to major consequences.
15/8 outsiders Na Piarsaigh, inspired by Shane Dowling, needed no second invitation and clinically dispatched their three goal opportunities. After waiting in the wings for six weeks many predicted that the newly crowned Limerick champions would be satisfied with their lot. As manager Sean Stack remarked after the game “that was a load of baloney”.
Before Dowling stepped up to a free on 42 minutes however, all seemed rosy for the favourites. Playing with first use of a healthy breeze, the Gunners used their short game effectively to pick out their men and deservedly built up a six point lead which stretched to seven after half time. Wayne Hutchinson dictated matters in a dominant half back line, Shane O’Sullivan conducted in attack while Pauric Mahony converted every placed ball opportunity available. Na Piarsaigh went into damage limitation mode for the first thirty minutes withdrawing Alan Dempsey as a sweeper and trailed by six at the break. They failed to use the strong wind to their advantage on the resumption with Kevin Downes and David Breen also struggling to impact the pattern of play. Added to that Dowling uncharacteristically sent three frees wide of the posts.
Then the 18 year stepped up to split the posts with an effort from his own 65 metre line. Two minutes later he nailed another free this time from halfway between his own 65 and 45. After enduring a mixed afternoon up to that point Dowling exploded into life and this inspired those around him. Their hosts also aided the recovery mission with three unforced errors. Firstly goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe let the sliotar slip from his grasp and Dowling pounced to ripple the net. Then Wayne Hutchinson misplaced his hand pass, his first mistake all afternoon, and Kevin Ryan picked up the pieces to set up Dowling once more. 2-3 in less than ten minutes for the man in the green helmet gave Na Piarsaigh the momentum required as the Gunners appeared stunned by this unlikely blitz. Another mix up between Hutchinson and Barry Coughlan allowed David Breen to capitalise and book their final spot on November 27.
Ballygunner boss Niall O’Donnell conceded that those self inflicted wounds ultimately proved their undoing. “There was a few small mistakes made and nobody goes out to make mistakes but we were really punished out there today. They got three goals out of what I would say were positions where we were in control of the ball and we lost it.” Their failure to score a goal for the first time in a championship game this season also counted against them. Nine wides and only two second half points highlight a disappointing return up front. A first Munster championship home defeat since 1995 will take a while to swallow.
So it’s Na Piarsaigh versus Crusheen in two weeks time with a maiden provincial crown up for grabs. On yesterday’s evidence the adventure could yet continue a while longer for the Limerick side and Sean Stack certainly believes his young charges possess the necessary spirit and unity to pull it off. “You should have seen these guys back in the ocean a few weeks ago on a horrendous Saturday morning and you would know there was something special happening.”
No comments:
Post a Comment