Dowling the hero in late blitz

Na Piarsaigh 3-9 Ballygunner 0-12: BALLYGUNNER BECAME the latest side to fall to the curse of favouritism in this year’s Munster…

Na Piarsaigh 3-9 Ballygunner 0-12:BALLYGUNNER BECAME the latest side to fall to the curse of favouritism in this year's Munster club championship when they fell to a Shane Dowling-inspired Na Piarsaigh of Limerick in Walsh Park yesterday.

Ballygunner looked like the better team for long periods, but a three-goal burst in a 10-minute spell towards the end of the game helped edge Na Piarsaigh through.

Although Ballygunner had the stiff breeze to assist them in the opening period, it took them a while to get a grip on the game.

They did manage a couple of excellent early points from Shane O’Sullivan and JJ Hutchinson, but two smashing efforts from Kevin Ryan kept Na Piarsaigh in touch.

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Towards the middle of the half, Ballygunner did open up a lead and with Pauric Mahony to the fore, they lead by 0-7 to 0-2 by the 18th minute. It did appear that the Waterford champions would need one goal to make the game safe, but with Kieran Bermingham and Kieran Breen defending stoutly, this was not forthcoming.

Ballygunner led by six (0-10 to 0-4) at the break and opened the scoring in the second-half with another Mahony free, but struggled to make inroads thereafter.

Three scores in a row from Dowling brought Na Piarsaigh back into contention before the game’s turning point in the 47th minute. A mix-up in defence gifted a goal to Dowling, with Ballygunner protesting afterwards that goalkeeper O’Keeffe was fouled as he tried to get to a loose ball.

Na Piarsaigh took the lead three minutes later when a searing run by Kevin Ryan set up Dowling for his second goal. Then, with three minutes remaining, another defensive howler presented a goal to David Breen to wrap up the win.

NA PIARSAIGH: P Kennedy; C King, K Breen, K Bermingham; A Dempsey, J O’Brien, B Hartnett (0-1); S Dowling (2-4, 0-4 frees), P Gleeson (0-1); K Kennedy, D Breen (1-0), S O’Neill; A Breen (0-1), K Downes, K Ryan (0-2). Subs: A Hennessy for A Breen.

BALLYGUNNER: S O’Keeffe; A Kirwan, W Kiely, B Coughlan; Philip Mahony, W Hutchinson, S Walsh; H Barnes, D O’Sullivan (0-1); Pauric Mahony (0-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), S O’Sullivan (0-2), A Moloney; Brian O’Sullivan (0-1), JJ Hutchinson (0-1), S Power. Subs: Barry O’Sullivan for A Moloney.

Referee: D Copps (Cork).