The match will be shown live on TG4 at 4.15 pm on Sunday
Na Piarsaigh and Doon will contest the Bon Secours Limerick Senior Hurling Championship Final this Sunday at the TUS Gaelic Grounds at 4:15 pm.
Doon are on the hunt for their first ever Daly Cup, while Na Piarsaigh are looking to complete a historic three in a row for the first time in the club’s history.
The big story leading into the game is the potential return of Peter Casey to the Na Piarsaigh squad just six months after a horror ankle break while playing for Limerick.
The Irish Independent broke the news this week saying Casey may feature, having played in an internal game in recent days. Whether Casey lines out or not is certainly going to cause a headache for Doon manager Derek McGrath and his management team considering the threat the Limerick forward provides.
The match will be shown live on TG4 at 4.15 pm after coverage of the Galway Senior Football club final between Corofin and Moycullen. The Limerick Voice will also be providing coverage at the match.
How they got there
Both sides are in the final on merit having been by far the standout teams throughout the championship.
The first three rounds of the group stage saw Doon beat their three closest rivals: Kilmallock, Patrickswell, and Na Piarsaigh in impressive fashion. The two sides met in Round Three with the East Limerick side coming out on a top in a narrow one point victory, 1-15 to 0-17.
That was the only defeat suffered by Na Piarsaigh in the group stage and there’s no doubt Shane O’Neill’s men will be out for both revenge and the trophy in the final on Sunday.
October 13’s semi finals saw Doon take down Patrickswell in impressive fashion, winning out 2-24 to 2-12 after a lightning fast start while Na Piarsaigh needed a stoppage time winner from Will Henn to see off Kilmallock on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-18.
Key players
Doon’s Adam English was the hero late on in the first meeting between the sides and will need to be on top form once again if they are to complete a historic season. The intercounty forward has scored 2-47 in the championship so far, showing he’s not just a reliable free taker but also a massive threat from play who won’t shy away with the game in the melting pot.
Manager Derek McGrath will be delighted with the return of Richie English in the semi final. He scored 0-3 in a commanding display from wing back, making up a fierce partnership with Limerick teammate Barry Murphy and Chris Thomas in the half back line. In midfield, Darragh O’Donovan produced a terrific display and will provide great leadership for the side when needed on Sunday.
In the forwards, it wasn’t just English on form in the semi final. Former Limerick hurler Pat Ryan struck 0-4 in the win, while full forward Kevin Maher hit 2-2 and will be a massive aerial threat inside for Doon in the final. Another leader for the East Limerick side is Darragh Stapleton, who will no doubt get through a mountain of work for his side on Sunday.
For Na Piarsaigh, as well as Peter Casey – the Caherdavin side are sweating on the fitness of former Limerick hurlers Daithí Dempsey and Cathall King, who both sat out the semi-final win.
Chief scorer for the side has been free taker Ronan Lynch who has notched 1-44 in the championship so far. His only goal came in a man of the match display in the semi final, and if he can reproduce such heroics, Na Piarsaigh may well complete three in a row in Limerick.
In the forwards, Na Piarsaigh have great experience with Conor Boylan and Kevin Downes and if Dempsey is unavailable, the city side will look to young forwards like Wayne Kearns and JJ Carey to step up.
In defence, goalkeeper Shane Dowling needs no introduction to Limerick readers, while Mike Casey, William O’Donoghue, and Jerome Boylan have been here before and know what it takes to win on the big day.
The verdict
In a match that’s nearly too close to call, the bookies have Doon as slight favourites and I’d tend to agree.
The East Limerick side have suffered great hurt over the years, including final defeats in 2020 and 2018 – both at the hands of their opponent on Sunday – and now feels like the time to finally claim their first Daly Cup under experienced manager Derek McGrath.
Doon have put down a great season so far including a win against Na Piarsaigh in the group, and they’re now poised to finally go one step further in what should be a classic.
Prediction: Doon by two points
The curtain raiser
Before the senior final, Garryspillane and Newcastle West will contest the Premier Intermediate Hurling Final at 2pm with the winner promoted to Senior Hurling for the 2025 season.
Newcastle West have been the form team in the competition this year, finishing top of the group before beating Effin in the semi final.
Meanwhile ‘The Bouncers’ have overcome last years senior relegation and some mixed form early in the group to win their last three games before taking down Bruff to reach this years decider.
Saturday’s action
Three other hurling finals are down for decision on Saturday. In the tier directly below, Bruree will take on Croagh-Kilfinny in this year’s Nick Grene Sportsground Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship Final in Mick Neville Park at 5pm.
In the Woodlands House Hotel Limerick Premier Junior A Hurling Championship Final, Feenagh Kilmeedy play St Patricks in Rathkeale GAA’s Sean Finn Park at 3pm. In the Woodlands House Hotel Limerick Junior A Hurling Championship Final, Rathkeale and Monaleen will meet in Bruff on Saturday, at 1pm.