Slaughtneil hit them hard.
Na Piarsaigh went into this All-Ireland semi-final against Slaughtneil as red hot favourites. They’re experienced campaigners at this stage. The 2016 All-Ireland club champions have been here before and they’ve been one of the most consistently brilliant hurling teams over the last few years.
That’s why the bookies had them as 1/50 favourites to emerge unscathed and to march on the final. 11/1 rank outsiders Slaughtneil had different ideas, and they let those ideas known early on in the Donnycarney sun.
Brendan Rogers blazed a trail which his Derry teammates gleefully followed in the opening stages. Michael McShane’s powerful, direct-running centre forward caused serious problems for the Na Piarsaigh rearguard early on and the rest of the Slaughtneil forwards fed off his energy and thrived off the space and distraction he was creating.
Lively corner forward Cormac O’Doherty was one of the benefactors. He also contributed handsomely, both from placed balls and from open play and when he roofed a 16th minute penalty to give them a four point early lead, Na Piarsaigh knew they were in for a battle.
Rasper ! Cúl ag @GACSlaughtneil 1-04 v 0-03@NapGAA #TheToughest. muid beo ar @TG4TV ar @GAA_BEO anois pic.twitter.com/ejWhAzdsaK
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 10, 2018
Slaughtneil, aided and abetted by the North Dublin breeze, were really putting it up to the Limerick men at this stage with their physicality and hunger appearing to catch Shane O’Neill’s men off guard.
They went into the half-time interval with a three point lead, with the second goal coming from corner forward Cassidy.
An dara cúl faighte ag @GACSlaughtneil 2-05 v 1-04 ag @NapGAA #TheToughest #GAAbeo. Tá muid beo ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/1CpdSXoGWU
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 10, 2018
And when Na Piarsaigh had two men, in corner forward Conor Boylan and wing back Thomas Grimes, sent off after four minutes of the second half, the Limerick men would have been worried.
Shane Dowling came off the bench and he helped to restore his side’s composure, however. Peter Casey notched a fine score and when Kevin Downes goaled to give them a lead you just sensed their experience would carry them over the line, despite these setbacks.
Indeed, they did, with this stunning goal from Dowling, on his return from a knee injury sealing the deal.
Shane Dowling announces his return from injury with a cracking goal! pic.twitter.com/8Ji7aSJHDQ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 10, 2018
Slaughtneil to their credit, kept plugging away, and did register a third goal, but they’ll be disappointed to have lost out. They were outscored by 2-9 to 1-2 by the Limerick champions in that period when they had a two man advantage, with their profligacy in front of goal proving costly.
3-15 to 3-8 was the final score, a final score that Slaughtneil will leave Slaughtneil kicking themselves.
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