Na Piarsaigh beat Douglas to reach the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship final

Na Piarsaigh 1-19

Douglas 1-17

Na Piarsaigh have booked their place in the decider of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship as they saw off the challenge of Douglas at Ballinlough. 

Na Piarsaigh are through to their first decider since they last won the title in 1997, where they will meet defending champions Whitechurch.

With time running out, the scores were tied at 1-16 each. Michael Sheehan gave Na Piarsaigh the lead with two pointed frees, before Fionán Barry replied for Douglas to leave a single point between the sides. 

Shane O’Connell-Aherne tagged on a point from play, six minutes into stoppage time, to leave two points between the sides at the finish.

This closely contested game was dictated by the wind as Douglas held the upper hand for most of the opening half, while Na Piarsaigh’s goal on the stroke of half-time left the minimum between the sides at the break. 

Na Piarsaigh had the elements in their favour for the second half, as they outscored Douglas by 0-11 to 0-8.

Na Piarsaigh raced into a three-point lead with points from Alan Keating and Peter Lehane. Michael Sheehan also converted a free, before Stephen St Leger replied with two points for Douglas.

Na Piarsaigh had Douglas pinned back as Aherne-O’Connell tagged on a point from play. 

Sheehan pointed his second free and Keating converted a sideline cut.

Douglas responded when Dylan Murphy pointed a sideline cut. Sheehan replied with his third pointed free.

Douglas began to seize the initiative as St Leger added a further two points.

Luke McGrath set up Barry for a goal for Douglas in the 25th minute, to give Douglas a lead of 1-6 to 0-7.

Jamie Morrissey reduced the deficit with a point from play for Na Piarsaigh.

Douglas were awarded a penalty, from which Dylan Murphy was credited with a point, as his shot was deflected over the crossbar in the 28th minute.

Dylan Murphy tagged on a further two points including a free. 

O’Connell-Aherne got a goal for Na Piarsaigh on the rebound of a save by Douglas net-minder Brian Boyle. This left Douglas leading 1-9 to 1-8 at the break.

Dylan Murphy got six points, including three frees for Douglas after the interval.

Na Piarsaigh had Douglas pinned back for most of the third quarter as Ian McDonnell and Dayne Lee each added points from play.

McDonnell, Lee and Sheehan also added points from play in the final quarter, to set the scene for a dramatic finish.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: M Sheehan 0-8 (0-7f); S O’Connell-Aherne 1-2; A Keating 0-2 (0-1 s/l); P Lehane, D Lee, I McDonnell 0-2 each; J Morrissey 0-1.

Douglas: D Murphy 0-11 (0-5f, 0-1 pen, 0-1 s/l); S St Leger 0-4; F Barry 1-1; D Burke 0-1.

Na Piarsaigh: S Fitzgerald; L Murphy, A Higgins, K Galvin; J Scanlon, P Cunningham, P Lehane; SP Cooke, D Scanlon; S Galgey, J Morrissey, D Lee; A Keating, M Sheehan, S O’Connell-Aherne.

Subs: I McDonnell for Galgey (41, inj), S Downey for Scanlon (48).

Douglas: B Boyle; L McGrath, P Clarke, M O’Callaghan; S Henry-Squires, C Lucey, S O’Leary; S O’Donoghue, M Harrington; J O’Brien, S Moylan, D Murphy; F Barry, D Burke, S St Leger.

Subs: N Hartnett for O’Brien (41), S Powter for O’Donoghue, L Kelleher for St Leger, D O’Callaghan for Clarke (all 48), M O’Connor for Henry-Squires (55)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Nemo Rangers).