Cork SAHC: Na Piarsaigh swat Killeagh aside to book quarter-final spot

Na Piarsaigh 1-27 

Killeagh 1-17 

A third group stage meeting in four years between Killeagh and Na Piarsaigh. On the previous two occasions, the East Cork side had the last laugh.

There would be no such joy here for Killeagh.

An added time goal in 2023 had put them through at Na Piarsaigh’s expense on scoring difference. Last year, they edged the black and amber in a 2-26 to 2-24 thriller.

This year, though, they were blown away in the second half at Midleton by an outstanding northside display. And so, it’s Na Piarsaigh who advance to the Senior A Hurling Championship quarter-final, at Killeagh’s expense.

There was plenty to admire about this Piarsaigh performance. Daire Connery was in unstoppable form. Dan Scanlon was superb in the second half after being moved to the sweeper role. Pa Rourke was immense in work rate and lethal in possession.

But it was Kevin Moynihan that stole the show. He torched Killeagh from start to finish.

Moynihan opened the Na Piarsaigh account with his first. He closed it with his seventh white flag from play.

Na Piarsaigh had been the better side against the wind and mist in the opening spell, and three on the trot before the break – two placed balls from Connery and a point he assisted Luke Sheehan for – left the Farranree club 0-15 to 0-10 ahead at the break.

In the third quarter, they cemented their control. Five of the first eight points put them seven clear. Then, in the 42th minute, Greg Healy slipped through, squeezed a shot off that evaded Fionn Murphy, and suddenly Na Piarsaigh had themselves 1-20 to 0-13 ahead.

When Moynihan then intercepted a puckout, spun past his man and popped over, they were eleven clear.

Killeagh would only manage four points from there, as Na Piarsaigh continued to respond and protect their lead. By the 53rd minute it stood at 12, but Cian Buckley – who had been excellent in managing the danger of Barry Walsh – felled Killeagh’s Cork star and a penalty was awarded.

Walsh took it and finished to the net, but was forced to retake it. No problem for Barry; low, powerful and into the net once again.

Even with the green flag, a comeback never looked likely.

Na Piarsaigh’s game management was excellent, they held Killeagh to a solitary point in the final seven minutes plus four added. Connery and Moynihan stretched the advantage back out to 11 heading into added time to confirm it.

David Buckley would fire over one last point for Killeagh, but it offered little consolation. The East Cork side had long been condemned to defeat.

Killeagh had led a couple of times early on, and were 0-6 to 0-5 in front after 16 minutes, but Na Piarsaigh reeled off five of the next six to put themselves in the ascendancy, 0-10 to 0-7 after 23 minutes.

Killeagh answered each of the next three Na Piarsaigh scores, Barry Walsh’s second in that period the pick of them, after an assist from cousin Ben.

But three late first-half scores – two in added time – gave Na Piarsaigh a five-point buffer and they looked seldom to be caught from there.

And the third quarter confirmed it.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: D Connery 0-9 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), K Moynihan 0-7, G Healy 1-1, R O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2 f), P Rourke 0-3, C Hogan, L Sheehan, P Guest 0-1 each.

Killeagh: Barry Walsh 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-3 f), R McCarthy 0-4, E Lane 0-2, Ben Walsh, R Sinclair, D Walsh, E Keniry, D Buckley 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: L Donovan; E Gunning, C Buckley, A Higgins; K Buckley, C Meaney, G Healy; D Connery, C Hogan; L Sheehan, P Guest, P Rourke; K Moynihan, D Scanlon, R O’Sullivan.

Subs: P Murphy for Higgins (51), C Hanafin for Sheehan (53), O Galvin for O’Sullivan (60+1), E Sheehan for Rourke (60+3).

KILLEAGH: F Murphy; C Fitzgibbon, J Fogarty, S Long; C O’Riordan, Ben Walsh, A Walsh; R Sinclair, E Lane; F Brennan, E Keniry, D Walsh; P O’Brien, Barry Walsh, R McCarthy.

Subs: B Delaney for A Walsh (30 inj), D Buckley for Keniry (HT), Keniry for O’Brien (51), O’Brien for Fogarty (60+4 inj).

Referee: P O’Mahony (Kilbrittain)