Na Piarsaigh edge out Castletown Geoghegan in epic contest to advance

Na Piarsaigh 1-19, Castletown Geoghegan 1-17

Na Piarsaigh and Castletown Geoghegan, the teams that superbly contested the 2023 U19 Division 1 Hurling Championship final, served up an equally magnificently contested encore in the guise of a semi-final of this year's U20 Division 1 Hurling Championship, played at Collinstown's Decotek Park on Sunday.

Playing with the aid of a stiff breeze, the onus was on Na Piarsaigh to attempt to dominate first half scoring, as regards the theory of having the match lead at half-time, if the Lough Lene Gaels/Turin outfit was to entertain realistic ambitions of defeating an opposition which had a nice sprinkling of 2024 senior medal winners available to play.

Na Piarsaigh led by 1-12 to 1-5 at half-time, a lead extended to eight points by the opening score of the second half. Castletown Geoghegan (CTG) minus the availability of their talisman attacker, the injured David O'Reilly, and with encouragement from their magnificent support, made inroads to their deficit as the second half progressed, the accurate free-taking of Seán Jackson of vital importance to the Black and Ambers.

Na Piarsaigh also had a top class free taker in the form of David Williams to keep his team in front, with encouragement from their own supporters.

The defining moment in this high quality, intense contest came with a little under five minutes of playing time remaining, when CTG were awarded a penalty. That penalty was superbly taken by Peter Clarke, bringing a top class save from Kylan Heffernan, at the cost of conceding a subsequently pointed a 65’. Na Piarsaigh, clearly inspired by that magnificent piece of goalkeeping went on to win this semi-final by a margin of two points. Such was the nature of this well contested match, victory could just as easily have belonged to Castletown Geoghegan.

Na Piarsaigh got the opening point via a second minute David Williams free, CTG levelling matters three minutes later with Seán Jackson pointing a free. Na Piarsaigh then moved two points clear as a consequence of a point each from Ryan Williams and David Williams (free), with CTG replying via another Sean Jackson pointed free. Na Piarsaigh closed out match scoring for the opening quarter of play with Alex Little (free) hitting over a point.

Two pointed frees from Seán Jackson brought CTG to parity, Na Piarsaigh in turn then regaining the match lead with a Conor Heffernan point, followed by David Williams firing over a Na Piarsaigh point from open play. Moments later Na Piarsaigh scored a goal, Daniel Buckley rifling the ball to the roof of the CTG net, having come on to the end of a number of good quality passes in an attacking situation. Within a minute though, CTG responded when Adam Clarke scored a goal with a splendid crisp angled drive to the Na Piarsaigh net.

David Williams (65’) and Calum Burns then responded in turn with a point each in quick succession for Na Piarsaigh. Conor Heffernan then added a further point to the Na Piarsaigh total before CTG responded when Dylan Corrigan, finding himself in possession of the ball, with time to his advantage, fired over his team's fifth point. As scores continued to come, the Na Piarsaigh duo of Conor Heffernan and David Williams (free) both pointed. The team attired in a mostly black outfit then hit two wides, before closing out first half scoring when David Williams pointed a free, leaving seven points between the sides.

Castletown Geoghegan introduced Peter Clarke at half-time in order to instigate a comeback as regards the then prevailing match scoreline. It was Na Piarsaigh, with a super Ryan Williams point, that opened match scoring for the second half. CTG quickly replied with a brace of points, one each from Sean Jackson (free) and Dylan Corrigan. David Williams then pointed another Na Piarsaigh free, with a highly charged CTG team then proceeding to fire over three points in rapid fire succession. Those points came courtesy of Dylan Corrigan (2), which in turn were sandwiched by a Sean Jackson point from another placed ball.

The free taking theme continued as Na Piarsaigh's David Williams pointed from another placed ball. CTG's Peter Clarke then pointed, leaving the Black and Ambers now in arrears on a 1-15 to 1-11 scoreline as the midway point of the second half approached.

Na Piarsaigh then extended their match lead as a consequence of David Williams pointing a 65’. The teams then swapped wides, which were in fact few and far between throughout this semi-final,. CTG went on to reduce their arrears again to a margin of four points when Dylan Corrigan pointed. Sean Jackson then followed up with a pointed free, and now just three points, 1-16 to 1-13, separated the teams.

Na Piarsaigh's David Williams (free) hit over point number 17 and Na Piarsaigh then had a major let-off in defence when David O'Malley fired wide for CTG from close range, when an on target scoring attempt in fact looked more of an obvious certainty. Immediately thereafter David Williams, yet again from another placed ball, fired over his side’s 18th point, leaving the match scoreline at 1-18 to 1-13 in favour of Na Piarsaigh.

As this sometimes frantic Division 1 U20 Hurling Championship semi-final moved within its closing five minutes, the pivotal moment arrived when CTG were awarded a penalty. With five points separating the teams, CTG penalty taker Peter Clarke, in a hushed Decotek Park, had no other option but to attempt to score a goal.

The CTG No 17 aimed the ball towards the left corner of the Na Piarsaigh net with a searing drive. Na Piarsaigh netminder Kylan Heffernan dived sharply to his left, producing a super save, diverting the ball out of play to concede a 65’. The jubilant reaction of Na Piarsaigh players, officials and supporters summed up a collective emotion, their reaction to Kylan Heffernan's save.

CTG did have the consolation of Sean Jackson pointing the 65’ before Na Piarsaigh's David Williams pointed his eighth free of this semi-final. CTG finished match scoring with a brace of pointed frees from Sean Jackson, but Na Piarsaigh emerged winners by a margin of two points.

Scorers - Na Piarsaigh: David Williams 0-12 (eight frees, one 65m award), Conor Heffernan 0-3, Daniel Buckley 1-0, Ryan Williams 0-2, Calum Burns 0-1, Alex Little 0-1 (free).

Castletown Geoghegan: Sean Jackson 0-11 (10 f; one 65’), Dylan Corrigan 0-5, Adam Clarke 1-0, Peter Clarke 0-1.

Na Piarsaigh: Kylan Heffernan, Cathal Óg Fagan, Alex Mills, Kevin Hogan, Declan McGrath Darragh Smith, Oisin L'Strange, Craig Neville, Alex Little Ryan Williams, David Williams, Ciaran Kiernan, Conor Heffernan, Daniel Buckley, Calum Burns. Substitute: Matthew Thornton for Alex Little.

Castletown Geoghegan: Seán Clarke, Alan Conlon, David Maloney, Jack Mulligan, Odhran Gavigan, Peter Murphy, Killian Jackson, Niall Pierson, Philip Reynolds, Aaron Jackson, Shane Doran, Seán Jackson, Adam Cassidy, Dylan Corrigan, Adam Clarke. Substitutes: Eanna Maxwell for Jack Mulligan, Peter Clarke for Aaron Jackson, David O'Malley for Philip Reynolds.

Referee: Alfie Devine (Castlepollard).