Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RED CARDS PUT A DAMPENER ON PIARSAIGH’S WIN
FORMER All-star Shane Dowling says heading into next month’s AIB All-ireland club hurling decider without two key men is a “massive downer”.
Goalscorer Conor Boylan and wing-back Tommy Grimes were both dismissed on straight red cards during Saturday’s remarkable semi-final win.
The 2016 winners and hot favourites were three points down at halftime and reduced to 13 shortly after when Boylan and Grimes walked for striking offences.
But they somehow dominated from there with Dowling conjuring a 52nd minute wonder-goal to help seal a seven-point win.
Their reward is a glamour club decider with holders Cuala on March 17 though boss Shane O’neill has some major selection issues.
Attacker Dowling said: “It’s a massive downer, there’s no point saying otherwise. They’d be more disappointed themselves as players than anyone else.
“But we’ve a panel there and we’ve to trust that panel and go with what we have. Hopefully there’ll be no other injuries in the meantime.”
At least Dowling himself should be fit to start after a huge impact as a second-half sub at Parnell Park. He missed all of the Munster championship after injuring his knee in the county final.
But with his team struggling and in danger of repeating their shock loss of 2012 to the Ulster champions, he set up one goal and scored another.
Slaughtneil bossed the first-half and dual star Brendan Rodger set up goals for Cormac O’doherty and Brian Cassidy before going close himself.
The back to back
Ulster champions also struck nine first-half wides, 13 in total, and rued all those misses.
They were no match for Na Piarsaigh’s brand of hungry hurling after the break – even with two extra players.
Ronan Lynch struck 14 points for the Munster champions though fullback Mike Casey ran him close for man of the match and they will not play Cuala of Dublin in the St Patrick’s Day final.