Lynch provides power for Na Piarsaigh
MANAGER Shane O’Neill admitted he feared history was repeating itself at Parnell Park where AIB All-Ireland club SHC title favourites Na Piarsaigh dug themselves out of a deep hole.
O’Neill was a player in 2012 when the Limerick outfit were shocked in the semi-finals by Ulster champions Loughgiel Shamrocks.
They trailed the northern representatives by three at the interval this time around and were then reduced to 13 men following red cards in the 33rd and 35th minutes.
Goalscorer Conor Boylan and defender Tommy Grimes were both dismissed for striking offences.
But the 2016 All-Ireland winners conjured their best hurling from there and Ronan Lynch’s 14-point haul helped them secure another March 17 final date.
Shane Dowling was in fantastic form, too, scoring a goal after coming on as as substitute in his first action since the Limerick final due to knee trouble, while Kevin Downes also netted.
‘I wasn’t concerned with the one dismissal but when the second one happened I was very worried,’ said O’Neill who admitted 2012 flashed through his mind.
‘It did go through my head, it’s gone through my head for the last 12 weeks to be honest. Semifinals are awful to lose and we hadn’t been back here at Parnell Park since.’
Slaughtneil, chasing All-Ireland success on two fronts, led 2-6 to 1-6 at half-time following goals from Cormac O’Doherty and Brian Cassidy.
Dual star Brendan Rodgers set up both and the south-Derry outfit were cruising, but nine first-half wides, and 13 in total, would come back to haunt them.
Na Piarsaigh bossed the second half and remarkably took the dismissals of Boylan and Grimes, within quick succession, in their stride.
Full-back Mike Casey inspired a brilliant defensive display that gave Na Piarsaigh a platform to attack.
Dowling was terrific when introduced, making a great fetch before laying off to Downes for a 41st-minute goal.
And while Lynch failed to convert a 48th-minute penalty, Na Piarsaigh got the third goal to kill the game shortly after when Dowling volleyed home superbly. Na PiaRSaigH: P Kennedy; N Buckley, M Casey, J Boylan; A Dempsey, C King, T Grimes; R Lynch, W O’Donoghue; C Boylan, D Breen (K Ryan 55), D Dempsey (K Kennedy 56); P Casey, K Downes (G Browne 60), A Breen (S Dowling h-t). Scorers: R Lynch 0-14 (11f), S Dowling, K Downes, C Boylan 1-0, P Casey 0-1. SlaUgHTNEil: O O’Doherty; K McKaigue, S Cassidy, P McNeill; S McGuigan, C McKaigue, C McKenna; E Cassidy, M McGrath; B Rodgers, C O’Doherty, M McGuigan; G Bradley, B Cassidy, C McAllister (G O’Kane 49). Scorers: C O’Doherty 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), B Cassidy 1-2, G Bradley 1-0, C McKaigue, M McGrath, B Rodgers 0-1 each. Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).