Hurling & Camogie

Na Piarsaigh attack should keep Slaughtneil at bay

Slaughtneil will be hoping to display the lessons they've learnt from last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Cuala. Picture by Philip Walsh
Slaughtneil will be hoping to display the lessons they've learnt from last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Cuala. Picture by Philip Walsh Slaughtneil will be hoping to display the lessons they've learnt from last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Cuala. Picture by Philip Walsh

AIB All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final: Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) v Robert Emmet’s, Slaughtneil (Derry) (today, Parnell Park, 2pm, live on TG4)

WHEN Na Piarsaigh last set foot in Parnell Park, the shoe was an ill fit on the same foot that Slaughtneil experienced a year ago.

Back in 2012, the Limerick side were first time Munster champions. It was all new and despite being overwhelming favourites against Loughgiel, they were comprehensively outplayed and were fortunate to even get extra-time before succumbing to Liam Watson’s inspiration.

It was an altogether different level but when they returned to the All-Ireland series two years later, they pushed Portumna all the way in defeat. All of it culminated in winning the title in 2016, where they chopped Cushendall in bits at Croke Park.

That’s the pathway Slaughtneil are now looking to take. It’s been a long year stewing since Cuala thumped them in Armagh and the raw truth is that, 12 months on, nobody knows quite where they are at.

Had it not been for an injury-time goal by Paul Shiels in the Ulster semi-final, the Derry champions would have won every game in county and province this season by at least ten points.

It’s hard to compare an inexperienced Dunloy side to a more seasoned Cushendall. So whether Slaughtneil are undercooked or simply too hot for Ulster any more will only be defined by today’s events.

In the aftermath of the Cuala game last year, the Slaughtneil players spoke of the physicality and athleticism of the reigning champions, who face Galway’s Liam Mellows in the other semi-final later (4pm).

Na Piarsaigh are not short of physicality. The tight confines of the atmospheric north Dublin ground in comparison to its Jones’ Road neighbour would be conventionally regarded to suit the Ulster side but the Munster champions are no shrinking violets.

Where Slaughtneil may be able to trouble them is with their pace in attack, notably that of Brendan Rogers and Brian Cassidy. However, if Sé McGuigan were to fail to recover from a hamstring strain, it would be a blow.

Na Piarsaigh have three injury doubts of their own. Shane Dowling hasn’t played since the county final win over Kilmallock on October 15 because of a knee injury, but he is expected to play some part today.

They are also waiting on David Dempsey (hamstring) and Peter Casey (appendix), with all three having missed recent challenge games against Wexford and Waterford.

Slaughtneil have been down across the border a good few times this winter. Michael McShane pointed after the Cuala game last year to having played just three games and none in the five weeks before last year’s semi-final as a major contributory factor, and one that they have worked to remedy.

Na Piarsaigh’s attack carries plenty of threat even if Dowling is unavailable, with Adrian Breen excellent in the somewhat flattering Munster final win over Ballygunner. Karl McKaigue is likely to stick to him.

At midfield, workhorse William O’Donoghue is likely to track Chrissy McKaigue in what could also be a key battle.

The final margin was eight but the Limerick side trailed for most of the first 40 minutes and were only a point up with two minutes to play.

Theirs is an orthodox, man-for-man style that has resulted in them racking up some serious tallies on their way here. The 3-15 they hit against Ballygunner was their joint lowest score, while Slaughtneil’s highest was 2-21 in the Ulster final against Ballygalget.

The bookies have the 2016 All-Ireland champions at an unbackable 1/50. It’s hard to countenance that they would have it so comfortable as to justify that. But in the likes of the Breen brothers, Adrian and David, and the rangy Conor Boylan, there is just that bit more in the Na Piarsaigh attack that will see them back to Croke Park.

Paths to the semi-final

Na Piarsaigh

Limerick SHC group stage: Na Piarsaigh 2-23 Cappamore 0-12; Na Piarsaigh 3-18 Patrickswell 1-15; Na Piarsaigh 6-21 Monaleen 0-16; Adare 3-17 Na Piarsaigh 2-19; Na Piarsaigh 6-22 Knockainey 0-10

Limerick SHC semi-final: Na Piarsaigh 2-18 Doon 2-14

Limerick SHC final: Na Piarsaigh 1-22 Kilmallock 2-14

Munster SHC semi-final: Na Piarsaigh 2-26 Blackrock (Cork) 0-10

Munster SHC final: Na Piarsaigh 3-15 Ballygunner 2-10

Slaughtneil

Derry SHC semi-final: Slaughtneil 1-21 Ballinascreen 1-8

Derry SHC final: Slaughtneil 2-18 Banagher 0-14

Ulster SHC semi-final: Slaughtneil 1-18 Dunloy 2-8

Ulster SHC final: Slaughtneil 2-21 Ballygalget 1-12