Junior B City Championship Semi-final Na Piarsaigh 3-17Monaleen 1-13Our Junior B hurlers scored a brilliant win in the City Semi-final on Monday evening, beating Monaleen under lights in St. Patrick’s. Podge Kennedy deputised in goals as our regular goalie Darragh Jordan was called up to intermediate duty on Sunday. Podge pulled off a point blank save in the first half to deny Monaleen an almost certain goal. He came up trumps again in the second period landing 3 long range frees. It’s a wonder he was not a regular long range free taker with the seniors in all his years lining out at number one. He did score one long range point in senior championship but this was due to Ronan Lynch’s absence. Our full back line performed diligently throughout with Steven Mitchell and Cian Brosnan both keeping their men under wraps. An early yellow card for Kevin McNamara didn’t prevent him from pulling off some key blocks and tackles along with a couple of crucial interceptions in the first half. Cackz mopped up endless ball at centre back and was well supported by Tadhg Mullane on the left and Christy O’Hagan on the right. The winning of the game was the workrate of our midfield partnership of Donie Ó Conaill and Sam Jordan, with Donie giving a man of the match performance, scoring 1-03 from play. While burying a great goal in the opening minutes, his score of the day came halfway through the second half. Taking a pass from Sam, and darting over from inside our opposition's 45. Donie managed to make his way back to our half back line and win the subsequent puck-out to get us on a positive footing again. Our half forward line of Josh O’Halloran, Gordon Leonard and James Naughton combined for a score of 1-05 for the day. James, only recently back from a 12-month hiatus in France, grabbed his goal in the second half, following a point in the first. The time away did him well as he was in flying form, assisting for multiple scores also. Gordon provided a physical presence at 11, landing 3 points, 2 from play and forcing the centre back into a marking job. Man marking not a task many centre backs are up for. Josh on the wing gave a colossal display in the first, landing a point and unlucky not to snatch a goal, the ball grazing the left hand post.Ben O’Regan registered 2 frees in the opening and was unlucky to not to get a 3-pointer, being brilliantly blocked down by the Monaleen defender as he bore down on goal. Ger and John O’Tiarnaigh caused absolute havoc for our opposition full back line. While John didn’t get on the scoresheet, he would set up multiple scores as well as a goal, with Ger getting 2 well taken points. Dillon Skehan came on at the break to land 1-02, and add to the woes of the Monaleen backs, while Brian Hartnett was also introduced and provided a steadying presence in the half forward line. Sean Harrington came in with 10 to play, followed by Brian Connolly and Mike Duggan. All 3 made a positive impact in what was an excellent team performance by Na Piarsaigh. The win marks an interesting first for Na Piarsaigh where we had 4 adult teams competing in a championship weekend, and all 4 teams victorious. Our Junior C’s beat Patrickswell on Friday, with our Seniors beating the Well again on Saturday. Our intermediates qualified for the quarter final by defeating Knockainey on Sunday and a win for the Junior B’s on Monday. A good showing for all concerned.The City final pits us against Ballybrown on Saturday evening at 5pm in Rathbane. Ballybrown were victorious in our group stage clash earlier in the championship but our lads have shown a steady improvement in recent weeks. We’ll give it a good rattle. Team: Podge Kennedy(0-03f), Steven Mitchell, Kevin McNamara, Cian Brosnan, Christy O’Hagan, Cathal McMullen, Tadhg Mullane, Donie Ó Conaill(1-03), Sam Jordan, Josh O’Halloran(0-01), Gordon Leonard(0-03, 0-01f), James Naughton(1-01), Ben O’Regan(0-02f), John O’Tiarnaigh, Ger O’Tiarnaigh(0-02).Subs: Dillon Skehan(1-02)(HT), Brian Hartnett(HT), Sean Harrington, Brian Óg Connolly & Mike Duggan.