Downes and Na Piarsaigh target unfinished business

It’s not always easy growing up in Limerick city, and many youngsters do have difficult choices to make. Will it be rugby, football or hurling, or maybe even a bit of soccer?

Kevin Downes grew up just down the road from Shannon Rugby Club, the Munster posters a constant backdrop, and yet he’s never been in the gate. It’s not that one game’s loss is another game’s gain, but just that Downes was never tempted by the oval ball.

“Yeah, it is difficult with all the other sports in Limerick,” he says, “and there are plenty of distractions in any city for young lads. I’d just no interest in the rugby. I played a bit of soccer alright, but hurling and football were always the main ones.”

Na Piarsaigh being a dual club he was able to play a bit of both, before committing more to hurling in recent years, and for good reason. While there are no shortcuts to All-Ireland club glory, Na Piarsaigh are definitely moving in the fast lane. Because now, just two seasons after winning their first Limerick and Munster titles, they’re back in another All-Ireland semi-final – and on Saturday face Galway champions Portumna in Thurles.

Portumna are back hunting for a fourth All-Ireland title, having won three in four years, in 2006, 2008 and 2009, and will start as favourites. Yet the Limerick champions have come such a long way in a short time that they must fancy their chances too.

"We'd still be young," says Downes, "but we've been through a lot, and played plenty of big games as well. Obviously not as many as Portumna but we've had the hard knocks along the road, and know what to expect. We're definitely more battle-hardened. In Limerick, especially, there'd have been questions about our . . .whatever you want to call it . . . but I think this year we've shown that we're well able to do it."

Bad days
By that he means beating all the best in Limerick and Munster - including a comprehensive provincial final win over Clare champions Sixmilebridge, 4-14 to 0-8. Yet Downes recalls the bad days too, particularly their first Limerick county final, in 2009, when they were hammered by Adare, 1-17 to 0-3.

“Yeah, we won’t forget that in a hurry. I was on the minor team as well and we lost a county final, the week after we lost the senior hurling final. We also lost the intermediate football. That was haunting us all that winter. It still does, really.

“But we were boys, really, playing in a county final. Adare were on a good streak at that time and they completely blitzed us altogether. But definitely it’s character-building and we came back stronger, much stronger.

“And there’s been an awful lot of work going on at Na Piarsaigh in underage, and coupled with Ardscoil Rís (winning the Dr Harty Cup). If you go down to the club now on a Saturday morning the place is full of young lads, and that’s from the volunteers underage.

"They won't get any of the credit, there won't be any headlines written about them, but they're the heartbeat of it. Thankfully that's coming through now, because it was tough going up against Munster rugby, and the soccer . . ."

Experienced players
Two years ago they lost out in the semi-final to Ulster and eventual All-Ireland champions Loughgiel Shamrocks (who face Mount Leinster Rangers in Saturday's other semi-final). This time, Na Piarsaigh are immeasurably more experienced, players like Downes more mature, while veterans such as Damien Quigley continue to lead by example.

“He (Damien) is a massive character around the place. He’s Na Piarsaigh’s only All Star, 42 years of age now, and you see him doing runs at training and he’s up the top. His skill is unbelievable. Even in training matches he’s still lighting it up. He’s an inspiration to everyone. It’s incredible really the way he’s going and what shape he’s in for the age he is. He’s a massive influence in the club.

“Then myself, Shane Dowling and Alan Dempsey – we’d all be the same age group and played coming up together. But I suppose it’s the old heads really, Brian Hartnett and, Shane O’Neill who retired last year. They really drive the thing. They’ve been through the hard times as well when we were junior and intermediate and coming up the ranks. They’re not too long reminding us if we’re getting carried away . .”