Na Piarsaigh spring strength from the bench

Afterwards Na Piarsaigh manager Seán Stack dwelt upon a few positives. Chiefly that most of his side’s forwards had not performed to their optimum level.
Crusheen could conceivably spin a similar tune. There are plenty hurlers in their set up who will be relieved to have a second crack at winning a Munster club title. Some of their bench men will also harbour renewed hope that they might get a run in Sunday’s replay.
Crusheen’s sole substitution was made five minutes from full time when Conor O’Donnell replaced David Forde, who picked up an injury. By that stage Na Piarsaigh had already made three substitutions with David Lynch, Aidan Hennessy and John Madden all brought on. The latter scored a levelling point eight minutes from time, tying the game at 1-10 to 0-13 at that point.
All of this suggests that Na Piarsaigh have more depth in their dugout and more belief that their substitutes can be trusted to immediately adjust to the pace of a provincial final.
While Crusheen are renowned for their defensive obstinacy, they will reflect upon the fact that Na Piarsaigh scored 1-6 of their total from dead balls. The Limerick champions scored all four of their opening second half points from frees which clearly indicates that as well as some Crusheen defenders hurled, they will have work on not giving away frees, which Shane Dowling has shown he will not spurn.
Free taking will be a minor concern to Crusheen as well with Paddy Vaughan missing two reasonable chances in the opening three minutes. If those frees had been converted an element of early doubt may have infiltrated Na Piarsaigh’s thinking, given their relative inexperience.
While Cathal Dillon hurled exceptionally well at wing back, his brother, Cronan’s recovery from the concession of Na Piarsaigh’s first half penalty was a mark of a player of substance and character. A player with lesser belief could have let the penalty, given for a foul on Kevin Downes, impact upon his subsequent performance. Instead the Crusheen full back upped his game thereafter, not giving an inch, even when Shane Dowling was sent in to full-forward.
Behind him, Donal Touhy stopped everything hit at him but things got hairy when he left his line, with the Crusheen goalkeeper conceding one free and lucky to win another 11 minutes into the second half. However, his save from David Breen, seven minutes from time, was a pivotal moment.
In the middle of the field, Crusheen will look for a significantly improved impact from Joe Meaney, who was moved to corner forward in the opening half, while all three of their half forwards will have to up their input, chiefly in the area of winning breaks from their own puck outs. Na Piarsaigh centre-back, James O’Brien looked the part, fielding numerous high balls. Crusheen were a great help to him in that respect though in that they blasted umpteen deliveries straight down to him. 
O’Brien will hardly benefit from as much handy ball on Sunday, with Crusheen likely to do their utmost to keep the Limerick centre back looking at the game going on around him and to desist from making inspirational catches.
Fergus Kennedy made an immediate impact when moved to midfield from corner forward and although he faded as the second half wore on, he has the engine for that area of the park and might be left there alongside Paddy Vaughan. Crusheen’s other starting corner forward, Paddy Meaney, banged over a couple of sharp points, while beside him, Gerry O’Grady fought admirably but Crusheen would benefit from more incisive runs at full forward.
When the teams shook hands at the end of the hour, Na Piarsaigh could reflect confidently on their day’s hurling. Thurles definitely suits their game, while their substitutions freshened things for them.
Psychologically, Crusheen may be rattled but perhaps that will strengthen their resolve. Drawing the first day has incrementally increased the value of winning the 2011 Munster club championship. Whoever manages to return to Thurles mentally refreshed will win it.
One of the most laudable moments in Thurles was the sight of scores of children joining the Crusheen and Na Piarsaigh subs in a half time puck around. This should be encouraged at every ground, especially here in Clare. What better way to encourage youngsters to stay hurling than by allowing them a few pucks at half time in the best stadiums around? Of course, such was the scarcity of people prepared to pay €20 to get in to Semple Stadium, the entire crowd could have taken the field for a few half time pucks and still not filled it!