Na Piarsaigh tipped to advance

WITH many of Limerick’s leading hurling clubs now managed by Claremen, there is more than a passing interest in the performances of teams from Shannonside.
After a very successful playing career, during which he led Clare to national league honours and was honoured with an All-star award in 1978, Sean Stack has enjoyed a lot of success as a team coach and manager. He steered his club Sixmilebridge to county honours in a number of age groups, while he has managed Toomevarra from Tipperary and Na Piarsaigh to Munster club honours after first steering them to the blue riband of hurling in their own counties.
Managing a team to All-Ireland club honours is one of the few accolades that has escaped him but it is believed he might achieve this honour in the coming weeks.
Na Piarsaigh travel to Parnell Park on Saturday as favourites to overcome the challenge of Antrim’s Lougheil in the All-Ireland semi-final. Antrim teams are generally seen as outsiders at this stage of the club championship but it is interesting to note that of the four clubs remaining in the race for the Tommy Moore Cup this year, Lougheil is the only club to have won this title.
Stack has already led the Limerick city club to their first county and provincial senior titles and go into this week’s game as strong favourites to win through to the All-Ireland final on St Patrick’s Day.
There are other Clare connections with the Limerick club this year. Shane O’Neill is the son of Clare native Michael, a former Clare board officer who served as a selector with a number of Clare teams, while Na Piarsaigh chairman Timmy O’Connor works with An Post in Shannon.
While Lougheil cannot be taken lightly, it will be a surprise if Stack isn’t a step closer to managing an All-Ireland winning side come Saturday evening.