A storming second half meant Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh left a wintry Semple Stadium with the Munster club senior hurling title, their power too much for Ballygunner of Waterford.

Ballygunner lined out without Pauric (injury) and Philip Mahony (suspension), but that loss was offset somewhat by the pre-game withdrawal of Kevin Downes of Na Piarsaigh through injury.

Both sides struggled to find their range in the opening stages before Alan Dempsey hit a fine opener for the Limerick side, Brian O’Sullivan responded with a free, and the game was in motion.

Frees from ‘Gunner goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe, O’Sullivan (two) and a good effort from Stephen Power put the Waterford side three up by the end of the first quarter. Neither side was dominating, but Ballygunner were a little surer at the back at this point and were coping well with the diagonal ball being played into space by their opponents.

A long-range free from Ronan Lynch kept Na Piarsaigh in touch, then they goaled, on 19 minutes. Mike Foley’s long ball found David Dempsey alone near the Ballygunner goal, and though he laboured over his stroke, he found the net: 1-3 to 0-5, though sub JJ Hutchinson equalised for Ballygunner with his first touch.

Seven minutes later they had a goal of their own, Tim O’Sullivan had a lot of work to do in the right corner when he got possession, but he stepped cleverly past two challenges and hit the net from an acute angle - 1-6 to 1-4. Before the break Brian O’Sullivan hit a 65 to make it a three-point game.

Na Piarsaigh wired into the second half, with five points in a row, three - Dowling (free), Peter Casey and Will O’Donoghue - in the opening five minutes, and then Mike Foley blasted them into the lead from halfway.

Dowling had a point from play before Brian O’Sullivan pointed a Ballygunner free on 40 minutes - 1-9 to 1-8.

Dowling (free), David Dempsey and Kevin Ryan points pushed Na Piarsaigh’s advantage, however, making it 1-12 to 1-8 entering the final quarter.

On 47 minutes Stephen Power went for goal from a close-in free for Ballygunner but it was saved at the expense of a 65 and Brian O’Sullivan pointed their second score since half-time. Shane O’Sullivan added another soon after, and there were three points in it.

However, though David and Alan Dempsey points pushed Na Piarsiagh five ahead with only seven minutes left, there was a goal left in Ballygunner - a Conor Power shot was deflected home by Brian O’Sullivan.

Na Piarsaigh responded with a late burst of points, from Lynch, Casey and sub David Breen before Dowling crashed home a late, late goal.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: S. Dowling 1-4 (0-2 fs); D. Dempsey 1-2; P. Casey 0-3; K. Ryan, R. Lynch (f), A. Dempsey 0-2 each; M. Foley, W. O’Donoghue, D. Breen 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballygunner: B. O’Sullivan (0-4 fs, 0-2 65s) 1-6; T. O’Sullivan 1-0; S. Power (f) 0-2; S. O’Keeffe (f), JJ Hutchinson, S. O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: P. Kennedy, M. Casey, K. Breen, K. Kennedy, M. Foley, R. Lynch, C. King ( c), A. Dempsey, W. O’Donoghue, K. Ryan, D. Dempsey, S. Dowling, P. Casey, P. Gleeson, A. Breen.

Subs: D. Breen for Gleeson, 39; T. Grimes for K. Ryan, 52.

BALLYGUNNER: S. O’Keeffe, E. Hayden, B. Coughlan, I. Kenny, S. Walsh, D. O’Sullivan ( c), H. Barnes, B. O’Keeffe, S. O’Sullivan, T. O’Sullivan, S. Power, Barry O’Sullivan, P. Hogan, Brian O’Sullivan, C. Power.

Subs: JJ Hutchinson for Hogan inj, 20; C. Sheahan for B. O’Keeffe, 49; D. Walsh for Hutchinson, 53.

Referee: D. Kirwan (Cork).