Having ventured into Munster Club action on 11 previous ocassions including 23 matches, this will be the 3rd ocassion the Bridge will run out on their home soil of O Garney Park in this competition.

In fact it is only our 6th game in Clare in the competition: Tulla (1977); Cusack Park (1984, 2002); O Garney Park, SMB (1992, 1993, 2015). In the 5 games to date the outcome has been 4 wins and 1 draw (1977).

While the Tommy Morey Memorial stand was officially opened in 1995 the stand was in operation for these munster club games in 92/93 and in fact excellent work was carried out on the Club grounds to be ready to host those games. Similarily in the last 2 weeks trojan work has gone on by the club to ready the grounds for the big turnout expected when Na Piarsaigh visit. This includes the construction of a new Press Box to house local media and the Tg4 Camera Crew.

The prize for winners of the Munster Club Hurling competition is the O Neill Cup.

The 2 games to date in O Garney Park were:

     1992: SMB 3-12 Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-05

     1993: SMB 2-09 Lismore (Waterford) 1-04

Na Piarsaigh’s first appearance in the Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship saw them finish as winners following a replay victory over Crusheen (Clare) in 2011. Their Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship record to date is 5 wins and 1 draw.

While Na Piarsaigh and the Bridge are only 10 Miles apart geographic wise there are also a number of other links between the 2 clubs:

Alot of Bridge young lads first club challenge games/tournaments outside the county would have been against Na Piarsaigh and this was always seen as a giant leap into playing against the old rivals Limerick.

Na Piarsaigh are managed by ex Limerick hurler and club man Shane O Neill. Shane has very strong Clare links with his father Mick hailing from the Banner county and his sister Ruth who manages the SMB Club Shop. Her husband Adrian of course is a very active clubman between calling balls at bingo and fulfilling the Minor Club PRO role.

Some of the current Bridge panel including Aidan Quilligan, Derek Fahy, Jamie Shanahan, Alex Morey and Barry Fitz are very familiar with Na Piarsaigh surrondings having attended secondary school in the area with a number of the current opposing players.

All Bridge people would have bought ham and Coleslaw in Ivans of Caherdavin which is in the heartland of Na Piarsaigh hinterland on at least one occasion.

Na Piarsaigh were managed by Bridge great Sean Stack up to 2014.

Since the last meeting of the Bridge and Na Piarsaigh in 2013 both sides have seen a number of changes in personnel based on the 2015 County final team sheets.

The Bridge have 5 changes in personnel while Na Piarsaigh have 4 changes since the last meeting of the sides.

Sixmilebridge 2013

Derek Fahy;
Brian Carey, Aidan Quilligan (capt), Noel Purcell;
Caimin Morey, Paidí Fitzpatrick, John Fennessy;
Kevin Lynch, Jamie Shanahan;
Rory Shanahan, Shane Golden, Seadna Morey;
Pa Sheehan, Niall Gilligan, Alan Mulready.

Sixmilebridge 2015

Derek Fahy
Barry Fitzpatrick, Aidan Quilligan, Seadna Morey
Noel Purcell, Caimin Morey, Paidi Fitzpatrick;
Jamie Shanahan, Brian Carey;
Cathal Malone, Conor Deasy, Shane Golden;
Brian Corry, Niall Gilligan, Alex Morey;

Na Piarsaigh 2013
Padraig Kennedy;
Kieran Breen, Cathal King, Michael Casey;
James O’Brien (capt), David Breen, Niall Buckley;
Alan Dempsey, William O’Donoghue;
Pat Gleeson, Kevin Downes, David Dempsey;
Kevin Ryan, Shane Dowling, Adrian Breen.

Na Piarsaigh 2015
Podge Kennedy
Mike Casey, Kieran Breen, Kieran Kennedy;
Mike Foley, Ronan Lynch, Cathal King;
Alan Dempsey, Will O’Donoghue;
David Dempsey, Kevin Downes, Adrian Breen;
Peter Casey, Shane Dowling, Kevin Ryan;