IT WAS NOT the first time that Kevin Downes had stood on a pitch in the aftermath of a Munster club final victory but this one felt different.

And it wasn’t just the manner of yesterday’s win in Thurles where Na Piarsaigh had to come from behind in a furious battle against Ballygunner.

There was also the personal recovery that Downes has embarked on since tearing his cruciate in a club football game in August last year.

On St Patrick’s Day 2016, Na Piarsaigh were crowned champions in Croke Park but they were stripped of the status of All-Ireland kingpins in the coming months when making an early exit at home in Limerick.

With his hurling campaign having ground to a premature halt, Downes busied himself with the Na Piarsaigh football outfit but after being brought on in a game against Ballylanders, the luckless Limerick forward snapped his cruciate.

It consigned him to a long spell on the sidelines and after the frustrations of missing out on Limerick’s inter-county endeavours in 2017, a sense of satisfaction washed over Downes at the close of another successful winter series with Na Piarsaigh.

“It’s been a very tough year,” admitted the 26-year-old.

“The cruciate would test anyone mentally. It’s a lot of time on your own, it’s a lot of rehab with plenty of ups and downs with it.

“Look I suppose I was coming back into fitness there in May and June and it takes time to get going after such a long layoff.

“(I was) delighted just to get a couple of games under the belt, get on a roll. You’re playing with a serious crop of players here in Na Piarsaigh. We’re just thrilled. It was a bit of a rollercoaster there now today.”

Kevin Downes celebrates with team-mate Shane Dowling. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Na Piarsaigh had to hold their nerve in the face of Ballygunner’s onslaught from the start. They trailed by four points at two junctures – after the opening quarter and early in the second half – but never let their minds become scrambled by the sight of the deficit on the scoreboard.

Downes was central to that. He surged through before flipping the ball into the path of David Breen for their crucial 35th minute goal and then picked off a pair of stylish points before the final whistle.

“It’s straight after the game but it feels like the sweetest one yet, definitely in Munster anyway.

“It was a serious battle. We knew it would be coming up here. At half-time we were disappointed but we felt we had played within ourselves.

“Ballygunner, they were responsible for a lot of it. Even at the start of the second-half they thundered into it again and we just had to dig in.

“We’ve been around the block now a good few times and we just dug the heels in and it was a fantastic second-half performance. We really dug it out and that’s why I think it is one to really be proud of.”

More than anything the second half illustrated that Na Piarsaigh’s appetite for success is far from sated.

“We can look back now after four campaigns to still be unbeaten, it’s unbelievable,” reflected Downes.

“It’s fairly unique to have that behind you. More than anything it’s just a savage hunger, it’s a savage will to win.

“To dig out games in November here, it’s not fancy, it’s not pretty at times. It is testament to everyone in the club and everyone on the panel that we are driving each other again.

“Behind the scenes, everyone is putting their shoulder to the wheel. You don’t fluke that. There was a lot of graft put in before that second-half today. It was great to be able to bring that for a Munster final today in Thurles. It was huge.”

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