Sports Editor Donn O’Sullivan’s piece from last week’s edition of the Limerick Post speaks of the highs and lows experienced by two codes of senior GAA.
LET’S be honest. It has never been easy being a Limerick GAA fan. Year after year, seasons end with heartbreak. Last weekend Limerick footballers once more silenced the doubters. The Limerick footballers won a tight qualifier against Longford, in Longford, after extra time.
Hours later the hurlers defeated Clare in the All Ireland qualifiers to reach the last eight of the championship.
Limerick’s players and managers, in both codes, had once more silenced their critics. All Limerick needed now, after a weekend of heroism, was a favourable draw.
After a weekend of what seemed like heaven-sent performances, Limerick came crashing back to earth on Monday morning as the draws for the next rounds were known.
If the weekend was heavenly, the draw was pure evil. Hellish to be exact.
The Limerick hurlers, flying high after their first victory over Clare, will face Kilkenny on July 29 next. The quarter final tie will throw in at 4pm and will form part of a double header with Waterford and Cork being the opening game.
The Limerick footballers have no real chance to settle on their laurels and bask in the glory of their win over the much fancied Longford.
Maurice Horan’s men will face Kildare this coming Saturday night at 7pm in Portlaoise.
Horan’s charges had been hit with massive injuries and missing players before the game started.
Ger Collins, (thumb) John Galvin (knee), Stephen Lavin and Tom Lee (holidays) were all absentees from a Limerick side which had lost to Clare in the Munster semi final.
Once more Limerick thrived in the qualifier cauldron. The use of the bench proved critical as Limerick showed a strength of panel which few, outside of the management team, knew that they possessed.
This coming weekend, Limerick selector and coach Brian Lacey will face off against his old county. Lacy, who helped see off Kildare old boy Glen Ryan last weekend will be looking to knock out more Lilywhites this weekend as the Limerick men take on Kieran Mc Geeney’s much fancied Kildare team.
Kildare have reached this point in the championship having dispatched of Cavan last weekend. With all the controversy over the Seanie Johnston affair, few people have taken notice of how good Kildare were in that game.
The tough tackling, extremely fit Kildare side might be favourites for this game, but who knows what Limerick are going to throw at them. I was wrong last weekend to tip Longford, so this weekend I am staying quiet.
In a quick return to the hurling. (apologies, but space this week is tight, due to holidays) Limerick will face the All Ireland champions Kilkenny. Limerick fans will remember all too well the loss of 2007 at Croke Park. This is a better Limerick team though and arguably a worse Kilkenny one. Who, knows, but one thing is for sure. Limerick GAA’s summer is not over yet anyway.
Limerick Football v Longford Team and Scores:
LIMERICK: B Scanlon (0-1, 45); A Lane, J McCarthy (0-1), L O’Dwyer; J Riordan, S Lucey (0-1), P Ranahan; J Donovan, S Buckley (0-2); J O’Meara, S Kelly (0-1), P Browne; E O’Connor (0-3), I Ryan (0-4, three frees), S O’Carroll (0-1). Subs: M Sheehan (0-1) for Lane (40 mins), I Corbett (0-3) for O’Dwyer (54 mins), D Quaid for Lucey (65 mins), B O’Brien for Donovan (66 mins, D O’Connor (1-2) for Kelly (69 mins), E Barry for O’Meara (76 mins).
Limerick Hurling v Clare Team and Scores:
N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; W McNamara (1-0), D O’Grady, G O’Mahony (0-1, free); P O’Brien, J Ryan; S Dowling (0-8f), B Geary, D Breen; G Mulcahy (0-2), N Moran (0-5), S Tobin (1-1). Subs: D Hannon (1-0) for Geary (29), K Downes (0-1) for Tobin (59), S O’Neill for Condon (inj, 60), S Hickey for J Ryan (62), T Ryan for Mulcahy (70).
