AS THE Limerick footballers get ready to begin their National League campaign, the hurlers were eliminated from the Waterford Crystal Cup while some of the college teams are in championship action this week.
Senior hurling: Tipperary 0-22 Limerick 1-9
Limerick senior hurlers were knockout of the Waterford Crystal Cup in Nenagh last Sunday when Tipperary recorded a 10-point victory. Limerick were only two points down at the half time whistle, 0-10 to 0-8, as Gavin O’Mahony pointed two frees, Niall Maher hit over two points from play while Shane Dowling also scored two points, one from a place ball. Seamus Hickey and James Ryan were Limerick’s other two scorers in the first half. The Shannonsiders lost the injured Gavin O’Mahony and Mikey Ryan at half time but only registered two scores in the second half with Shane Dowling hitting a point and also getting the only goal of the game from a penalty in the 16th minute of the second half. Tipperary will now face Limerick IT in the semi final.
Limerick team: Nicky Quaid (Effin); Shane O’Neill (South Liberties), Richie McCarthy (Blackrock), Tom Condon (Knockaderry); Wayne McNamara (Adare), Donal O’Grady (Granagh/Ballingarry), Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock) (0-2); Cathal King (Na Piarsaigh), James Ryan (Garryspillane) (0-1); Niall Maher (Doon) (0-2), Seamus Hickey (Murroe/Boher) (0-1), Niall Moran (Ahane); Mikey Ryan (Murroe/Boher), Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) (1-3), Seanie Tobin (Murroe/Boher).
Subs: Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh) for M Ryan, David Moloney (Blackrock) for O’Mahony, Tommy Quaid (Effin) for Maher, David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca) for Tobin, Stephen Walsh (Glenroe) for Tom Condon.
The next outing for John Allen’s team will be in the opening round of the National League on Sunday 24 February when Limerick will be at home to Antrim.
Senior football: Limerick v Leitrim
Limerick footballers begin their National League campaign this Sunday at 2pm with a home game against Leitrim, who will be buoyed by their success in the FBD League last weekend.
Maurice Horan is likely to be without the services of some key players through injury but Limerick will nonetheless target an opening day victory, with promotion from Division 4 the aim.
Seanie Buckley of Dromcollogher/Broadford has been named as captain of the Limerick team for 2013. The 28-year-old made his inter-county debut in 2005 against Kerry and he captained the county in 2009 and 2010. Ian Ryan of St Senan’s is Limerick’s vice captain.
Under 21 football: Limerick 2-10 LIT 0-9, Limerick 1-13 Laois 2-10
The Limerick under 21 football team continued their preparations for the Munster championship semi final with challenge games against LIT and Laois. They defeated LIT by 2-10 to 0-9 in Rathkeale on Wednesday January 23 and drew 1-13 to 2-10 against Laois at UL on Sunday January 27.
Limerick team v LIT: James O’Meara (Fr Casey’s); Shane O’Connor (Fr Casey’s), Brendan McCarthy (St Kieran’s), Garrett Kennedy (Claughaun); Paul White (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Brian Noonan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Kevin Brosnan (Monagea); Pat O’Donnell (Galbally), Stephen Power (St Mary’s/Sean Finns); Kevin O’Donoghue (Hospital/Herbertstown), Michael Brosnan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Sean Sheahan (St Mary’s/Sean Finns); Kieran Larkin (Banogue), Francis O’Riordan (St Senan’s), Danny Frewen (Ballylanders).
Subs: Adrian Stackpool (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Brendan Giltenane (Mungret), Sean Barrett (Kilmallock), Kevin Meade (St Kieran’s).
Limerick team v Laois: James O’Meara (Fr Casey’s); Brian O’Sullivan (Newcastle West), Brendan McCarthy (St Kieran’s), Shane O’Connor (Fr Casey’s); Paul White (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Sean Barrett (Kilmallock), Kevin Brosnan (Monagea); Stephen Power (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Darragh Treacy (St Kieran’s); Kevin O’Donoghue (Hospital/Herbertstown), Michael Brosnan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Pat O’Donnell (Galbally); Kieran Larkin (Banogue), Francis O’Riordan (St Senan’s), Tommy Griffin (Gerald Griffin’s).
Subs: James Brouder (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Adrian Stackpool (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Brendan Giltenane (Mungret), Kevin Meade (St Kierans), Garrett Kennedy (Claughaun), Sean Sheahan (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Danny Neville (Ballysteen), James O’Meara (Ballysteen), Greg Murray (Mungret).
A trial game for the Limerick under 21 football panel will take place at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale at 11am this Sunday.
College competitions
The three Limerick colleges in the 2013 Fitzgibbon Cup are all in action on Thursday January 31. UL have a home game against St Pat’s/Mater Dei while LIT travel to UCD and newcomers Mary Immaculate College are away to NUIG.
UL bowed out of the Sigerson Cup in the preliminary round after a 1-14 to 0-8 defeat by reigning champions DCU in Limerick on Tuesday. There was better luck in the Trench Cup for LIT, who trounced IT Tallaght by 2-15 to 1-3, and Mary Immaculate College, who were 1-15 to 1-7 winners over Letterkenny IT. They both advance to the quarter-finals on February 13/14.
In the Waterford Crystal Cup, LIT advanced to the semi-finals after a comprehensive 1-25 to 3-7 win over Kerry in Abbeydorney last Thursday. UL were knocked out of the tournament following a 3-13 to 1-13 defeat by Clare in Sixmilebridge on Sunday.
Coaching conference
The Limerick GAA coaching conference is being held on Saturday February 9 at the North Campus facility in UL. The ‘Developing game based activities for the youth player’ conference is aimed at youth team coaches (13-18) and will focus on a games based approach to coaching youth players. Using this model of coaching the coaches uses games instead of drills to allow for greater learning and understanding to take place during coaching sessions.
The conference is mainly practical based with a number of practical sessions. Jerry Wallace (Limerick Underage Hurling Coach) will focus on a games based approach to hurling development for the youth player. Andy Murphy (strength & conditioning coach) will focus on creating players with good quality movement that they can use on the pitch. Maurice Horan (Limerick senior football manager) will focus on developing the key football skills for the youth player through the use of games.
The conference promises to be a fantastic event and will give all coaches an opportunity to see and hear how these coaches will work on various techniques to improve a player’s ability. Every club and school is encouraged to have at least two coaches/teachers in attendance. The conference will commence at 9:30am with registration and will be completed by 2pm. The cost of the conference is €20 and this includes coaching information pack and refreshments. Further information and application forms will be available early next week.
Football championship draws
The draws for the Irish Wire Products county senior football championship and the Griffin’s Coaches county intermediate football championship will take place at the next meeting of Coiste Peil Contae Luimni on Wednesday February 6 in Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel, Adare. The meeting will commence at 8pm and the draws will take place at 9pm.
Special Convention
The Special Convention that was fixed for Claughaun on Tuesday January 22 was cancelled due to the freezing weather conditions. The Convention will now convene on Tuesday February 5 at 8pm in Claughaun.
Results
Waterford Crystal Cup: Tipperary 0-22 Limerick 1-9, Clare 3-13 UL 1-13, Kerry 3-7 LIT 1-25
Under 21 football challenges: Limerick 2-10 LIT 1-9, Limerick 1-13 Laois 2-10
Sigerson Cup: UL 0-8 DCU 1-14
Trench Cup: LIT 2-15 IT Tallaght 1-3, Mary Immaculate College 1-15 Letterkenny IT 1-7
Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final: West Limerick Schools 0-3 Colaiste Chríost Rí Cork 0-7
Fixtures
Thursday January 31
Fitzgibbon Cup: UL v St Pat’s/Mater Dei (UL, 2pm), UCD v LIT (Belfield, 2pm), NUIG v Mary Immaculate College (Dangan, 1.30pm)
Sunday February 3
National Football League: Limerick v Leitrim (Gaelic Grounds, 2pm)
Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final: Tipperary v LIT (Dolla, noon)
