A HALL of Fame induction for a Limerick legend, the unveiling of a new hurling structure, championship 2013 draws and inter-county teams in action – it was quite a week in Limerick GAA circles.
Senior football NFL Division 4: Offaly 1-8 Limerick 0-12
Limerick had a one-point victory against Offaly in Tullamore last Sunday in Division 4 of the National Football League. Limerick played against the wind in the first half and trailed 1-6 to 0-7 at half time with four points coming from men at the back. Brian Scanlan scored two points, with one each from John Riordan and Mark O’Riordan.
Over the course of the second half Limerick used four subs and the fresh legs helped in getting the ball to the forwards and Ian Ryan and Eoghan O’Connor got two points each. The last point from O’Connor in the 69th minute proved the winner, leaving the final score at Offaly 1-8 Limerick 0-12.
Limerick now have a three week break until the game against Waterford, who have also won their first two league games, in Dungarvan on Saturday March 2 at 7pm.
Limerick team: Brian Scanlan (Gerald Griffin’s) (0-2); Cian Coady (Na Piarsaigh), Johnny McCarthy (St Kieran’s), Mark O’Riordan (Croom) (0-1); Stephen Lavin (Adare) (0-1), Paudie Browne (Fr Casey’s) Pa Ranahan (Ballysteen); Thomas Lee (Ballylanders), Bobby O’Brien (Bruff); James O’Meara (Ballysteen), John Riordan (Fr Casey’s) (0-1), Derry O’Connor (Fr Casey’s); Eoghan O’Connor (St Mary’s/Sean Finn’s) (0-2), Ger Collins (Monaleen), Ian Ryan (St Senan’s) (0-5). Subs: Mike Sheahan (Fr Casey’s) for Coady, Seamus O’Carroll (Kilcornan) for O’Meara, Ian Corbett (Newcastle West) for O’Connor, Lorcan O’Dwyer (Pallasgreen) for O’Roirdan.
Other subs on the day were Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleeen), Mike O’Keeffe (Newcastle West), Damien Quaide (St Mary’s/Sean Finn’s), Stephen Lucey (Croom), Darragh Treacy (St Kieran’s), Danny Neville (Ballysteen) and Sean Sheahan (St Mary’s/Sean Finn’s).
Cregan inducted into Hall of Fame
The Limerick Supporters Club in Dublin sends its congratulations to Eamonn Cregan on his induction to the GAA’s new Hall of Fame at the GAA Museum in Croke Park. Cregan, along with Offaly footballer Tony McTague and the 30 players from the Millennium teams, are the first to be included in the exhibit. GAA President Liam Ó Néill congratulated both players on being named on the prestigious list which honours their massive contribution to the GAA.
He said: “Former players have a special place in the history of the GAA and nowhere is this captured better than in the GAA Museum where their achievements are highlighted and revered. This new facility will serve as a permanent reminder to the greatness of the players who adorned our game at the highest level. It is important that these players are remembered not only by those who were lucky enough to see them, but crucially by those who did not have that privilege. This is one way of assisting in that process and I congratulate them and their families.”
Eamonn Cregan enjoyed a 19-year inter-county hurling career, winning practically every hurling honour at senior level – four Munster championships, a National Hurling League, an Oireachtas medal, four Railway Cups and three All-Star hurling awards. He starred on the Limerick team that won the All-Ireland Senior hurling championship in 1973 – Limerick’s first since 1940. For that game, he was switched from his usual forward position to centre back, a move which many regarded as vital in Limerick’s victory.
Lifting the Treaty 2 – Limerick GAA special convention
At last week’s Limerick GAA special convention in Claughaun, proposals for Lifting the Treaty 2 were put to the county delegates. The end result was the approval of proposals to revamp the senior, intermediate and junior hurling championships from 2014. From next year the senior championship will consist of two groups of six teams with each team guaranteed a minimum of 5 championship games. There will be the introduction of a Premier intermediate championship to consist of a single group of 8 teams. Groupings to be decided on the basis of performance in 2013 senior and intermediate Championships.
Relegation from 2013 senior hurling championship as follows:
3rd Group 1 v 4th Group 2
4th Group 1 v 3rd Group 2
3rd Group 3 v 4th Group 4
4th Group 3 v 3rd Group 4.
The winning teams would proceed to contest the semi-finals of the County Cup with the losing four teams regraded to Premier intermediate. Top team in each group to qualify for semi-finals and 2nd-placed team in each group to qualify for county quarter-final against 3rd-placed team in opposite group.
Participation of divisional teams to be discontinued from 2013. Consequently, to allow for 16 club teams in the championship, it is proposed that there be no relegation from the 2012 senior championship. The new Premier intermediate championship will have a single group of eight teams, ensuring a minimum of seven championship games for each club. Top four teams qualify for semi-finals and both finalists will be promoted to senior for following year. Bottom two teams to be relegated to intermediate for the following year. Champions to represent Limerick in the Munster Club Intermediate Championship.
The intermediate championship will consist of 12 teams divided into two groups of six. The 12 teams shall be those remaining, minus the relegated team, from the 2013 intermediate championship that have not qualified for Premier intermediate. To facilitate a 16-team intermediate championship in 2013, it is proposed that there be no relegation from the 2012 intermediate championship.
The Junior A champions from 2013 will be promoted to this grade for 2014. Top team in each group shall qualify for a semi-final, 2nd and 3rd place teams in each group shall qualify for 2 quarter-finals with the winners progressing to the semi-final. Bottom team in each group to be relegated to junior A for the following year. Championship finalists to be promoted to Premier intermediate for following year.
Football championship draws made
The draws for the 2013 senior and intermediate football championships took place at the Woodlands House Hotel Adare last week.
Senior Group 1: Adare, Monaleen, Pallasgreen, Newcastle West, St Kieran’s, St Patrick’s
Senior Group 2: Mountcollins, Galbally, Ballylanders, Ballysteen, Fr Casey’s, Dromcollogher/Broadford
Opening fixtures: Adare v Monaleen, Pallasgreen v Newcastle West, St Kieran’s v St Patrick’s; Mountcollins v Galbally, Ballylanders v Ballysteen, Fr Casey’s v Dromcollogher/Broadford
Intermediate Group 1: Gerald Griffin’s, Hospital/Herbertstown, Bruff, Cappamore, Na Piarsaigh, Oola
Intermediate Group 2: St Mary’s/Sean Finn’s, Athea, St Senan’s, Claughaun, Mungret, Croom
Opening fixtures: Gerald Griffin’s v Hospital/Herbertstown, Bruff v Cappamore, Na Piarsaigh v Oola; St Mary’s/Sean Finn’s v Athea, St Senan’s v Claughaun, Mungret v Croom
The opening rounds of championship games could be played on the weekends of April 28 or May 5 depending on the success of the Limerick senior footballers in the National Football League.
Senior hurling championship draw tonight
The draw for the 2013 senior hurling championship will take place at the Hyundai showrooms on the Ballysimon Road on Tuesday February 12 at 8pm. It will be broadcast live on Limericks Live 95FM at 8pm this evening.
Under 21 hurling draws made
The draws for the Limerick county premier under 21 hurling championship were made this week.
Group 1: Kilmallock, Patrickswell, Ahane, Mungret, Doon
Opening fixtures (Tuesday February 26): Kilmallock v Patrickswell, Ahane v Mungret, Doon bye
Group 2: Na Piarsaigh, Adare, Singland Gaels (Claughaun/St Patrick’s), Ballybrown, Deel Rangers (Castlemahon/Knockderry)
Opening fixtures (Tuesday February 26): Na Piarsaigh v Adare, Singland Gaels v Ballybrown, Deel Rangers bye.
Round 2 – Tuesday March 5
Round 3 – Tuesday March 12
Round 4 – Tuesday March 19
Round 5 – Tuesday March 26
Quarter finals – Tuesday April 2
Semi finals – Tuesday April 9
Final – Saturday April 20 or Saturday April 27
Senior hurling challenge: Cork 1-22 Limerick 2-15
Limerick senior hurlers took on Cork in a challenge match in St Finbarr’s GAA club grounds last Saturday, going down by 2-15 to 1-22. It was a good competitive game played in relentless rain with a fine attendance despite the very bad weather. Limerick were ahead at half time by 2-7 to 1-9, with Declan Hannon accounting for 1-6 of the Shannonsiders’ first half total and Paul Browne also finding the net. Hannon added two more frees in the second half. The match was also the first with Donal O’Grady as Limerick captain.
Limerick team: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Stephen Walsh (Glenroe), Richie McCarthy (Blackrock), Tom Condon (Knockaderry); Wayne McNamara (Adare), Donal O’Grady (Granagh/Ballingarry), Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock); James Ryan (Garryspillane), Cathal King (Na Piarsaigh); Declan Hannon (Adare) (1-8, 0-7f), Seamus Hickey (Murroe/Boher), David Breen (Na Piarsaigh) (0-1); Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock), Niall Moran (Ahane) (0-1), Paul Browne (Bruff) (1-0).
Subs: Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock) (0-1) for McNamara (inj), Alan Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh) for McCarthy, Conor Allis (Croom) (0-3) for D Breen, Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) for Moran, Adrian Breen (Na Piarsaigh) (0-2) for Browne, David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca) for Hannon, Tommy Quaid (Effin) for Mulcahy, Mark Carmody (Patrickswell) for Condon.
Ladies football: Limerick 4-23 Derry 0-2
Limerick ladies footballers welcomed Derry to Martinstown for Round 2 of the National Football League off the back of a comprehensive win against Carlow last weekend. It took five minutes for Limerick to register their first score with a lovely point from Claire O’Riordan. This was followed up by a smashing goal 30 seconds later from an in-form Dymphna O’Brien. She scored her second goal two minutes later to put Limerick 2-3 to 0-0 ahead.
Derry, playing a very depleted team and going through a process of rebuilding, looked like they were going to make a game of it but further goals from Katie Campbell and Claire O’Riordan, followed by multiple points from all the Limerick forwards, soon put paid to that idea. The half-time score of Limerick 4-18 Derry 0-1 meant that the game was over as a contest at this stage.
The second half of the game saw some great football from both sides, including a penalty saved by Limerick keeper Tina Giltenane 13 minutes after half-time. Limerick’s management made some changes to the team and tried out some new forwards with interesting results. All of Limericks forwards scored once again, leaving the final score at Limerick 4-23 Derry 0-2.
Limerick team: Tina Giltenane; Niamh Foley, Alva Neary, Janet Garvey; Gemma O’Dwyer, Emma McGuire, Aoife Meaney (0-1); Kathryn Fahy (0-3), Niamh Richardson; Mai Kenneally (0-2), Paula Donnelly (0-6), Olivia Giltenane; Stephanie Carroll (0-1), Claire O’Riordan (1-3), Dymphna O’Brien (2-3).
Subs used: Clodagh Reidy (0-1), Katie Campbell (1-2), Sarah Downey, Ide Trant, Niamh McCarthy, Emer Ryan (0-1).
Attendance at training is a must for any player hoping to keep their starting place on the team. Going forward all players must attend training. Next up is an away game to Roscommon next Sunday at 2pm. Limerick ladies Gaelic football is now on Twitter and where practicable, live results and scoring as it happens will be tweeted at all games.
Minor hurling challenge: Limerick 1-18 Clare 1-18
Limerick’s minor hurling training panel got together last Sunday for the first time on the field of play when they took on their Munster neighbours Clare in a challenge match at St Patrick’s pitch in Rhebogue. With Brian Ryan, Eamonn Cregan and Paul Finn still not settled on their championship panel for 2013, the next couple of weeks will be a testing time for management and players to decide who will make the final championship panel. Limerick and Clare played out an exciting draw after sixty minutes of underage hurling at a superb playing surface at the new sand-based pitch at Rhebogue.
Limerick trailed 1-10 to 0-10 at half-time but in the second half both sides were neck and neck with scores. Padraig Ryan got Limerick’s goal midway into the second half and neither side deserved to lose this challenge game as it finished 1-18 each.
Limerick team: Eoin McNamara (Doon); Stephen Ryan (Doon), Richard English (Doon), James Riordan (Bruff); Jeffrey Enright (Ahane), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen) (0-1), Sean Flanagan (Feoghanagh/Castlemahon); Darragh O’Donovan (Doon) (0-2, 1f), Dylan Dawson (Blackrock); Edward Doyle (Monaleen) (0-2), Stephen Power (Ahane) (0-4, 3f), Conor Laffin (Croom) (0-1); Dean Coleman (Doon) (0-2), Padraig Ryan (Doon) (1-3), Graham Whelan (Bruff).
Subs: Jack Quid (Effin) for McNamara, Pat Cummins (Doon) for Flanagan, Darragh Flanning (Pallasgreen) for O’Donovan, Paul O’Halloran (Ahane) for Dawson, Brian Flanning (Pallasgreen) (0-1) for Power, Tom Morrissey (Ahane) for Whelan, Damian Lacey (Dromcollogher/Broadford) (0-2).
Under 21 football challenge: Wexford 1-16 Limerick 3-11
Limerick under 21 footballers had a one-point victory Wexford in a challenge match in Piltown on Saturday February 9. Limerick led 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time in the match.
Limerick team: James Brudair (Mountcollins), Paul White (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Brendan McCarthy (St Kieran’s), Mike O’Leary (Newcastle West), Sean Barrett (Kilmallock), Paul Hannan (Newcastle West), Kevin Brosnan (Monagea), Stephen Power (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Bill Creamer (Cappamore), Peter Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Michael Brosnan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Jamie Lee (Newcastle West), Denis O’Dea (Kilteely/Dromkeen), Francis O’Riordan (St.Senan’s).
Subs: James O’Meara (Fr Casey’s), Kevin Meade (St Kieran’s), Kevin O’Donoghue (Hospital/Herbertstown), Adrian Stackpool (St Mary’s/Sean Finns), Garrett Kennedy (Claughaun), Brendan Giltenane (Mungret), Shane Irwin (Bruff), Danny Frewen (Ballylanders).
Officials
Congratulations to Limerick referee Shane Hourigan who did a great job on refereeing St Gabriel’s of London and Clara of Kilkenny also to his umpires who did Limerick proud on their performance in the All Ireland intermediate hurling club championship Final at Croke Park last Sunday afternoon.
Results
National Football League: Offaly 1-8 Limerick 0-12
National Ladies Fooball League: Limerick 4-23 Derry 0-2
Fitzgibbon Cup: Mary Immaculate College 1-13 UCC 1-13, DIT 1-15 UL 0-15
Senior hurling challenge: Limerick 2-15 Cork 1-21
Under 21 football challenge: Limerick 3-11 Wexford 1-16
Minor hurling challenge: Limerick 1-18 Clare 1-18
Harty Cup semi-final replay: Ard Scoil Ris 0-14 Our Lady’s Templemore 1-13
Munster camogie Minor A championship semi-final: Limerick 1-6 Cork 1-11
