On This Day: Limerick Hurlers earn promotion after nine years in 1B & More!

March 11

On this day three years ago, Limerick overcame Galway in Salthill to earn promotion to the top tier of the League. A year previously they had a win over Laois and were victorious over the same opponents in 2012.

In 2015 the U21 Footballers fell to Cork after a spirited performance.

2018

Limerick’s eight year stint in the second tier of the League finally came to an end as they were promoted to Division 1A with a 2-18 to 1-19 win over defending All-Ireland champions Galway.

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Coming into the game, the winners were guaranteed promotion to the top tier.

Galway hit the ground running and were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead within three minutes in Salthill.

Gearoid Hegarty got Limerick up and running and Aaron Gillane followed that up with a penalty goal after Barry Murphy was fouled in the area.

Galway hit back with four in a row and by the half hour, they were nine clear at 1-13 to 1-4. At half-time, their advantage was eight.

Limerick reallied with two at the start of the second but a Jason Flynn free stemmed the tide somewhat.

But Limerick hit three on the bounce and Kyle Hayes’ 48th minute goal left the bare minimum between the sides.

Limerick wouldn’t draw level until the 59th minute as Seamus Flanagan got his fifth of the day but Joe Canning pulled Galway ahead once more.

Limerick found their first lead of the game in the 68th minute with Cian Lynch firing over after a brilliant run. And Pat Ryan added the insurance score minutes later to ensure promotion.

2017

Limerick put Laois to the sword for a 29-point win in the fourth Round of the National Hurling League in Portlaoise.

Gearoid Hegarty, Shane Dowling and Kyle Hayes were instrumental in helping Limerick into a 13-point lead.

In his first season out of the minor ranks, Hayes bagged a couple of first half goals while Dowling had 1-7 in the opening period alone in his maiden appearance of the season.

Hegarty added five from play and set up a brace of goals with Limerick leading 3-14 to 0-10 at the interval.

The St Patricks man started where he left off in the second half and added two goals to bring his personal tally to 2-6. Colin Ryan bagged Limerick’s sixth goal.

Laois did get a goal of their own with Enda Rowland converting but in the end Limerick were comfortable winning 6-33 to 1-19.

2015

The Limerick U21 footballers almost caused a shock but eventually succumbed to Cork 5-8 to 1-12 in the Munster quarter-final in the Gaelic Groudns.

In the end, Cork’s barrage of goals would prove the difference and it only took four minutes for them to get their first after Kevin Moore opened the scoring for Limerick.

Limerick responded with two more points but Cork had their second goal after 12 minutes with Sean O’Donoghue bundling the ball home.

But Cork wouldn’t score for the next 13 minutes with Gearoid Hegarty and William O’Donoghue imperious in midfield. Four on the bounce had Limerick level at 0-7 to 2-1 after 23 minutes.

Cork had three of the next four but Limerick looked well in contention approaching the half before the Rebels had their third to give them a 3-4 to 0-8 cushion at the break.

But the Shannonsiders didn’t seem perturbed by the setback and were level within ten minutes of the restart with Cian Sheehan goaling.

Yet, they couldn’t find the lead and the next two scores were both Cork goals. Cillian Fahy had Limerick’s second goal with the final score of the day but in the end it was disappointment for Declan Brouder’s men.

2012

John Allen got his first win as Limerick manager as they beat Laois 1-24 to 2-12 in Portlaoise in the second round of the league.

Limerick were full value for the win with the foundations laid in the first fifteen minutes as they raced into a 1-8 to 0-2 lead.

David Breen was on hand for the goal but it was Graeme Mulcahy who stood out as he struck over six points from play.

The goal seemed to spark the hosts into life and they have four of the next five scores. A couple from Shane Dowling reestablished Limerick’s lead but Laois then got their first goal of the game to leave it at 1-14 to 1-9 in the visitors favour at the half.

Dowling popped over a couple on the restart and soon Laois’ resistance began to falter. Limerick were 1-17 to 1-12 clear with twenty mints to play and they restricted Laois to just one more score, a late consolation goal.

In the meantime, Conor Allis stepped in for the injured Dowling to take over the free taking duties hitting 0-5 down the stretch to seal the nine point win.

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