LAST Sunday was a red-letter day for Monaleen when they saw off Tipperary opposition to earn the Munster Intermediate Hurling title. The victory over Roscrea also sees the city outfit into an All-Ireland semi-final.
It’s been a sensational 12 months for a club that lost every game at senior and junior championship level last season. That has all changed now as they have made it back up to the top level of club hurling in Limerick at the first attempt. Mark O’Dwyer’s 15 points were a huge help on their road to victory.
Key to that success was the appointment of Toomevara’s Eoin Brislane to the manager’s role in the off season. The former Tipperary player told Stream Sport that the backing of the club off the field and from the players on the field was vital to their success.
“Anything we ask of them, they really take it in. They are really intelligent guys. It’s a joy to coach them. We have like-minded people, like minded coaches, all going the one direction. It makes a huge difference and a club that is backing us.”
Sadly, it was not to be for Limerick’s St Kieran’s in their Munster Club Junior Hurling Final against Cork’s Ballygiblin. The west Limerick side were beaten by 10 points in Mallow despite the best efforts of their captain Ian Mackessy.
A first half hat-trick from Shane Beston, less than 24 hours after getting married, saw Ballygiblin home to victory.
Locally, Na Piarsaigh added the Intermediate Hurling crown to the senior title they won in October with victory over Croagh-Kilfinny. The win sees the Caherdavin club’s second team play in the Premier Intermediate grade for 2023.
Elsewhere, a large crowd of enthusiastic Limerick fans gathered at Talking Leaves Bookshop in Castletroy for the launch of the eagerly awaited Illustrated Tales from The Limerick Terraces by Niall Deegan and Liam O’Brien.
The book offers a unique perspective on Limerick’s 2022 All-Ireland Hurling Final win by turning the spotlight on the county’s great supporters. The book contains photographs of 500 Limerick supporters on the magnificent day of glory at sunny Croke Park on July 17.
The net profits from the sale of the book will go to Milford Care Centre in Castletroy.
The launch proved to be a joyous celebration as Niall and Liam were joined by former Limerick great Shane Dowling, with the Liam MacCarthy Cup in tow.
Photo: Aidan Ryan.
