WHAT could have been a red-letter weekend for Limerick Gaelic Football did not go to plan after defeats for Newcastle West and Na Piarsaigh in their respective Munster Finals. Newcastle West fell to Kerry’s Kerins O’Rahilly’s, while Na Piarsaigh lost to another Kerry outfit, Rathmore.
Newcastle West came within a point of a star-studded Kerins outfit in a highly competitive Munster Club Senior Football Championship Final in Mallow on Saturday. Jimmy Lee’s charges were one point to the good at half time but two Kerins goals saw them in control heading into the final quarter.
The Magpies rallied to trail by a point in injury time, however, they were unable to get an equaliser to force extra time. Following the defeat, Newcastle manager Jimmy Lee told Stream Sport after the game that he was extremely proud of the effort his players put in.
“We gave it our all. The bounce of the ball could have gone our way. We are disappointed, there is no doubting that. I couldn’t ask any more of the lads in fairness to them. They have given their all. There isn’t more you can ask of them.
“We kept trying. The lads are resilient. It’s hard, it’s not the happiest of dressing rooms but it’s not the saddest either. We have got to put it in perspective. We’re disappointed but sure life goes on.”
The defeat for Newcastle West sees Limerick clubs’ lack of a Munster senior title now go on another year. Drom-Broadford remain the last Limerick side to taste that glory with their victory coming way back in 2008.
After Na Piarsaigh’s loss to Rathmore, Limerick remain without a title at the provincial Intermediate grade. The Caherdavin side fell to a 10-point defeat to a classy Rathmore outfit.
Things could have been different for Michael Lynch’s men, but they were denied goals either side of half time thanks to a magnificent last ditch save and Kieran Daly’s shot rattling off the crossbar.
Following the defeat, Lynch told Stream Sport that he was proud of the effort his side put in against a heavily fancied Rathmore outfit: “We came down here and not too many people gave us a chance”.
“We were right in it. At the start of the second half we kicked some great points. The shot off the crossbar was a big turning point. It’s a two-point game if that goes in but they go up the other end, get a goal and it’s a six-point swing.
“Our only goal this year was to get back senior. We did that. This has been a bit of a bonus but once we got into the competition, we wanted to give it a good rattle. It’s the first time the club have won a Munster club football match. We won two this year and got into a final.
“That group of lads in the dressing room have represented themselves and the parish well.”
