MONALEEN run-up against Drom and Inch (Tipperary) in the Munster Junior B Hurling Championship Final at St Ita’s Park, Raheenagh on Saturday (2.30pm).
Inaugurated some 20 years ago, in the absence of a provincial competition for which themselves as Limerick winners could compete, Killeedy have hosted a Munster, Leinster, and All-Ireland Series ever since.
Limerick teams to have claimed Munster honours are Bruree (2009), St Mary’s Sean Finns of Rathkeale (2010), Templeglantine (2014), Cappamore (2019), and Bruff (2023). Doon (2015), even though beaten provincial finalists, are the only Limerick side to have won out at national level.
The current Limerick champions, under the joint-management of Eamon O’Connell, have quality operators in Darragh Clifford, Noel Clancy, Conor Nicholas, Ben Murnane, Cian O’Dwyer, Conall Ó Duinn, and Max Ivory, who struck five points in the extra-time semi-final defeat of Wolfe Tones Shannon, Clare.
In the semi-final, the late scoring contributions of Ivory, Murnane, O’Dwyer, and goalkeeper Muiris Ó Dálaigh were what edged Monaleen to an ultimate 0-11 to 0-8 victory.
Monaleen are captained by veteran Damien Cosgrave.
Sharp-shooter Paul Kennedy is certainly one player Monaleen must keep tabs on at the weekend. He hit 11 points from Drom in their semi-final win against St Oliver Plunketts (Cork). Other forwards of the note for the Tipp representatives are Joe Lupton, Joey Maher, and Kevin Butler.
On offer to the winners is the impressive Michael Fitzmaurice Cup.
At the weekend, Ballinaloe (Galway) defeated Offaly’s Birr in an exciting Leinster Final at the same venue.
All four finalists will remain in the hunt for the All-Ireland series, which concludes early next month.
Killeedy club is headed-up by chairperson Miriam Magner Flynn. The championships are sponsored by the proprietor of The Pub, Adam Teskey.
Similarly, Knockaderry host a football equivalent. Here, Limerick champions Ballylanders were beaten by Shannon Rovers (Tipperary).
