Limerick county hurling team

The Limerick county hurling team represents Limerick in hurling and is governed by Limerick GAA, the County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team compete in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and the National Hurling League.

Limerick's home ground is Páirc na nGael, Limerick. The team's manager is John Kiely.

The team last won the Munster Senior Championship in 2019, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 2018 and the National League in 2019.

History

Limerick won the first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1887 and repeated this success in 1896, when it became the first non-Leinster team to beat the then all-conquering Dublin in a championship match. In 1897, its first outright success was achieved in hurling when a Kilfinane side defeated Tullaroan of Kilkenny in the final (at that time, counties were represented by champion clubs). The county team won the All-Ireland in 1918, a feat repeated in 1921 when they won the inaugural Liam MacCarthy Cup. The sides that achieved those wins contained many players who were on Limerick teams that contested seven Munster finals in a row, a record that stood for more than 70 years.

The 1930s were the salad days of Limerick hurling, an era in which the county won five National Leagues in a row, a record still unequalled. They also won four Munster Championships in a row, and remain the only county other than Cork to have done so. After winning All-Irelands in 1934 and 1936, another outright success was achieved in 1940. This team did much to raise the profile of hurling: whereas in 1930 about 30,000 attended the All-Ireland Final, by 1940 it had gone up to 50,000 and the swashbuckling play of the Mackeys, Ryans, Clohesseys, McConkey and Scanlan etc. were recalled for decades after. Victory in 1940 left Limerick, with six All-Irelands, as the only county outside of the 'big three' (Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny), to have won more than one All-Ireland hurling title. Dublin had also six All Ireland Senior Hurling at that time but no native of the county had played in any of these teams.

The county then fell on quieter times and up to 2018, had added only one more Senior All-Ireland title, in 1973. However six National Leagues were won between 1947 and 1995, and three Under-21 All Irelands in a row in the early 2000s.

In 2007, Limerick beat Tipperary in a thrilling Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final which is now known as the Trilogy, as it took 3 games to separate these close rivals. The final score line of the 2nd replay was 0.22 to 2.13. 30,608 fans witnessed this now historic occasion as Limerick had not beaten Tipperary since 1996. Indeed, they had not won a match in the Munster Championship since their comeback against Waterford in 2001, to a Munster Final they subsequently lost to their 'monkey on their back' or as Seamus Hickey referred to them, 'gorilla' Tipperary. However, Limerick subsequently lost the Munster Final to Waterford on 8 July in Thurles. They regrouped and beat Clare (1:23 - 1:16) in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final on 29 July. Andrew O'Shaughnessy (Shaughs/Shocks) picked up the Man of the Match (MotM) award in this match. On 12 August, they played Waterford in the semi-final, a rematch of the Munster Final a month previously. The result was not the same. A scoreline of 5:11 - 2:15 was enough to defeat the Deise Men. The goals came from Donie Ryan (2), Andrew O'Shaughnessy (2 - from play & a penalty) and Brian Begley (1). O'Shaughnessy once again picked up the MotM award for his fine display. On 2 September 2007 in Croke Park, Limerick played in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. Lady Luck did not strike twice however and it was to be Kilkenny's day. Final score: Kilkenny 2-19 - 1-15 Limerick.

In 2008, with many predicting that Limerick would secure Munster and All-Ireland titles, the county was drawn against Clare in the first round of the championship. Clare defeated them on a score-line of 4-12 to 1-16. This meant that Limerick were now entered in a newly revised All-Ireland qualifying system against Offaly. Again Limerick were defeated, this time on a score-line of 3-19 to 0-18. With this defeat Limerick were now out of championship hurling. This left many wondering "Was the run of 2007 only a flash in the pan?".

2009 saw Limerick open in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship against Waterford. They drew the 1st day out and were narrowly beaten in the replay. After this Limerick entered the Qualifiers where they dispatched Wexford, Laois and Dublin in tight affairs to reach and all ireland semi final v Tipperary. The semi-final was a disaster with Tipperary winning comfortably by 22 points. In the weeks that followed Justin McCarthy dropped 12 players (who only found out via the Irish Examiner) and a further 12 players withdrew from the panel in protest and would refuse to return as long as McCarthy was in charge.

The County Board held 3 meetings in which it was decided McCarthy would be retained. Limerick were relegated from Division 1 of the National Hurling League with 8 losses from 8 games. In the 1st cound of the championship Limerick lost to Cork and were then beaten by Offaly in the qualifiers. In total Limerick lost their 10 matches by an average of 15 points. Subsequently McCarthy resigned as manager. In September 2010 Dónal O'Grady was appointed to be the new Limerick hurling manager.

2011 saw Limerick improved dramatically from National Hurling League to Championship winning nearly every game and being promoted to Division 1 only to be later to Division 1B The Munster Senior Hurling Championship against Waterford. The game proved to be very tight with Waterford eventually snatching with a late goal from John Mullane The "Shannonsiders" had a good run in the Qualifiers where they defeated Wexford and trounced Antrim to reach the All Ireland Quarter Final against National Hurling League champions Dublin where The "Liffeysiders" ran out winners 3-13 to 0-18. A few months later O'Grady resigned as manager after his determination that he was just staying as coach for one year. In October 2011, John Allen was appointed as the replacement. His first year brought early season controversy as inadequate fitness levels contributed to defeats against Clare in the Division 1B Final, and in the Munster Championship against Tipperary. However, an extensive specifically designed summer fitness course led to a huge improvement and a creditable performance against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final provided hope for 2013. As in 2012, Limerick were beaten by Dublin in the Division 1B Final, losing to Anthony Daly's Dublin. That summer would bring a pitch invasion as Limerick became Munster Champions for the first time since 1996. The epic celebrations led to a predictable loss of focus and Clare won the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Limerick at Croke Park.

Limerick won the 2018 All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, their first since 1973, with a 3–16 to 2–18 point defeat of Galway in the final.[1]

Current squad
No. Player Position Club
1 Nicky Quaid Goalkeeper Effin
2 Seán Finn Right Corner Back Bruff
3 Mike Casey Full Back Na Piarsaigh
4 Richie English Left Corner Back Doon
5 Diarmaid Byrnes Right Half Back Patrickswell
6 Declan Hannon (c) Centre Back Adare
7 Dan Morrissey Left Half Back Ahane
8 Cian Lynch Midfield Patrickswell
9 William O'Donoghue Midfield Na Piarsaigh
10 Gearóid Hegarty Right Half Forward St Patrick's
11 Kyle Hayes Centre Forward Kildimo-Pallaskenry
12 Tom Morrissey Left Half Forward Ahane
13 Aaron Gillane Right Corner Forward Patrickswell
14 Graeme Mulcahy Full Forward Kilmallock
15 Peter Casey Left Corner Forward Na Piarsaigh
No. Player Position Club
16 Barry Hennessy Substitute Kilmallock
17 Tom Condon Substitute Knockaderry
18 Aaron Costello Substitute Kilmallock
19 Shane Dowling Substitute Na Piarsaigh
20 Séamus Flanagan Substitute Feohanagh-Castlemahon
21 Barry Nash Substitute South Liberties
22 Darragh O'Donovan Substitute Doon
23 Paddy O'Loughlin Substitute Kilmallock
24 David Reidy Substitute Dromin-Athlacca
25 Colin Ryan Substitute Pallasgreen
26 Pat Ryan Substitute Doon

Squad as per Limerick v Tipperary, 2019 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final, 30 June 2019

Current management team

Managerial history
NameClubFromToAll-Ireland titlesMunster titles
Dick Stokes
Jackie Power
Sean Cunningham
Denis Barrett
Jim Quaid		Pallasgreen
Ahane
Doon
Bruff
Feohanagh-Castlemahon		1972197519731973, 1974
Dick Stokes
JP Ryan
John Mulcahy
Kevin Long
Phil Bennis		Pallasgreen
Garryspillane
Cappamore
Feenagh-Kilmeedy
Patrickswell		19751976
Noel DrumgooleNa Piarsaigh197719821980, 1981
Brother Michael O'GradyPatrickswell19821984
Noel DrumgooleNa Piarsaigh19841986
Éamonn CreganClaughaun19861988
Liam O'Donoghue
Donie Flynn
Tony Hickey		Mungret St. Pauls
Killeedy
Murroe-Boher		19881989
Phil BennisPatrickswell19891989
Liam O'Donoghue
Donie Flynn
Tony Hickey		Mungret St. Pauls
Killeedy
Murroe-Boher		19891991
Phil BennisPatrickswell19911993
Tom RyanBallybrown199319971994, 1996
Éamonn CreganClaughaun19972002
David KeaneAdare20022003
Pad Joe WhelahanBirr, Offaly20032005
Joe McKennaSouth Liberties20052006
Richie BennisPatrickswell20062008
Justin McCarthyPassage West, Cork20082010
Dónal O'GradySt. Finbarr's, Cork20102011
John AllenSt. Finbarr's, Cork201120132013
TJ Ryan
Dónal O'Grady		Garryspillane
St. Finbarr's, Cork		20132014
TJ RyanGarryspillane20142016
John KielyGalbally2016Present20182019

Players

Notable players

Records

Limerick have 53 Hurling All Stars.

Honours
All-Ireland Championships
Munster Championships
Other

See also

References
  1. "New green wave ends 45 years of heartache for Limerick". Irish Examiner. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  2. "Extra special win for Limerick". Irish Examiner. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  3. "Munster U21HC final: Treaty Lynch Banner". Hogan Stand. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  4. "Munster U21HC final: Treaty battle past Rebels". Hogan Stand. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  5. "Limerick end 29-year wait for Munster title in style". Irish Examiner. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  6. "Munster MHC final replay: Treaty surge to break Deise resistance". Hogan Stand. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  7. "Success for Limerick Hurlers in Waterford Crystal Cup action". Irish Examiner. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  8. "LIMERICK 0-16 CLARE 0-10". Munster GAA. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  9. "Limerick 1-32 Cork 0-20". Munster GAA. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  10. "Limerick round off glorious year with Fenway Classic victory in Boston". Irish Times. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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