Limerick Hurling and Football

Started by youbetterbelieveit, December 21, 2006, 02:03:13 PM

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youbetterbelieveit

I think its about time i set up a limerick thread.

Since most of the other counties have their own thread.

youbetterbelieveit

The Munster Council has confirmed the venues for next year's senior hurling quarter-final and semi-finals.

Reigning champions Cork will begin their title defence against Clare in the quarter-final at Thurles on May 27. In the event of Cork winning, the semi-final against Waterford will also take place at Semple Stadium on June 17.

The Gaelic Grounds will host the other semi-final between Limerick and Tipperary on June 10.

So we are up against Tipp against, only we have the home advantage. We will need a good run in the league in order to get the confidence back up.

Hopefully some new talent will emerge over the next few months, and along with having Peter Lawlor back in the fold, we might just be able to look forward to a good summer.

highking

ybbi,

Any chance you could give us a hand answering these few limerick questions?

20) Limerick had only one player on the Waterford Crystal Munster Hurling All Stars selection which was chosen in early August. Name him?


61) The Limerick selectors assisting new manager Richie Bennis for 2007 are?


Thanks,

Highking


youbetterbelieveit

Moran has no gra for ’nearly’ men tag
27 December 2006


Another year, another series of moral victories. Limerick forward Niall Moran says he has had his fill of going close but not close enough.

]Limerick hurling and moral victories go hand in hand, it seems. Bu top-rated attacker Niall Moran admits he is fed up being part of a ’nearly’ team.

For more years than most hurling fans can remember, the small ball game in Limerick has been in a downward spiral.

Next year it’ll be ten years since the county last lifted the NHL crown by beating Galway.

And one has to go back to the days of Cregan, Bennis et al to illicit memories of Liam McCarthy-winning days.

For part of 2006, Richie of the clan Bennis was in charge of his county’s elite hurlers.

One of his charges was Niall Moran.

Neither man let their county down. Sadly, yet again the Shannonsiders had only morale victories to look back on in a year which promised much more.

"We might be inclined to comfort one another with a reminder that we ran Cork to a point and got to the league final but we’re still no closer to a breakthrough than we have been," Moran says with refreshing honesty. It’s not difficult to fathom Moran’s apparent abject resignation to his county’s fate in 2006.

For a period in the summer, Limerick hurling appeared to be in a state of flux.

The resignation of Joe McKenna as team-manager hit the county in the solar plexus.

And while no one man holds the key to winning a team competition, the subsequent fall-out seemed to spawn a thousand recriminations.

For his part, Moran was content to concentrate on what he does best and his display in the heroic but ultimately unsuccessful joust with Cork said a lot about where his heart lay.

The Treaty County’s summary exit from the Munster SHC title race and the subsequent All-Ireland qualifiers left a pall of doom hanging over the green and whites.

Months on and there’s still a distinct level of disquiet in Limerick hurling circles.

However for county attacker Moran, it’s time that those with Limerick hurling at heart to move forward together and leave the past to the past.

"There were a lot of reasons why things didn’t go well for us during the year but it’s time we moved on.

"The county’s All-Ireland win in the seventies didn’t do anything for us over the years and going back over the ground we covered in 2006, again and again, isn’t going to help us be successful next year," the Ahane ace insists.

To be successful in 2007, Limerick must overcome the usual suspects.

Those at hurling’s peleton in 2006 are likely to be setting the pace again next year, Moran acknowledges.

He believes the cream has risen to the top this year but, worryingly, reckons there’s an increasing possibility that the chasing pack could be cut adrift of Cork and Kilkenny.

He agrees with the suggestion that, in layman’s terms, a gap has opened up between the big two and the rest.

"I don’t think there’s too many people who know anything about hurling would disagree with that but the onus is on the rest of us to reel them in," he confides.

Brother of fellow county star Ollie, the attack-minded Limerick defender had a fancy for Galway at the start of the year but "they never got off the ground.”

Like hurling enthusiasts in perhaps 20 other counties, he thinks a Liam McCarthy Cup win for Waterford - outside a Limerick title win of course - would have been the best thing that could have happened the game of hurling in 2006.

"I think the whole country would like to see new faces at the top.

"Waterford were unfortunate but sympathy votes don’t get you All-Irelands," Moran maintains.

Limerick were a long way off winning the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2006.

"I can understand how fans might have given up on us because that didn’t happen but, I can tell you, the players are even more sick at the way things went."
Niall has yet to put his finger on the primary reason why things went pear-shaped for Limerick last summer.

"I don’t know what went wrong. We’ve a young team that’s maybe developing a losing mentality which is not a good thing when you’re pushed to the pin of your collar against a top team in the championship.

"Cork are the opposite. They have developed a winning habit which breeds a certain mentality that some people, mistakeningly in my view, regard as being as a sort of cockiness.

"I just think it’s confidence they exude, nothing more.

"They know how to graft it out when need be; it’s a long time since they gave a team a really big hammering.

"Cork seemed to be able to just do all they need to do to get across the finishing line.

They’ve got that down to a fine art."
The eloquence Niall brings to teasing out the vagaries of a season really best forgotten mirrors that with which he brings to the table on big match day.

The only time he stutters in interview mode is when a delivery smacking of a sympathy vote is dispatched his way.

After a pause, he accepts there may be a case for saying that Limerick hurlers didn’t exactly get the rub of the green in 2006.

"Certain refereeing decisions have been mentioned nearly every year we go out of the championship but we probably didn’t get a few decisions we should have got over the summer.

"Some would say that a lot of the marginal decisions have gone against us and that other teams get the bulk of the breaks.

"Some might see that’s sour grapes but that’s the way a lot of people see it in Limerick."
It was, co-incidentally, a controversial second half goal for Kilkenny that left Limerick on the slippery slope in their NFL final meeting last April.

The Cats’ credentials were being thoroughly examined by the determined Limerick lads when, with a quarter of an hour left, Henry Shefflin blasted in his side’s third goal to leave Limerick trailing by six points.

Limerick were incensed though because they believed that Kilkenny attacker Martin Comerford had deliberately dropped his hurley before playing in Eoin Larkin who gave the final pass.

"It was there for everyone to see and everyone saw it, but obviously the referee didn’t," the then county boss Joe McKenna lamented after the game in Thurles.

"There was no doubt that goal was critical and was the turning point in the game," Niall concurs.

"We had brought it back to two points in the second half and then they got the goal which should have been a free out and that changed the whole game.

"Once again we just didn’t get a break."
But what did he make of the league final overall?
"We played very well that day but they took their chances.

"We were very positive though and must have had 60% of the possession but didn’t make it pay on the scoreboard."
Perhaps rather surprisingly, according to our man Moran, Limerick, by dint of their league exertions, took their eyes off the championship ball.

"We were trying to do as well as we could in the league but by the time the final came around, I think we hit our best form.

"In hindsight, we probably peaked in late April, early May and the hurling we played in the league final ended up as probably the best we played all year.”


Limerick’s 2-12 to 0-22 defeat to the Premier County on May 14th last still irks the Limerick forward of course.

The team’s number one objective, Moran says, was to beat Tipperary in the opening round of the Munster SHC but Eoin Kelly proved to be the difference - his performance being a thing of beauty.

"We looked to beat Tipp and get a good run in the Munster championship but they (Tipp) were lying in the long grass waiting for us and Eoin Kelly was just on fire that day.

"Looking back, we seemed to lack hunger against Tipp or were tired. We had played something like fourteen or fifteen games before the Tipp match in the championship, including the games in the Waterford Crystal competition.

"We went through those games unbeaten, up until the league final, but maybe they all caught up on us in the end."
After losing to Tipp, Moran and Co. were given a lesson by Clare.

"That was a big shock because I felt we had a good chance but the confidence in the team overall seemed to have gone at that stage and we were on the slide from very early on in that match.

"It was definitely a case of the chickens coming home to roost in that match," Niall recalls.

Thereafter a few unforced errors in the run-up to half-time scuttled Limerick’s bid to de-rail champions Cork.

Did Limerick put down a marker for the future though by virtue of their sterling display in going down by 0-18 to 0-19 to the defending All-Ireland champions?
"I don’t know about that.

"It’s still a relatively young squad even though we’ve been saying that for a few years now.

"There’s a lot of lads who were part of the All-Ireland under 21 winnings teams of 2000, 2001 and 2002 in the current squad.

"But we weren’t pleased by getting to within a point of Cork.

"We made a great comeback in the second half but, at the end of the day, we didn’t win the match.

"I was pleasantly surprised by how well we played against Cork but as to whether that can be a building block for next year, who knows?

youbetterbelieveit

Hey Highking, not a bother.

The munster all star hurler was: Mark Foley (Adare & Limerick)

The 2007 selectors are:  Gary Kirby (Patrickswell), Bernie Hartigan (Old Christians), Anothony O'Riordan (Bruff) and Tony Hickey (Murroe-Boher)

highking

Thanks ybbi. Have a wonderful new year.

highking

youbetterbelieveit

The Waterofrd Crystal Hurling Cup is starting over the next few next weekends.

14/01/2007 Limerick v Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT)    Venue: Kilmallock

21/01/2007 Winners v Waterford

youbetterbelieveit

Treaty duals opt for hurling
05/01/2007 15:20:09

Limerick's dual jewels have all committed to the ancient game for 2007 after turning down offers from football manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan to play the big-ball game.

Brian Begley, Stephen Lucey, Mark O'Riordan, Conor Fitzgerald and Mike O'Brien all met individually with O'Sullivan before deciding to commit solely to Richie Bennis' hurling panel for the year.

Better news, however, for Treaty County football fans is Stephen Kelly's decision to continue playing despite also lining out for Shannon in rugby.

Kelly's presence will be a welcome boost following the intercounty retirements of Muiris Gavin, Johnny Murphy and Damien Reidy.

Stephen Lavin, meanwhile, is in the US and will be unavailable to the Treatyites for their opening two National Football League Division 1A games (against Fermanagh and Dublin), while Eoin Keating is also abroad and may not play any part this year.

O'Sullivan expects Seanie Buckley to return to training in February following his groin operation

youbetterbelieveit

Championship Draws
Senior Hurling Draw 2007:

Bruree v Granagh/Ballingarry
Kileedy v Croom
Patrickswell v Murroe/Boher
Adare v Na Piarsaigh
Claughaun v Knockainey
Tournafulla v East Geraldines
Kilmallock v Garryspillane
Ahane v Doon

Intermediate Hurling Draw :

Group 1 - Pallasgreen,Ballybrown,Monaleen,Knockaderry,Patrickswell.
Group 2 - Kildimo,Hosp/Herb,Drom/Athlacca,Feohanagh.
Group 3 - Mungret,Glenroe,Bruff,Newcastlewest.
Group 4 - Cappamore,South Liberties,Ballybricken,Feenagh.

youbetterbelieveit

TEAM NAMED FOR SUNDAY


Murray (Patrickswell)
W Walsh (Murroe/Boher)
S Lucey (Croon)
D Reale (C) (Hospital/Herbertstown)
P Lawlor (Croom)
B Geary (Monaleen)
P O Dwyer (Kilmallock)
M O Brien (Glenroe)
D O Grady (Granagh/Ballingarry)
N Moran (Ahane)
O Moran (Ahane)
M Fitz (Doon)
Shox (Kilmallock)
S O Conner (Ahane)
B Foley (Patrickswell)

m_the_d

Anyone help with scores for these back fixtures?

MFC 12-a-side: R2:Mountcollins vs Blackrock(PP), Monagea vs Cois Laoi Gaels(PP).

IFL 1B: R3:Bruff vs Oola(PP), Cappamore vs Galtee Gaels(PP).

JFL: R3:Patrickswell vs Banogue(PP), Ahane vs Castlemahon(PP).

SHL 1A: R6:Bruff vs Kilmallock, Tournafulla vs Adare, Granagh Ballingarry vs Croom.

SHL 1B: R6:Doon vs Na Piarsaigh.

IHL 1A: R4:Dromin Athlacca vs Ballybricken Bohermore, Cappamore vs South Liberties, R5:Glenroe vs Ballybricken Bohermore, R6:Ballybricken Bohermore vs South Liberties.

IHL 1B: R4:NCW vs Killeedy, Monaleen vs Kildimo, R6:Mungret vs Monagea.

JHL 1A: R1:Feenagh Kilmeedy vs Kilmallock, R5:Crecora vs Blackrock, St Patricks vs CTB, R7:Staker Wallace vs Kilmallock, St Patricks vs Blackrock.

JHL 1B: R4:Askeaton vs Templeglantine, R6:Bruree vs Feohanagh.

MHC 12-a-side: R5:Dromin Athlacca vs Caherline.

City/East MHC: R1:Cappamore vs South Liberties, Ahane vs Murroe Boher.

East
JAHC: R1:Doon vs Ahane.

South
JBHC: R1:Blackrock vs Camogue Rovers, Effin vs Hospital Herbertstown.
U21BFC: Final:Ballylanders vs Galbally.
U21AHC: Final:Kilmallock vs Bruff.
MHC: R1:Knockainey vs Bruff, Croom vs Blackrock.
SFC: SF:Ballylanders vs Bruff.

West
JAFC: R2:Cappagh vs Feenagh Kilmeedy, Sean Finns vs Glin, Castlemahon vs Granagh Ballingarry.
JBFC: R2:St Senans vs Athea, Newcastlewest vs Kilcornan, Mountcollins vs St Kierans.
JBHC: R1:Tournafulla vs Feohanagh.
MAHC: Final:Newcastlewest vs Bunoke Gaels.
MBHC: R1:St Brendans vs Allaughaun Gaels, R2:St Kierans vs Allaughaun Gaels.
MFC: R3:Adare vs GB(PP).

slimmershady


m_the_d

I'm going to include matches that have been postponed in this list, so if anyone has a new date/time/venue let me know. Link to website HERE

Any Results from the following:

MFC 12-a-side: R2:Mountcollins vs Blackrock, Monagea vs Cois Laoi Gaels, R4:Banogue vs Blackrock, Caherconlish vs Castletown Ballyagran, Gerald Griffins vs Monagea.

City/East MHC: R1:St Patricks vs Killulta Gaels, Naomh Brid vs Murroe Boher.

MHC 12-a-side: R4:Crecora Manister vs Glenroe, R6:Cois Laoi Gaels vs Monaleen, Dromin Athlacca vs Glenroe, Caherline vs Castletown Ballyagran.

MHC Premier: R1:Adare vs Doon, R3:Claughaun vs Adare.

County JAHL Final:Doon vs Drom Broadford.

East
SHC Cup Final:Pallasgreen vs South Liberties.
JBHC: R1:Caherline vs Doon.

South
JBHC: R3:Blackrock vs Castletown Ballyagran, Bruff vs Staker Wallace, Glenroe vs Knockainey.
U21BFC: Final:Ballylanders vs Galbally.
U21BHC: R1:Cois Laoi Gaels vs Blackrock.
MHC: R1:Croom vs Blackrock, R2:Knockainey vs Hospital Herbertsown.
SFC: SF:Ballylanders vs Bruff.

West
JAFC: R2:Mountcollins vs Castlemahon, Monagea vs Granagh Ballingarry.
JBFC: R3:Athea vs Glin, Dromcollogher Broadford vs Newcastlewest.
JAHC: R2:Adare vs St Kierans.

JFL: R3:Patrickswell vs Banogue.

SHL 1A: R6:Bruff vs Kilmallock.

SHL 1B: R6:Doon vs Na Piarsaigh.

IHL 1A: R4:Dromin Athlacca vs Ballybricken Bohermore, R5:Glenroe vs Ballybricken Bohermore.

IHL 1B: R4:Newcastlewest vs Killeedy, Monaleen vs Kildimo, R6:Mungret vs Monagea.

JHL 1A: R5:Crecora vs Blackrock, St Patricks vs Castletown Ballyagran, R9:St Patricks vs Kilmallock, Balckrock vs Feenagh Kilmeedy.

JHL 1B: R4:Askeaton vs Templeglantine, R7:Feohanagh vs St Kierans.