Limerick Hurling Team of the Decade: Left Wing Forward

The decade that was 2010-2019 is fast coming to an end.

For the Limerick hurlers, it was a mixed decade that started with a protest but would ultimately deliver a first All-Ireland title in 45 years.

Overall, Limerick won one All-Ireland title, Two Munster Championships, a Division 1 League Title and A Division 2 League title.

Over the next fifteen days in the lead up to Christmas, I will select my team of the decade that saw Limerick play 40 championship games and 68 League games.

Already we have had our Goalkeeper;

Right Corner Back, Full Back & Left Corner Back,

Right Half-Back, Centre Back & Left Half Back;

On Christmas Day Cian Lynch and Paul Browne were named in midfield.

Over the past two days we had our right-wing forward and centre forward.

Today we pick our left-wing forward.

Left Wing Forward

Donal O’Grady

Granagh Ballingarry

2004-2016

Honours: Munster Senior Hurling Championship, Division 2 National League Title, All-Ireland U21 Hurling Championship, Munster U21 Hurling Championship.

While he may not have been an out-and-out wing forward, instead playing most of his career in midfield, such is the quality of the middle men Limerick have been blessed with and such is O’Grady’s qualities, he would slot in at No.12 seamlessly.

He arrived on the scene in 2001 with the 3-in-a-row All-Ireland U21 winners but he was only a bit time player.

However, since making his debut in 2004 with the seniors, O’Grady was an integral part of the team until his retirement in January of 2016.

He was Limerick captain for three years up to his retirement, including when the Treaty side won a first Munster title for seventeen years in 2013.

A wonderfully gifted player, O’Grady had everything you could want from a player with the Granagh Ballingarry man incredibly unlucky to miss out on winning a senior All-Ireland.

Honourable Mention: David Breen

The Na Piarsaigh man soldiered with Limerick through some troublesome years but was never found wanting. A prototype for the current Limerick wing-forwards, Breen has won it all with his club despite missing out with his county.