GAA
The City side were the only Limerick side to go the distance in their respective Munster hurling campaigns.
The 2022 AIB Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship belongs to Monaleen following their 1-22 to 0-18 victory over Tipperary’s Roscrea in yesterday’s final at Pairc Ui Rinn.
A point separated the two teams at half-time but a spirited second-half display from the Limerick Premier Intermediate champions, and Mark O’Dwyer in particular who ended the game with 0-15 to his name, claimed the honours for them in the end.
Leading the side for Monaleen was captain Lorcan Lyons who was in disbelief following the incredible result. Monaleen were underdogs ahead of the decider and Lyons believes it’s a result that will take a long time to sink in.
“[It’s] Absolutely unbelievable. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever win a Munster medal with my club let alone captain them so it’s going to take a long time for this one to sink I think.”
The captain believes their chemistry was integral to getting over the line, on top of the work they’ve put in since the early stages of the year.
The side were relegated from the Limerick SHC just twelve months ago, but the level of work they’ve put in since was shown on the pitch against the Tipperary outfit.
“We kind of know what makes us tick and there’s brilliant characters in that room and it’s just about showing that and expressing that on the day.
“We’ve worked hard since February, March and on a day like today just supporting it you get to express it and it really comes to fruition,”
The win has subsequently booked them a place in the All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final, with the fixture against either Trim/Bray Emmets taking place on the weekend of December 17/18.
Lyons believes it’s important that they take it one step at a time and it’s a challenge they’ll attack once they’re back on the training field.
“One step at a time, another step on a journey so we’ll prepare, we don’t know who were facing yet so I suppose we’ll just look forward to meeting that challenge now head on once we get back to the training field.”