GAA
Our Reeling in the Years of Limerick GAA continues today as we travel back to 2003!
Catch out previous years.
2004
Football
National Football League
After years of waiting for their opportunity to impress in the top tier of the League, Limerick wasted little time in impressing as they topped the Group in 1B.
As they did in each of the previous two years, Limerick began with three victories, overcoming Laois, Cavan and Wexford comprehensively.
They would lose thier round 4 clash with Galway before drawing their next two outings with Meath and Sligo.
A last day win against last years losing All-Ireland finalists Armagh secured top spot.
They would face Kerry in the semi-finals of the competition but the kingdom would come out on top, 0-12 to 0-10 in the Gaelic Grounds.
Munster Football Championship
Having reached the final the previous summer, there was pressure on Limerick to deliver in Munster as they faced Tipperary in the quarter-finals.
Despite a flurry of goals from the Premier County, 0-7 from Muiris Gavin guided Limerick to a 0-16 to 3-5 win.
This set up a tie with Waterford for a place in the final.
Having played out a dour 0-7 to 0-4 Munster U21 final four years previously, Limerick demonstrated their growth as they reached a second consecutive Munster final on a scoreline of 1-18 to 0-7.
Once again they faced Kerry in the decider, this time in the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick raced out of the blocks but Kerry caught them for a sucker punch goal when Mike Frank Russell grabbed the games opening goal after a loose pass in midfield from Limerick.
Wing-back Stephen Lavin would respond with a goal of his own as the sides went tit-for-tat in front of a buoyant home support.
In the end, the game was level as the referee brought the game to a close with the score finishing 1-10 apiece.
For the replay, the sides travelled to Killarney.
Once again it would be Limerick who got the desired start as Stephen Kelly netted after John Galvin’s switch to full forward caused issues in the Kerry rearguard.
Inside 15 minutes Limerick had opened up a six point lead which was extended to 1-6 to 0-2 as the half hour mark approached.
However, a sublime goal from Eoin Brosnan turned the game on its head as a Dara O’Cinneide goal on the stroke of half time saw the side level 1-6 to 2-3 at the break.
Kerry took the lead for the first time after 43 minutes when Tomas O’Sé found the net.
Eoin Keating would reduce the arrears to 3-7 to 2-8 on 58 minutes, Kerry held out for a 3-9 to 2-8 victory.
All Ireland Series
Limerick were drawn with Derry in the qualifiers to see who would advance to the last eight.
In a physical game with little scoring, Limerick held a 0-4 to 0-3 lead at the half in Dr Hyde Park.
With the wind at their backs, Derry hit three in a row for the lead before Limerick replied with three of their own to restore the advantage.
However, Derry would hit back for the final four scores of the to run out 0-10 to 0-7 winners to end Limerick’s season.
Hurling
National Hurling League
In Division 1B of the league, Limerick began their campaign with successive losses to Cork and Kilkenny.
However, three wins on the bounce against Offaly, Wexford and Antrim was enough to see them into Group 1 for the second part of the league.
Here they would lose their opener to Waterford. They would regroup for a 2-11 to 1-12 win over Clare in the Gaelic Grounds.
They would round off their league campaign with a loss to eventual champions Galway.
Munster Hurling Championship
In the Munster quarter-final, eventuall All-Ireland Champions Cork would defeat Limerick 1-18 to 2-12 in the Gaelic Grounds.
That set up a meeting with Tipperary in the first round of the qualifiers in the Gaelic Grounds.
The Premier county would dictate proceedings on the Ennis road and held a four point lead with time running out.
From here Limerick would stage a late comeback and reduced the deficit to just a single point.
But they couldnt find that equalizer as they exited the championship in early June.
Club Championship
Football
Defending champions Drom Broadford took on Newcastle West who were looking for a first title since 1992 in the final.
In the first game, the sides could not be separated with the game finishing at 0-9 apiece
The replay was a low-scoring affair with Jason Stokes second half goal proving key in the victory as Drom retained their title with a 1-7 to 0-3 win.
Four years after contesting the senior final, Mungret St Pauls won the Intermediate Championship.
Cappamore and Bruff took Junior A & B Honours respectively.
Hurling
Ahane moved back to the top of the LSHC roll of honour as they won a 19th title at the expense of Garryspillane.
Garryspillane were appearing in only their second final, were looking for a first win against Ahane with the sides deadlocked at 1-4 to 0-7 at the half.
The teams looked destined for a replay when Ahane were awarded a long range free in injury time.
Niall Moran stepped up for the Green and Yellow to shatter the Bouncers dreams as they won by the minimum, 1-11 to 0-13.
Dromin Athlacca came out on top in the Intermediate championship with Knockaderry and St Kierans winning Junior honours respectively.
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