GAA
Our Reeling in the Years of Limerick GAA continues today as we go back to 2012!
Catch out previous years.
2012
Hurling
National Hurling League
Despite winning the Division 2 title in 2011, a restructuring in the league saw Limerick resigned to Division 1B for 2012.
An opening day, 2-24 to 1-13 loss to Clare would end their promotion hopes quickly in the campaign.
Wins over Antrim, Wexford and Laois as well as a draw with Offaly saw them finish second in the table.
Munster Hurling Championship
Limerick faced Tipperary in the Munster semi-final, coming into the game as huge underdogs against the defending champions.
Nonetheless, led by debutant Shane Dowling Limerick opened on fire and raced into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead before a Tipp goal levelled proceedings.
Kevin Downes’ goal restored Limerick’s lead as they held a 1-9 to 1-8 advantage at the break.
Limerick then rattled off six on the bounce to take a commanding 1-15 to 1-8 lead with twenty minutes remaining.
However, Tipp’s experience saw them reel Limerick in, with Brian O’Meara’s goal on 63 giving them the lead.
In the end they would power home to a 2-20 to 1-19 victory against the spirited Limerick side.
Qualifiers
Limerick were drawn to face Laois in the preliminary round of the qualifiers where they got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 6-21 to 1-11 win over the Leinster side.
Niall Moran would bag a hat trick of goals while Dowling, David Breen and Tommy Quaid would also raise green flags.
Limerick would face Antrim in the next round in the Gaelic Grounds.
One more they would flex their muscles as they went goal-crazy against their Ulster opponents, winning by 32 points, 8-26 to 1-15.
Dowling was the hat trick hero this time around while Moran added a brace. Graeme Mulcahy also notched a pair of goals while Seanie Tobin also added a three-pointer.
In the third round, Limerick travelled to Semple Stadium to take on Clare with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.
Wayne McNamara would draw first blood as his fourth minute goal put Limerick into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.
After 25 minutes, the sides were level at 1-6 to 0-9 before Clare pushed into a three-point lead.
Seanie Tobin had the sides level again on 33 when he expertly flicked Gavin O’Mahony’s long range free to the net.
On 40 minutes, Limerick had their third goal when Declan Hannon pounced on a loose ball to cannon in to the Clare net and give Limerick a 3-10 to 0-15 lead.
With three to go, an 18-year-old Tony Kelly would strike a gola to reduce the margin to three.
Limerick would hold on for their biggest victory in a number of years.
All-Ireland Quarter Final
In the All-Ireland quarter-final, Limerick would face defending All-Iireland champions Kilkenny in Semple Stadium.
David Breen had the games first goal on 12 minutes as Limerick raced into an early lead.
Kilkenny clawed their way back into the game and two Henry Shefflin goals saw them hold a slender 2-7 to 1-9 lead at the break.
Another pair of quickfire goals with twenty minutes remaining saw them into an unassailable 11-point lead.
Limerick did battle valiantly until the finish but would come up short, 4-19 to 1-19 in the end.
Kilkenny would go on to claim All-Ireland honours.
Football
National Football League
Back in the bottom tier of the league, Limerick started brightly with wins over Leitrim and London in their opening two fixtures.
They would respond with a 1-30 to 0-1 win over Kilkenny before losing ot Wicklow and Waterford.
They would earn a draw with Fermanagh before rounding off thier campaign with a win against Carlow to finish fourth in the table.
Munster Football Championship
The Munster quarter-final was a tale of two halves as Limerick lead Waterford by just a point, 1-5 to 0-7 in the Gaelic Grounds.
Waterford would miss a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half as Limerick tacked on 1-7 without reply to ease into the last four.
Ian Ryan and Seamus O’Carroll would bag the goals as Limerick ran out comfortable 2-12 to 0-7 winners.
Limerick then welcomed Clare to the Gaelic Grounds in the Munster semi-final.
Clare had the opening five points of the game and Gordan Kelly’s goal ensure the Banner held a 1-9 to 0-3 lead at the break.
However, inspired by Ian Ryan, who would kick eight second half points, Limerick edged in front in the 66th minute courtesy of the St Senans man.
Clare would respond with the final two scores of the game to win 1-13 to 0-15 as they reached a first Munster final in 12 years, resigning Limerick to the qualifiers.
Qualifiers
Limerick traveled to Pearse Park to take on Longford in the second round of the qualifiers.
Niall Mulligan’s goal gave the hosts a 1-5 to 0-7 lead against a Limerick side who looked far more assured in possession.
It was nip and tuck in the second half before Longford pulled three ahead with ten on the clock.
Limerick leveled heading into injury time but the hosts would once more take the lead.
On his debut Derry O’Connor grabbed the crucial equaliser to send the game to extra time.
In extra time, O’Connor would add a further 1-1 as Limerick eventually eased to a 1-21 to 1-15 win.
Limerick were again on the road in round 3 as they took on Kildare at O’Moore Park.
With the aid of a breeze and Ian Ryan’s 0-5 haul Limerick held a 0-7 to 0-4 lead at the break.
Limerick maintained that lead throughout the first period of the second half as they held a 0-11 to 0-8 advantage with quarter of an hour to go.
However, lead by Johnny Doyle, Kildare would claw back to level proceedings in extra-time to force another extra-time.
Like Limerick had done to Longford, Kildare dominated the twenty minutes with the Treaty men only adding one score to their 70 minute total as Kildare ran out 0-18 to 0-12 winners.
Club Championships
Hurling
Kilmallock claimed a second Limerick SHC title in three years as they beat Adare 1-15 to 0-15 in the final.
In a very even contest, the sides traded scores throughout with Jake Mulcahys 46th minute goal ultimately proving the difference.
Adare came out the brighter holding a 0-5 to 0-3 lead before Kilmallock fought back to claim the advantage.
The pendulum swung again in Adare’s favour and with Declan Hannon in inspired form (0-11), they held a 0-8 to 0-6 lead the break.
After the interval this was out to 0-11 to 0-8 before Kilmallock hit their purple patch.
Mulcahy’s goal and four more unanswered points saw Kilmallock take control of the game from which they never lead by less than two down the home stretch.
After the disappointment of missing out on the senior ranks the previous year, Ballybrown made now mistake this time around as they beat Dromin Athlacca 2-15 to 0-13 in the Intermediate decider.
St Kierans ran out Junior A Champions while Bruff won out in the fourth tier.
Football
In the 2012 Limerick SFC Final, west sides Newcastle West and Drom Broadford played out a brace of entertaining encounters.
In the first game there was nothing between the sides as they played out a 0-13 to 2-7 draw.
In the replay Drom Broadford were not to be denied as they won out 0-12 to 0-10 in a tense affair that needed extra time.
Drom lead 0-4 to 0-3 at the half but by the end of 60 minutes the sides were all square again at 0-7 apiece.
At the end of the first period of additional time, they were still level at 0-9 all before Drom finally pulled away in the final ten minutes.
A year after suffering relegation to the Intermediate ranks, Pallasgreen guaranteed their place in the Senior championship with a narrow 0-15 to 1-11 win over Claughaun in a replay in the IFC Final.
Cappamore ran out victorious in the Junior A Championship while Newcastle West‘s second team were crowned Junior B champions.
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