GAA
Our Reeling in the Years of Limerick GAA continues today as we go back to 2014 with another Munster final, more minor glory and that game in those conditions at Croke Park.
Catch out previous years.
2014
Hurling
National Hurling Legaue
Cork were seen as Llimerick’s biggest threat to promotion with the sides playing out a 0-17 apeiece draw in the opening round.
However, Cork would win their final four games as Limerick drew with Offaly in the fourth round to condemn them to another season in Division 2.
Nonetheless, Limerick moved into the quarter-final where they were overrun by Galway, 1-20 to 1-12 in the Gaelic Grounds.
Munster Hurling Championship
It would be Tipperary in the semi-finals for the second year running, with the Premier county holding home court advantage this time around against the defending champions.
At the half there was nothing to separate the sides with the game finely poised at 1-8 a piece with Shane Dowling grabbing Limerick’s goal.
Tipperary would take the initiative in the second half and held a three point lead approaching injury time.
However, Dowling would pop up in the 68th minute for his second goal to level the game.
Limerick would hold the hosts scoreless down the stretch as Tom Ryan gave Limerick the lead before Seamus Hickey stormed up the field to seal the 2-18 to 2-16 victory and a place in the Munster Final.
Munster Hurling Final
Again it was a rematch in the final as Limerick traveled to Pairc Ui Chaoimh to take on Cork in a repeat of the 2013 final.
The first half was a frantic affair that saw Limerick lead 0-8 to 0-4 before Cork scored seven unanswered.
Incredibly the sides were level 0-12 at the half and were all square at 0-13, 0-14, 0-16, 0-17 and 0-18 in the second half.
The crucial score would come at 0-18 all as Seamus Harnedy plundered the first goal of the game.
Paudie O’Sullivan would bag one of his own as Cork ran out 2-24 to 0-24 winners to avenge the previous years loss.
All-Ireland Quarter-Final
Limerick were paired with Wexford in the All-Ireland quarter-finals in Thurles.
Wexford had knocked out defending All-Ireland champions Clare in the qualifiers and came into the game full of confidence.
What transpired over the next 70 minutes was one of Limerick’s best performances in years as they overwhelmed Wexford, winning out by 24-points.
Three first half goals from Breen, Dowling (2) had the contest effectively ended at the half as Limerick held a 3-15 to 0-8 lead.
Paul Browne’s second half goal put icing on the cake as Limerick ran out 4-26 to 1-11 winners.
All-Ireland Semi Final
That win saw Limerick back to an All-Ireland semi-final, 12 months after their horror show against Clare, where they would face Kilkenny.
Not to be overawed by the occasion, Limerick brought the game to Kilkenny notching the opening two scores from Declan Hannon and Donal O’Grady.
With the half coming to a close, Limerick lead by 0-10 to 0-7 before the biblical like rain came down.
Kilkenny would score 1-2 priot to the half time whistle to give them a two point advantage at the break.
Limerick responded after the break and went two ahead middway through the second half with the conditions otherworldly.
Kilkenny would strike another killer blow and Eoin Larkin flicked a long free to the net to give the Cats the advantage again.
Limerick would battle valiantly but in the end an illusive first win over Kilkenny since 1973 would continue to evade Limerick as they ran out 2-13 to 0-17 winners.
Elsewhere, the Limerick minor hurlers would go back to back in Munster as they defeated Waterford in another final replay.
On the same day Limerick lost their senior Munster title, the minors played out a draw with Waterford in the Munster minor final.
In a replay in Semple Stadium Limerick would win out 0-24 to 0-18 with Cian Lynch captaining the side to glory.
They would go on to contest the All-Ireland final where they lost out to Kilkenny, 2-17 to 0-19 in a disappointing display.
They would not have to wait much longer for All-Ireland glory however…
Football
National Football League
It would prove to be a mixed campaign for Limerick who were in their first year in Division 3 after being promoted.
Three wins from seven games ensured safety as they defeated Longford, Wexford and Offaly.
Defeats would come against Sligo, Roscommon, Fermanagh and Cavan.
Munster Football Championship
Limerick welcomed Tipperary to the Gaelic Grounds in the Mmunster Championship quarter-final.
Tipperary would begin brighter and the games first goal helped them into a 1-7 to 0-6 lead at the break.
Another Tipp goal three minutes into the second half helped stretch their lead out to nine.
Eoin Hanrahan’s goal reduced the deficit with time running out but Tipp were full value for a 2-14 to 1-11 win and their first in the competition in eleven years.
Qualifiers
Limerick got their qualifier campaign off to a bright start as they defeated London 1-16 to 1-13 in the Gaelic Grounds.
0-8 from Ian Ryan as well as Gearoid Hegarty’s goal would pave the way for a Limerick win.
This booked a Round 2 tie against Antrim in the Gaelic Grounds.
Antrim, having played against the breeze were the better team in the opening half as they held a 0-8 to 0-6 lead at the break.
However, a breace of Ger Collins’ penalties helpedturn the tide in Limerick’s favour as they punished Antrim for their sloppiness in front of goal.
Darragh Treacey’s effort sealed the 3-11 to 0-15 victory and a place in the third round.
Limerick traveled to Markievicz Park to face Sligo in Round 3 and there was little to choose between the sides as they entered the dressing rooms level at 0-6 apiece.
Sligo came out of the blocks quicker and raced into a two-point lead.
This was reduced to one before Sligo put two between them once more.
Scores from Eoin Hanrahan and Micheal Brosnan leveled proceedings with four minutes remaining before two unanswered Sligo scores propelled them to a 0-12 to 0-10 win, knocking Limerick out of the championship.
Club Championships
Hurling
Kilmallock made it three titles in five years as they beat holders Na Piarsaigh 1-15 to 0-14 in the Gaelic Grounds.
Eoin Ryan’s third minute goal would set the tone early on for the outsiders Kilmallock as they held that advantage from start to finish.
This was all despite the loss of Liam Walsh to a red card in the final minutes of the first half.
Kilmallock still controlled despite thier numerical disadvantage and when Kevin Ryan was sent off for Na Piarsaigh to even the numbers with ten to go, Kilmallock were cruising at 1-14 to 0-12.
Na Piarsaigh would muster a final push but the result was never in doubt.
In the Munster championship, The Balbec would need extra time over Sarsfields of Cork to advance to the decider, eventually winning out 3-22 to 3-20.
In the final they faced Cratloe as the two played out a cracking Munster Final in the Gaelic Grounds.
There was nothing to separate the teams at full time as the score read 1-21 to 3-15 with Jake Mulcahy getting Kilmallock’s goal.
In extra-time, Kilmallock stormed to the title as they outscored thier opponents 0-11 to 0-3 to secure a 1-32 to 3-18 win and a first Munster title in twenty years.
They would ultimately reach the All-Ireland final where they lost out to a brilliant Ballyahle Shamrocks side 1-18 to 1-6 in March of 2015.
Football
Ballylanders would run out champions in the 2014 Limerick Senior Football championship after beating St Patricks 2-8 to 1-7 in the final.
Ballylanders lead by 0-4 to 0-3 before James Kirby found the net to push Lander further ahead.
At the break they lead 1-6 to 0-4.
However, the introduction of John Mullane buoyed St Pats in the second half as they reduced the deficit.
Yet, it would be Ballylanders who would get the crucial second goal as they edged 2-7 to 0-6 in front.
St Pats would get a consolation goal late on but it would not be enough as Ballylanders won a fourth ever title.
Na Piarsaigh become a dual senior club as they defeated St Senans 3-11 to 1-15 in the Intermediate Final.
Glin were crowned Junior A Champions while Kildimo Pallaskenry claimed Junior B honours.
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