GAA
Our Reeling in the Years of Limerick GAA continues today as we go back to 2015 with a first All-Ireland title for the county since 2002!
Catch out previous years.
2015
Hurling
National Hurling League
Waterford would come into the league as Limerick’s biggest threat and as they did with Cork the previous year, a draw on the first day was played out between the sides.
Once more, Offaly would prve to be Limerick’s bogey team as a 1-21 to 0-21 defeat signalled an end to their promotion aspirations early on the in the campaign.
Limerick would ultimately finish second in the table behind the Deise.
Munster Hurling Championship
Limerick traveled to Semple Stadium to face Clare in the Munster quarter-final.
Fresh from captaining the minors to an All-Ireland final the previous year, Cian Lynch once again lead from the front on his senior debut as two-quickfire points helped Limerick into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead after 20 minutes.
Clare roared back into the game after losing Patrick Donellan to a red card before Seanie Tobin was dismissed upon his introduction for Limerick.
A poacher’s goal from Graeme Mulcahy as well as a number of placed balls from Shane Dowling had Limerick back in the lead, 1-16 to 0-13.
However a brace of goals from Aaron Cunningham had Clare all square with time running out.
John Fitzgibbon would have the final say as his 68th minute point would prove the difference between the sides as Limerick won out 1-19 to 2-15.
Limerick would move on to face Tipperary in the Munster semi-final for the third consecutive year, this time in the Galelic Grounds.
After successive losses to the Treaty, Tipperary would make no mistake this time around with two first half Seamus Callanan goals proving decisive as they held a 2-12 to 0-12 lead at the break.
Further goals from Jason Forde and Michael Breen sealed the 4-23 to 1-16 win as Shane Dowling grabbed a consolation goal for the hosts.
Qualifiers
In the qualifiers, Limerick traveled to Mullingar to take on Westmeath.
Limerick had early goal from Seanie Tobin and Kevin Downes but Westmeath rallied and lead 1-7 to 2-2 approaching the half time whistle.
A flurry of Limerick scores pushed them back ahead 2-6 to 1-7 at the break.
Paul Browne got Limerick’s third but it wouldn’t be until Adrian Breen’s goal that Limerick really secured the 4-12 to 1-15 win.
Limerick moved on to face Dublin for a place in the quarter-finals.
Within the opening 25 minutes Limerick looked to have been in an unassailable 1-7 to 0-2 lead against the Dubs with David Breen netting.
However, Dublin roared back into the contest to reduce the deficit to just four before the break.
Five more unanswered for Dublin had them ahead before Dowling and Tobin pushed Limerick back into the lead.
On 62 minutes, Dublin found the lead again as they bagged their only goal of the game to push ahead 1-14 to 1-13.
Tobin equalised but two on the bounce from Dublin gave them a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish as Limerick crashed out 1-17 to 1-16.
Elsewhere, the Limerick U21 hurlers captured a first Munster title since 2011 and a first All-Ireland title since 2002 under the tutelage of John Kiely.
After a brilliant semi-final win over Tipperary, Limerick came into the Munster decider as slight favourites against the Banner but trailed 0-12 to 0-10 at the break despite leading by four with twenty minutes on the clock.
Ronan Lynch would prove to be the hero for the John Kiely managed side as his total of 0-13 (0-10f) helped Limerick to a 0-22 to 0-19 win.
They would advance to the semi-final stage where they beat Galway 1-20 to 0-17 with Tom Morrissey’s goal proving crucial.
They were paired with Leinster champions Wexford in the final who had won three U21 Provincial titles in a row and appeared in the 2014 final.
However, Limerick refused to be overawed by the occasion and turned in a near flawless display to ease to a 0-26 to 1-7 victory to the delight of the Treaty faithful in Thurles.
It ensured Diarmuid Byrnes would become the fifth Limerick captain to lift the championship trophy.
Richie English would go on to be named U21 Hurler of the Year after a string of top drawer performances.
Football
National Football League
As they did in 2014, Limerick ended their Division 3 campaign with three wins and four losses.
This was enough to keep them safe with wins over Sligo, Clare and Louth proving crucial.
Defeats would ensue against Tipperary, Fermanagh, Armagh and Wexford.
Munster Football Championship
Limerick faced neighbours Clare in the Munster Championship quarter-final having got the better of them, 2-10 to 1-5 in the League.
However, the Banner would hit the ground running and were full value for a 0-9 to 0-4 lead at the break.
However, lead by Ian Ryan and Peter Nash, Limerick launched a comeback in the second.
Limerick would reduce the deficit to one middway through the second but could not find parity as a late free helped Clare to a 0-15 to 0-13 win.
Qualifiers
In the qualifiers, Limerick got the shortest of straws as they drew Tyrone, facing Mickey Harte’s men in Healy Park.
However, Limerick put it up to the Division 1 side as they only trailed 0-6 to 0-4 at the break with Gearoid Hegarty, Robert Browne, Ian Ryan and Brian Scanlon getting on the scoresheet.
However, black cards to Cilian Fahy and Darragh Treacey would prove detrimental to the Limerick cause as they eventually succumbed to a 1-14 to 0-8 defeat with Peter Harte’s injury time goal putting a gloss on the scoreline.
Club Championship
Hurling
Na Piarsaigh picked up their third Limerick SHC triumph in five years as they defeated Patrickswell 1-22 to 4-12 in the decider.
Despite the goal efforts of Kevin and Thomas O’Brien, Na Piarsaigh helfd a 1-12 to 2-7 lead against the ‘Well.
Kevin Downes’ early goal was an indication of his mood as he finished with 1-5 from play.
This was needed as two Diarmaid Byrnes penalties had Patrickswell in the driving seat before the Caherdavin side outscored their opponents 0-8 to 0-3 down the stretch to earn the title.
In the Munster Club championship, Na Piarsaigh maintained their 1000% record as they defeated Sixmilebridge and Thurles Sarsfields in the quarter and semi-final respectively.
In the final they played Ballygunner where they would run out 2-18 to 2-11 winners.
Goals in either half from David Dempsey and Shane Dowling would prove critical as Na Piarsaigh fought back from behind to seal a third Munster title.
The Caherdavin side would go on to claim Limerick’s first ever All-Ireland Club title in 2016.
In the second installment of the Premier Intermediate Championship, Bruree ran out winners after beating Knockainey 3-7 to 0-13 in the final.
Knockaderry were crowned Intermediate champions as they beat St Kierans 1-14 to 0-14 in the final.
Drom Broadford were victorious in the Junior championship while Monaleen won the Junior B Championship.
Football
Newcastle West were crowned Senior Football champions for the first time since 1992 as they defeated Drom Bbroadford 2-10 to 0-9.
After losing efforts in 2011 and ’12, Newcastle made no mistake this time as they fired out of the blocks.
A Stephen Kelly goal had them 1-5 to 0-1 ahead after 16 minutes which was 1-8 to 0-4 at the break.
Jamie Lee’s second half goal sealed the win for Newcastle.
Two years after a heavy defeat in the final, Oola were victorious in the Intermediate Football championship beating Claughaun 2-11 to 0-14 in the final.
Cappagh were crowned Junior A champions while Fedamore won the Junior B Championship.
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