GAA
Our Reeling in the Years of Limerick GAA continues today as we go back to 2016 as the minor hurlers reached the All-Ireland final
Catch out previous years.
2016
Hurling
National Hurling League
In Division 1B once more, Limerick won their opening four games to set up a winner-takes-all clash with Clare in the final round.
John Conlon’s goal gave Clare an early cushion as they raced into a five point lead in Ennis.
Limerick responded to reduce the deficit to one before Barry Nash’s red card gave Clare the numerical advantage.
With Limerick trailing by four at the half, the Banner would keep them at arms length as they ran out 1-19 to 0-18 winners, reducing Limerick to another year in the second tier.
Limerick did still qualify for the league quarter-finals where they faced Division 1 Dublin.
Aided by the returning All-Ireland club winning duo of Shane Dowling and Kevin Downes, who notched 1-8 between them, Limerick beat the Leinster side 1-21 to 1-19 to secure a first league semi-final place in a decade.
However, in the last four, Waterford would prove far to powerful as they ran out convincing 3-23 to 1-18 winners.
Limerick did lead by a point at the break, 0-12 to 0-11. However, 1-5 to start the half without reply from the Deise helped propel them to the league final.
Munster Hurling Championship
Limerick received a bye into the Munster semi-finals where they faced Tipperary in Thurles.
Two early goals had the Premier county motoring with Michael Breen and Seamus Callanan goaling for the hosts.
John O’Dwyer would receive his marching orders for a wild pull on Richie English in the 14th minute.
Limerick reduced the deficit to a point before Callanan got his second of the game as Tipp lead 3-5 to 0-11 at the break.
Tom Morrissey would goal late on for Limerick but Tipperary saw out the game for a 3-12 to 1-16 win.
Qualifiers
For the second consecutive year, Limerick traveled to Mullingar to face Westmeath.
Limerick lead by five early on but Sean O’Brien’s red card came during a period of Westmeath dominance as they held a one-point lead at the break.
However, TJ Ryan’s troops displayed great courage to overcome the odds in the second period with Graeme Mulcahy’s goal and 0-14 from Shane Dowling proving crucial as they ran out 1-24 to 0-18 winners.
This secured a date with Clare in the second round.
Limerick began sprightly and Darragh O’Ddonovan’s 7th minute point had Limerick 0-4 to 0-1 to the good. It would be Limerick’s last score from play in the half with Shane Dowling’s 65′ their only other score before the whistle.
As such, nine unanswered from Clare had them 0-11 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
Limerick responded with a brace but Clare were equal with two of their own.
Three on the bounce from Limerick down the home stretch gave Clare cause for concern but in truth they never looked like relinquishing the lead as they won out 0-19 to 0-15 to send Limerick out of the championship and end TJ Ryan’s tenure in charge.
The Limerick minor team would reach a fourth consecutive Munster final where they faced Tipperary in the decider.
Tipp would prove the better for the second year running as they won out convincingly 1-24 to 0-10.
However, Limerick, who were captained by Kyle Hayes, regrouped and wins over Wexford and Galway saw them into the All-Ireland final, a second in three years.
Here they would face Tipperary once more and despite a far better performance than the Munster final, the Premier would reign supreme 1-21 to 0-17.
Football
National Football League
Limerick’s three-year stint in Division 3 came to an end as they failed to record a victory in their seven games.
A draw with Tipperary in Round 1 would be as good as it got for the Treaty as they fell to six consecutive defeats and relegation.
Munster Football Chamionship
For the second consecutive year,Limerick faced Clare in the quarter-finals of the Munster championship.
As they did the previous year, Clare proved too strong for Limerick as they ran out 0-16 to 0-13 winners at the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick did race into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead but that would be as good as it got for them as Clare reeled them in for a 0-5 to 0-4 lead before holding the Treaty at bay in the second.
Qualifiers
As a result, Limerick entered the qualifiers in the first round. There they were paired away to Antrim.
Two early goals from Ian Ryan and Sean McSweeney paved the way for a 2-6 to 0-9 win for the away side.
However, the win was helped in no small part by the heroics of Donal O’Sullivan who made a number of point blank saves to ensure Limerick’s progress.
In Round two they faced Cork in Semple Stadium.
In Thurles, Cork raced out of the blocks into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead with Peter Kelleher getting on the scoresheet.
Llimerick would reduced the margin to 1-6 to 0-4 at the break before Paul Kerrigan’s second half goal killed off any Limerick chance as the closest they got to Cork was six points.
In the end they would succumb to a 2-12 to 0-10 defeat to end their season.
Club Championship
Hurling
Prior to the resumption of the SHC, 2015 Champions Na Piarsaigh reached their first ever All-Ireland final at the third attempt as they beat Oulart the Ballagh in a classic in February.
This set up a tie with Cushendall in the final in Corke Park.
A first minute goal from Adrian Breen set out the Na Piarsaig stall and when Kevin Downes’ netted on 25, Na Piarsaigh had a 2-10 to 0-3 lead.
From here they would ease to a 2-25 to 2-14 win and Limerick’s first ever Club All-Ireland success.
In the 2016 championship, Patrickswell would win their 19th ever Limerick SHC title as they beat neighbours Ballybrown 1-26 to 1-7 in a one sided final.
It was Patrickswell’s fourth final victory over Ballybrown and their first win in 13-years.
Kevin O’Brien’s first half goal gave them a 1-10 to 0-5 cushion at the break which was extended to 1-19 to 0-7 after the restart.
Stephen Foster would get a consolation goal for Ballybrown but it would prove to be Patrickwell’s day as they avenged the 2015 final loss.
The Monaleen hurlers made it a double for the parish as they were crowned Premier Intermediate champions after beating Cappamore in the decider.
Mungret St Pauls ran out winners in the Intermediate Hurling Championship as they defeated Pallagreen 0-17 to 0-10 in their replayed decider.
Na Piarsaigh won out the Junior A Hurling championship while Murroe Boher were crowned Junior B kingpins.
Football
Monaleen were crowned Limerick SFC champions after they defeated Drom Broadford, 2-14 to 1-11 in the Gaelic Grounds.
Drom would grab the games first goa through Kevin Noonan but Shane Cusack quickly replied with a three-pointer of his own for Monaleen.
The City side would net their second of the game after 22 through Colm Moran which helped them into a 2-7 to 1-5 lead at the break.
Drom had the gap back to three with ten minutes remaining before Monaleen pulled clear to win a fifth title of the century.
In the IFC, Adare returned back to the top tier at the first attempt as they beat St Senans 2-10 to 2-6 in the final in Askeaton.
In the JAFC, Gerald Griffins would reign supreme while Oola were crowned Junior B Champions.
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