Limerick seek recapture of All-Ireland SHC

LIMERICK and Galway will contest the 139th All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final at Croke Park this Sunday, throw-in 3.30pm (referee: Colm Lyons, Cork). It’s a repeat of the 2018 contest in which the Shannonsiders ended 45 years of torture with the annexation of the Liam MacCarthy Cup.  In the previous two meetings of the counties on centre-stage, it was the westerners who prevailed, in times past (1923 and ‘80) Limerick/Galway is a surprise pairing for many, but the Tribesmen – under the revival of former winning manager Micheál Donoghue – were touted as dark horses at the outset of the season. Donoghue’s side won Leinster and came through nicely against fancied Cork in the opening semi-final. “I’ve said from the off this year there’s just been a brilliant chemistry between the newer lads and the more experienced lads, and together they’ve just brought a brilliant energy, and it was really evident for us right from off, nearly, when we came back to pre-season, there was just a great energy,” commented the manager a fortnight ago at Headquarters. Galway are under the captaincy of Darren Morrissey and among their leading lights are goalkeeper Darach Fahy, Tom Monaghan, Joshua Ryan, Conor Whelan, Gavin Lee, Ronan Glennon, Daithí Burke, Aaron Niland, Jason Rabbitte and the Mannion brothers of Padraic and Cathal. Limerick are short-priced but worthy of the favourites tag with National League and Munster Championship titles already secured. In Croker the other weekend, Limerick manager John Kiely stated: “Galway are a super, super side. They have a number of young players who are after coming into their side. They are a hugely improved side in the last 12 months.” “Hugely improved. They work extremely hard. They have a very experienced cohort of players with those younger players. They’re a formidable side, and they showed that and proved that yesterday. “Because we know what it takes to beat Cork, right? So, you know, you look at their performance then, it’s a hugely, hugely credible performance. “It backs up, again, all their performances in the Leinster Championship and in particular in the Leinster final (versus Dublin). “So they’re here on merit, they’re here on form. And we certainly won’t be underestimating the challenge that they’re going to bring in two weeks’ time either, I can assure you.” Kiely, along with fellow selectors Paul Kinnerk, Alan Cunningham, Donal O’Grady, John Flavin and Liam Cronin, have no injury concerns “and are in a good place” but will face a few welcome calls on the starting selection, which will be announced on Friday morning. All of the squad are household names across the country, but some more so such as ‘18/current heroes Nickie Quaid, Seán Finn, Mike Casey, Dan Morrissey, Diarmuid Byrnes, Darragh O’Donovan, William O’Donoghue, captain Cian Lynch (fully recovered after a sprain), Gearóid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey, Barry Nash and David Reidy. Into the mix have arrived many others including Adam English, Shane O’Brien, Cathal O’Neill, Colin Coughlan, Matthew Fitzgerald and, in particular, Aidan O’Connor. Limerick will be keen to remain as much under the radar as possible, but same will be difficult. A win for Limerick would complete only a fourth National League/Munster/All-Ireland Treble (1936, ‘40 and ‘23) and match the 1940 landmark All-Ireland Senior/Minor Double. In the event of the teams tied after 70 minutes, extra-time will feature. If still level, the final will go to a ‘winner on the day’ replay two weeks later. Limerick – looking to become outright kingpins for a 13th time, and a sixth of this current golden era – are on the brink of history, and the expectation is that the mother of all parties will kick-off by tea-time in a few days’ time! The post Limerick seek recapture of All-Ireland SHC appeared first on Limerick Post.