“They are all my heroes”: Young hurling fans left starstruck as All Ireland Champions pose for selfies in Limerick

LIMERICK’S future hurling stars met their All-Ireland heroes today when they turned up at the team’s hotel in Co Limerick for an impromptu low-key meet and greet.

Dedicated followers of the 2021 Champions, Padraig and Sean Williams, travelled over 220km from their home in Swords, Co Dublin, when they got word of the Limerick stars location.

The ginger-haired pair, who support Limerick because their mother Esther is from Croom, were thrilled when they met their heroes for selfies and autographs, at the luxury four-star Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, in Adare.

Beaming with excitement, Sean, 14, offered: “It was really great, I got to meet Sean Finn, Dan Morrisey, Seamus Flanagan, David Reidy, Barry Nash. I had watched the match on the telly and it was a great performance by Limerick; they are all my heroes.”

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Younger doubling, Sean, 10, quipped: “I’m growing my hair just like Cian Lynch, he’s my favourite hurler”.

“I couldn’t watch the match because I get nervous watching All-Ireland Finals, and when I heard they won, it really made me happy because my mum’s from Limerick and I really love the Limerick team,” added Sean.

The boys mother Esther joked: “The Dubs were taken out by Mayo so that changed their minds a bit, but seriously the boys do follow Limerick — they are inspirational, great role models for the younger boys.”

Bethany O’Donovan, from Corbally, Limerick, couldn’t believe her look when the hurling champions strolled past her as she enjoyed lunch with a friend.

Bethany, 21, said: “We just turned up for a bit of food and we saw the team bus and a load of kids with jerseys and we realised it was THEM.”

“We got an awful shock, it was amazing to get a couple of photos and congratulate them on their win.”

Ms O’Donovan who watched Sunday’s final in a bar, said the “atmosphere in the city itself on O’Connell Street was amazing with all the traffic honking their car horns”.

Fitzgerald’s manager Conor Fitzgerald summed up the mood: “It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining down this is lovely for the girls and boys to meet (the players), and that’s what brings the future on, the future of Limerick’s hurlers and camogie players — and what better role models for them to have.”

A group of young local fans gave the players a guard of honour as they made their way from the hotel to the team bus on their way to home.

GAA nut, Mike Dineen, from Janesboro, who organised skills camps back in the early 2000s which some of the current crop of All Ireland team participated in, cycled around Limerick city with an imitation Liam MacCarthy Cup that he made himself.

“I went down a bomb, the reaction I got was unbelievable. I cycled in over Shannon Bridge and I did a circuit of town twice and then I went home to eat my dinner, and then I went back out — every place I went with the cup they went wild,” said Mr Dineen.

The real Liam MacCarthy Cup however, will remain secure in Croke Park, in line with public health guidelines around Covid-19.

While the pandemic did not allow for a traditional homecoming for the second year in a row, a belated outdoor event is being planned in Limerick to honour the team and management by the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler.

“We are all disappointed that we cannot have scenes reminiscent of 2018 on the streets of Limerick this evening. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to have a celebration…once the regulations and guidance allow for larger gatherings, a special event will be organised for the hurlers, where the maximum amount of Limerick people can, once again, show their appreciation to the team,” said Mayor Butler.

A number of the teams are to take a foreign holiday before the team itself is expected to be treated to a five star break away, courtesy of team sponsor JP McManus.

Prior to that the team are expected for a banquet at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort, owned by the billionaire Limerick horse-racing owner.