
WHAT could have been a red-letter weekend for Limerick Gaelic Football did not go to plan after defeats for Newcastle West and Na Piarsaigh in their respective Munster Finals. Newcastle West fell to Kerryโs Kerins OโRahillyโs, while Na Piarsaigh lost to another Kerry outfit, Rathmore.
Newcastle West came within a point of a star-studded Kerins outfit in a highly competitive Munster Club Senior Football Championship Final in Mallow on Saturday. Jimmy Leeโs charges were one point to the good at half time but two Kerins goals saw them in control heading into the final quarter.
The Magpies rallied to trail by a point in injury time, however, they were unable to get an equaliser to force extra time. Following the defeat, Newcastle manager Jimmy Lee told Stream Sport after the game that he was extremely proud of the effort his players put in.
โWe gave it our all. The bounce of the ball could have gone our way. We are disappointed, there is no doubting that. I couldnโt ask any more of the lads in fairness to them. They have given their all. There isnโt more you can ask of them.ย
โWe kept trying. The lads are resilient. Itโs hard, itโs not the happiest of dressing rooms but itโs not the saddest either. We have got to put it in perspective. Weโre disappointed but sure life goes on.โ
The defeat for Newcastle West sees Limerick clubsโ lack of a Munster senior title now go on another year. Drom-Broadford remain the last Limerick side to taste that glory with their victory coming way back in 2008.ย
After Na Piarsaighโs loss to Rathmore, Limerick remain without a title at the provincial Intermediate grade. The Caherdavin side fell to a 10-point defeat to a classy Rathmore outfit.
Things could have been different for Michael Lynchโs men, but they were denied goals either side of half time thanks to a magnificent last ditch save and Kieran Dalyโs shot rattling off the crossbar.
Following the defeat, Lynch told Stream Sport that he was proud of the effort his side put in against a heavily fancied Rathmore outfit: โWe came down here and not too many people gave us a chanceโ.
โWe were right in it. At the start of the second half we kicked some great points. The shot off the crossbar was a big turning point. Itโs a two-point game if that goes in but they go up the other end, get a goal and itโs a six-point swing.
โOur only goal this year was to get back senior. We did that. This has been a bit of a bonus but once we got into the competition, we wanted to give it a good rattle. Itโs the first time the club have won a Munster club football match. We won two this year and got into a final.
“That group of lads in the dressing room have represented themselves and the parish well.โ