FITTINGLY, Limerick’s Munster Under-21 Football Championship winning team of Millennium Year were guests of honour at the senior final at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.
The provincial triumph of 2000 remains our only title at this level.
Under the management of the late Liam Kearns, Limerick beat Cork and Waterford, both away, to secure the title.
Leinster champions Westmeath were undone by Kearns’ marvels in the semi-final and in a terrific tussle with Tyrone, Limerick fell short in the All-Ireland final at Cusack Park, Mullingar.
The semi drew a crowd of 12,000 to O’Moore Park in Portlaoise and the final attracted an attendance of 20,000.
Interestingly, Athea’s Pat Aheare of that era is a selector with his adopted club of new county senior kingpins Mungret St Paul’s.
Limerick (Munster final): Mike Keogh (Kildimo/Pallaskenry); Mark O’Riordan (Croom), Padraig Fitzgerald, Brian Geary (Monaleen); Conor Mullane (St. Senan’s), Stephen Lucey (Croom), Tommy Stack (Dromcollogher/Broadford); Jason Stokes (Dromcollogher/Broadford), John Galvin, captain, (Croom), Pat Aherne (Athea), Timmy Carroll (St. Senan’s), Declan Brouder (Newcastle West); Conor Fitzgerald (Adare), Brian Begley (Mungret St. Paul’s), Colm Hickey (Caherconlish).
Substitute used: Mark Culhane (Glin).