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| Sport: | Hurling | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish: | Luimneach | ||
| Nickname(s): | The Treaty County The Shannonsiders[1] | ||
| County board: | Limerick GAA | ||
| Manager: | John Kiely | ||
| Captain: | Cian Lynch[2] | ||
| Home venue(s): | Gaelic Grounds,Limerick | ||
| Recent competitive record | |||
| Current All-Ireland status: | QF in2025 | ||
| Last championship title: | 2023 | ||
| Current NHL Division: | 1A (5th in2025) | ||
| Last league title: | 2023 | ||
| |||
TheLimerick county hurling team representsLimerick inhurling and is governed byLimerick GAA, thecounty board of theGaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; theAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, theMunster Senior Hurling Championship and theNational Hurling League.
Limerick's home ground isPáirc na nGael,Limerick. The team's manager isJohn Kiely.
The team last won the Munster Senior Championship in2024, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in2023 and the National League in2023.
Limerick's first outright success in hurling was achieved when the Kilfinane club defeatedKilkenny GAA clubTullaroan inthe final of the1897 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (SHC). At that time,counties were represented by champion clubs.
Limerick won the1918 All-Ireland SHC, then repeated the feat in the1921 All-Ireland SHC when the team won the inauguralLiam MacCarthy Cup. The team that achieved those wins featured many players who contested eight consecutiveMunster Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) finals (1917–1924 inclusive), a record that has never been equalled.[citation needed]
The 1930s were the salad days[vague][clarification needed] of Limerick hurling, an era in which the county won five consecutiveNational Hurling League (NHL) titles, a record still unequalled.[citation needed] Those titles were won in1933–34,1934–35,1935–36,1936–37 and1937–38. Limerick also won four consecutive Munster SHC titles, and remains the only team other thanCork to have done so. After winning All-Ireland SHC titlesin 1934 andin 1936, another All-Ireland SHC title followedin 1940. The team from this era did much to raise the profile of the sport: whereas around 30,000 people attended the1930 All-Ireland SHC Final, attendances had risen to 50,000 by the 1940 final and players such as the Mackeys (John andMick), Ryans (Timmy andMick), Clohesseys (Dave andPaddy),Bob McConkey andPaddy Scanlon were recalled[by whom?] for decades afterwards. Victory in 1940 left Limerick with six All-Ireland SHC titles and as the only team from outside the "big three" (Cork,Tipperary andKilkenny) to have won more than one All-Ireland SHC title.Dublin had at that stage also six All-Ireland SHC titles but no native ofthat county had played on any of its winning teams. Limerick won a sixth NHL title in1946–47 but success soon became a rarity.
Limerick won the1970–71 NHL title and soon followed this by winning the1973 All-Ireland SHC, its seventh title. Four further NHL titles followed that century:1983–84,1984–85,1991–92 and, lastly,1997.
In the early 2000s, Limerick won three consecutiveAll-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship titles (2000–2002).
In 2007, Limerick defeated Tipperary in a Munster SHC semi-final known as the Trilogy, as three games were required to separate the teams. The final scoreline of the second replay was 0–22 to 2–13. An attendance of 30,608 spectators witnessed Limerick defeat Tipperary for the first time since 1996. Limerick had not won a match in the Munster SHC since a 2001 comeback againstWaterford, to a Munster SHC final the team subsequently lost to the "monkey on their back" or, asSeamus Hickey referred to them, "gorilla", Tipperary.[citation needed] However, Limerick subsequently lost the Munster SHC final to Waterford inThurles on 8 July. The team regrouped and, in its All-Ireland SHC quarter-final on 29 July, defeatedClare by a scoreline of 1–23 to 1–16.Andrew O'Shaughnessy was namedman of the match. On 12 August, Limerick played Waterford in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final, a rematch of the Munster SHC final that had been played a month previously. The result, though, was not the same. Limerick defeated Waterford by a scoreline of 5–11 to 2–15. The goals came fromDonie Ryan (2),Andrew O'Shaughnessy (2 - one from play and one penalty) andBrian Begley (1). O'Shaughnessy was again named man of the match. This result meant that Limerick had qualified for the2007 All-Ireland SHC Final, held atCroke Park on 2 September. Kilkenny defeated Limerick by a scoreline of 2–19 to 1–15.
With many[who?] predicting that Limerick would soon secure Munster and All-Ireland SHC titles, the team was drawn against Clare in the first round of the 2008 Munster SHC. However, Clare won by a scoreline of 4–12 to 1–16, eliminating Limerick from the Munster SHC. That result also led to Limerick advancing to a game againstOffaly, as part of a newly revised All-Ireland SHC qualifying system. Limerick lost again, this time by a scoreline of 3–19 to 0–18, and the team's season came to an end.
Limerick opened against Waterford in the 2009 Munster SHC, with the game ending in a draw. Limerick narrowly lost thereplay. That result led to Limerick advancing to the2009 All-Ireland SHC qualifier series, where they defeatedWexford andLaois in tight affairs, then Dublin in an All-Ireland SHC quarter-final, to reach an All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary. Tipperary won that game comfortably, by 22 points, and Limerick's season was over. In the weeks that followed managerJustin McCarthy dropped 12 players (who only found out via theIrish Examiner) and a further 12 players withdrew from the panel in protest and refused to return as long as McCarthy was in charge. The Limerick County Board held three meetings in which it was decided McCarthy would be retained. Limerick wererelegated from Division 1 of the2010 NHL, losing all eight games. Limerick lost to Cork in the first round of the Munster SHC, then lost to Offaly in a2010 All-Ireland SHC qualifier. In total Limerick lost its 10 matches by an average of 15 points. McCarthy subsequently resigned as manager. In September 2010,Dónal O'Grady was appointed as manager.
Limerick improved dramatically in the2011 NHL, winning nearly every game and beingpromoted to Division 1 only to later end up in Division 1B.[how?] Limerick lost against Waterford in the Munster SHC, withJohn Mullane eventually scoring a late goal. Limerick then advanced the2011 All-Ireland SHC qualifiers, defeating Wexford and also (comprehensively) defeatingAntrim, to reach an All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against NHL title holder Dublin. Dublin won that game by a scoreline of 3–13 to 0–18, ending Limerick's season. O'Grady resigned as manager a few months later over his determination that he intended to stay as coach for only one year.
In October 2011,John Allen was appointed as manager. Inadequate fitness levels contributed to defeats against Clare in the Division 1B Final and against Tipperary in the Munster SHC in Allen's first year. However, an extensive specifically designed summer fitness course led to a marked improvement, then a creditable losing performance against Kilkenny in the2012 All-Ireland SHC quarter-final offered hope for 2013. As in 2012, Dublin (managed byAnthony Daly) defeated Limerick in the2013 NHL Division 1B Final.[3] That summer would bring a pitch invasion by spectators as Limerick won a first Munster SHC title since 1996. The celebrations contributed to a loss of focus, leading Clare to win the2013 All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Limerick at Croke Park.
The2018 season concluded with Limerick winning the2018 All-Ireland SHC, the team's first since 1973, with a 3–16 to 2–18 point defeat of Galway inthe final.[4] The team built on this success, winning the NHL in2019,2020 and2023, the Munster SHC in2019,2020,2021 and2022 and the All-Ireland SHC again in2020,2021 and2022. Munster Senior Hurling Championship 2023, All Ireland Hurling Championship 2023 to be forever remembered the team to join the Cork hurling Champions of the 40s and the Kilkenny hurling Champions of the 2000s to complete 4 in a row.
MusicianBruce Springsteen is a Limerick supporter.[5]Dolores O'Riordan was another supporter.[6] In the year of her death — when Limerick bridged a 45-year gap to win the2018 All-Ireland SHC — "Zombie" byThe Cranberries was adopted by the team as an anthem,[7] and another Cranberries song, "Dreams", was immediately played at Croke Park to coincide with the post-final festivities,[8] The team later broughtthe trophy to her family home.[9][10] ActorBill Murray attended the2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final victory over Galway at Croke Park, wearing a Limerick jersey.[11]
Limerick made a limited edition jersey available in 2021 to commemorate the county's1921 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final win, which coincided with the first presentation of theLiam MacCarthy Cup. An image of that trophy adorned the jersey's sleeve.[12]
Limerick's jersey for the 2021 season went on sale on 24 March and had the titles of Limerick's 65 clubs across its front.[13]
Limerick released a new jersey in advance of the 2023 season.[14]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2022) |
Team as per Limerick vsWaterford in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final, 7 August 2021
INJ Player has had an injury which has affected recent involvement with the county team.
RET Player has since retired from the county team.
WD Player has since withdrawn from the county team due to a non-injury issue.
Manager John Kiely named four new men in his squad ahead of the 2021 National Hurling League.[15] Those not listed above are included below.
The following players have also been called up to the Limerick panel.
| Pos. | Player | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colin Coughlan | Ballybrown | |
| ? | Cathal O'Neill | Crecora-Manister | |
| ? | Tom Hayes | Doon | |
| ? | Barry Murphy | Doon | |
| DF | Paddy O'Loughlin[16] | Kilmallock | v.Waterford , 13 December 2020,All-Ireland Championship Final |
| Name | Club | From | To | All-Ireland titles | Munster titles | National League titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Stokes Jackie Power Sean Cunningham Denis Barrett Jim Quaid | Pallasgreen Ahane Doon Bruff Feohanagh-Castlemahon | 1972 | 1975 | 1973 | 1973, 1974 | |
| Dick Stokes JP Ryan John Mulcahy Kevin Long Phil Bennis | Pallasgreen Garryspillane Cappamore Feenagh-Kilmeedy Patrickswell | 1975 | 1976 | |||
| Noel Drumgoole | Na Piarsaigh | 1977 | 1982 | 1980, 1981 | ||
| Brother Michael O'Grady | Patrickswell | 1982 | 1984 | 1983-84 | ||
| Noel Drumgoole | Na Piarsaigh | 1984 | 1986 | 1984-85 | ||
| Éamonn Cregan | Claughaun | 1986 | 1988 | |||
| Liam O'Donoghue Donie Flynn Tony Hickey | Mungret St. Pauls Killeedy Murroe-Boher | 1988 | 1989 | |||
| Phil Bennis | Patrickswell | 1989 | 1989 | |||
| Liam O'Donoghue Donie Flynn Tony Hickey | Mungret St. Pauls Killeedy Murroe-Boher | 1989 | 1991 | |||
| Phil Bennis | Patrickswell | 1991 | 1993 | 1991-92 | ||
| Tom Ryan | Ballybrown | 1993 | 1997 | 1994, 1996 | 1997 | |
| Éamonn Cregan | Claughaun | 1997 | 2002 | |||
| David Keane | Adare | 2002 | 2003 | |||
| Pad Joe Whelahan | Birr, Offaly | 2003 | 2005 | |||
| Joe McKenna | South Liberties | 2005 | 2006 | |||
| Richie Bennis | Patrickswell | 2006 | 2008 | |||
| Justin McCarthy | Passage West, Cork | 2008 | 2010 | |||
| Dónal O'Grady | St. Finbarr's, Cork | 2010 | 2011 | |||
| John Allen | St. Finbarr's, Cork | 2011 | 2013 | 2013 | ||
| TJ Ryan Dónal O'Grady | Garryspillane St. Finbarr's, Cork | 2013 | 2014 | |||
| TJ Ryan | Garryspillane | 2014 | 2016 | |||
| John Kiely | Galbally | 2016 | Present | 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | 2019, 2020, 2023 |
Aaron_Gillane is Limerick's all-time top scorer in league and championship (with a total of 28–531 in 76 appearances as of 2024)overtakingGary Kirby (with a total of 41–488 in 107 appearances).
Limerick has 94 All Stars, as of 2024. 41 different players have won, as of 2024.Joe McKenna won six All Stars.
Bold denotes that a player also wonHurler of the Year for the year in question.
1971:Pat Hartigan,Éamonn Cregan
1972: Pat Hartigan2nd, Éamonn Cregan2nd
1973: Pat Hartigan3rd,Jim O'Brien,Seán Foley,Richie Bennis,Éamonn Grimes
1974: Pat Hartigan4th,Joe McKenna
1975: Pat Hartigan5th, Joe McKenna2nd, Éamonn Grimes2nd
1978: Joe McKenna3rd
1979: Joe McKenna4th
1980:Leonard Enright, Joe McKenna5th, Éamonn Cregan3rd
1981: Leonard Enright2nd,Liam O'Donoghue, Joe McKenna6th
1983: Leonard Enright3rd
1984:Paudie Fitzmaurice,Paddy Kelly
1991:Gary Kirby
1992:Tommy Quaid,Ciarán Carey
1994:Joe Quaid,Dave Clarke, Ciarán Carey2nd,Mike Houlihan, Gary Kirby2nd,Damien Quigley
1995: Gary Kirby3rd
1996: Joe Quaid2nd, Ciarán Carey3rd,Mark Foley, Mike Houlihan2nd, Gary Kirby4th
2001: Mark Foley2nd
2007:Brian Murray,Ollie Moran,Andrew O'Shaughnessy
2013:Richie McCarthy
2014:Seamus Hickey,Shane Dowling
2018:Seán Finn,Richie English,Dan Morrissey,Declan Hannon,Cian Lynch,Graeme Mulcahy
2019: Aaron Gillane, Seán Finn2nd
2020:Nickie Quaid, Seán Finn3rd, Dan Morrissey2nd,Diarmaid Byrnes,Kyle Hayes,Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch2nd,Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane2nd
2021: Seán Finn4th,Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes2nd, Declan Hannon2nd, Kyle Hayes2nd,William O'Donoghue,Darragh O'Donovan, Gearóid Hegarty2nd,Cian Lynch3rd, Tom Morrissey2nd,Séamus Flanagan,Peter Casey
2022: Nickie Quaid2nd, Barry Nash2nd,Diarmaid Byrnes3rd, Declan Hannon3rd, Gearóid Hegarty3rd, Kyle Hayes3rd, Aaron Gillane3rd
2023: Dan Morrissey3rd, Diarmaid Byrnes4th, Kyle Hayes4th, William O'Donoghue2nd, Darragh O'Donovan2nd, Tom Morrissey3rd,Aaron Gillane4th
2024:Nickie Quaid3rd, Dan Morrissey4th, Kyle Hayes5th, Gearoid Hegarty4th
Winners (1): 1998Winners (4): 1935, 1941, 1954, 1957Winners (6): 1987, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2015, 2017Winners (1): 1961 (Limerick City)Winners (8): 1899, 1900, 1935, 1941, 1942, 1962, 1963, 1964Winners (25): 1897, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, 1923, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1955, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1994, 1996, 2013,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024
Runners-up (27): 1891, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1905, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1937, 1939, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1956, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1992, 1995, 2001, 2007, 2014Winners (2): 2006, 2015[20]Winners (3): 1968, 1998, 2008Winners (10): 1927, 1935, 1939, 1941,1946, 1948, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1986Winners (1): 2018[28]Winners (2): 2020, 2023There was also a stirring cameo from Joe Canning, making his first appearance since last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to the Shannonsiders.
Dublin manager Anthony Daly celebrates at the final whistle after his side's victory over Limerick in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B Final at Semple Stadium.
Just forty-eight hours before Bruce Springsteen plays on Cork's Páirc Uí Chaoimh's famous pitch, The Boss outed himself as a Limerick hurling fan last night.
It's just so poignant that, at the moment she's all over the radio in Limerick too, because of the Limerick hurler's[sic] All-Ireland victory – she'll be forever synonymous with it. A few weeks ago in Croke Park, O'Riordan's Dreams had toasted the Limerick hurler's[sic] All-Ireland hurling victory.
