Overjoyed Limerick fans set sights on All-Ireland hat-trick

Treaty supporters expect

good times to keep rolling

after emphatic final win

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Ciara

Limerick supporters, from left to right, Clare O'Meara, Liam Harrington, Brian Barry, Luke Fitzgibbon, and Jane Casey celebrate after yesterday's All-Ireland hurling final victory against Cork. Photo: Damien Eagers Photography

Aoife Traynor and Faye Coughlan celebrate Limerick's emphatic win. Photo: Damien Eagers Photography

Brothers Dave and Danny Fitzpatrick outside Croke Park after yesterday's All-Ireland hurling final. Photo: Damien Eagers Photography

Limerick supporters, Mary Claire Quill, with her boyfriend, Arthur coakley, who was supporting Cork, pictured after the hurling Final between Limerick and Cork at Croke Park. Picture credit; Damien Eagers Photography

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Ciara

Ciara O'Loughlin

August 23 2021 02:30 AM

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The streets of Drumcondra were drenched in green and white as the first of the celebrating Limerick fans poured from Croke Park yesterday evening.

amilies and friends cheered as they marched from the All-Ireland showcase arena, their team retaining the Liam MacCarthy Cup after beating Cork 3-32 to 1-22 in a show-stopping display of hurling.

It is the first time the Shannonsiders have won back-to-back senior titles, after beating Waterford in last December’s decider at an empty Croke Park.

The atmosphere in Croke Park was electric as 40,000 lucky GAA fans took their places for the biggest date in the hurling calendar.

With tickets like golddust, many fans gathered around the stadium and outside nearby pubs soaking up as much of the match-day buzz as they could.

Friends Adam Costello, Phelim O’Reilly and Billy Jones from Kilmallock in Limerick said it was overwhelming to watch live sport once again.

“We’re delighted, it was a handy enough one,” Mr Costello said.

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Aoife Traynor and Faye Coughlan celebrate Limerick's emphatic win. Photo: Damien Eagers Photography

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Aoife Traynor and Faye Coughlan celebrate Limerick's emphatic win. Photo: Damien Eagers Photography

Mr O’Reilly added: “Three in a row next year, we’ll be going to the bookies straight away for next year. We will head back down to Limerick now and have a few drinks down there.”

Couple Donal Kelly, from Kilmichael in Cork, and Clodagh O’Reilly, from Kildimo in Limerick, enjoyed the game together even though they were both cheering for their own home counties.

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“We’re rivals just for today,” said Ms O’Reilly, restraining her laughter.

“Limerick are just unbeatable, they were ahead the whole time and they have a good bit of experience now.

“There was serious atmosphere today, we were up in the Nally stand and there was such a buzz.”

Mr Kelly said he was disappointed Cork didn’t score more points, but admitted Limerick were much the better team.

“I thought they would be an awful lot better, they did well against Kilkenny so you would imagine [they would put up a better fight], but Limerick are incredible,” he said.

“Wherever the ball was, there were two Limerick lads there.”

Brendan Cummins:

Opinion

Kiely finds the right set up to keep classy Limerick purring

In Pictures: 20 brilliant images from Croke Park as Limerick celebrate All-Ireland title

‘We fight for each other and we’d die for each other, and for these supporters. That’s what it’s about’

Although couple Mary-Claire Quill and Arthur Coakley are from Bantry in Cork, they were delighted to see Limerick win. That’s because Ms Quill’s recently-deceased mother Nora hailed from Abbeyfeale in Limerick.

Proudly wearing a Limerick jersey, she said: “I’m actually from Cork but my mam was from Limerick and she passed away a few weeks ago, so I’m so happy and I know my mam would be too.”

Originally from the Ennis Road in Limerick, Aoife Traynor was over the moon that her home county took the win, despite now living in Douglas in Cork.

Her 11-year-old daughter Faye Coughlan also donned the green and white jersey with pride.

Overjoyed Limerick fans set sights on All-Ireland hat-trick

“It was so wonderful, they played their heart out from the very start,” Ms Traynor said.

“They are grafters, they worked hard and it was continuous.

“They never let up and they took every opportunity and they were the deserving winners.

“This is the first time we have been at something like this in a long time, so it was so much fun, a great day.”

While cheering outside Croke Park, Brendan Collins from Bruff in Limerick said the match was “absolutely brilliant”.

“Séamus Flanagan was excellent as our full-forward,” he said.

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Brothers Dave and Danny Fitzpatrick outside Croke Park after yesterday's All-Ireland hurling final. Photo: Damien Eagers Photography

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Brothers Dave and Danny Fitzpatrick outside Croke Park after yesterday's All-Ireland hurling final. Photo: Damien Eagers Photography

“We will get back to Bruff later on and have a few jars. Next year it will be three in a row, that is the plan.”

Ten-year-old John Cal McCarthy from Clonakilty, Co Cork, was delighted to attend his first-ever All-Ireland final in Croke Park, but was disappointed to see his team lose.

Reassuring her son, mother Anne McCarthy said: “Out of 32 counties to get down to the last two, we should be so proud.”

John Cal added that maybe Cork will make it to next year’s hurling final.

Cork supporter Cian Murphy from Mallow said he was going straight to the pub for a pint after his team’s 16-point loss.

“It’s great to get to the final. If we had the under-20s next year we’d be laughing,” he said.

Speaking to the

Irish Independent

before the match, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Colm Kelleher, said he was confident his team had it in the bag.

“It’s been 16 years since Liam has been home to Leeside and I believe we have a great team in transition – a great young, hungry team,” he said.

“Limerick has everything to lose, we have nothing to lose. If [Cork] don’t win, I’ll have to go into hiding after the letter I issued last week!”

The Lord Mayor hit headlines for his cheeky letter to his counterpart in Limerick, in which he asked for the “safe return” of the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Limerick sisters Cathleen Osborne and Angela Ryan, from Crecora, and their niece Karen O’Dwyer, from Oola, displayed a confidence before the game that was well founded. They predicted Limerick would “absolutely” be taking the Liam MacCarthy Cup home.

“Absolutely, Limerick will win it,” Ms Osborne said. “It doesn’t matter how much we win by, even if it’s just by just one, but hopefully it’ll be more than that.”

Brendan Cummins:

Opinion

Kiely finds the right set up to keep classy Limerick purring

In Pictures: 20 brilliant images from Croke Park as Limerick celebrate All-Ireland title

‘We fight for each other and we’d die for each other, and for these supporters. That’s what it’s about’

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