2020 A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR LIMERICK SENIOR FOOTBALL  TEAM & MANAGEMENT

While 2020 was a very strange year in so many ways because of Covid-19, it proved a very successful year for Limerick Senior Footballers on the field of play, which started on Sunday 29th. December 2019 and ended on Saturday last 7th. November, lifting two titles and promotion

The playing year started in Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale on Sunday 29th. December where Clare were visitors in the opening game in the McGrath Cup and after a well contested game played in front of a good crowd it was the home side that secured victory on a score line of 0.14 to 2.06. It would be a trip to Fraher Field in Dungarvan on Thursday night 2nd. January to play Waterford where a win was required to advance. Once again Limerick emerged winners by 2.10 to 0.10 (this was to be the first of three visits to Fraher Field in 2020)

Saturday 11th. January saw a big crowd in LIT Gaelic Grounds for what proved to be a great evening with the Senior Footballers and Hurlers in finals in a double header playing Cork in the McGrath Cup and Munster Hurling League finals.

The footballers who were first onto the field for a 5.30pm throw in and they got the evening off to a great start when they defeated Cork by 0.20 to 0.16, there was great joy when Joint Captains, Donal O’Sullivan and Iain Corbett were presented with The McGrath Cup by Liam Lenihan, Chairman Munster GAA

Two weeks later on Saturday 25th. January, the footballers were back in Fraher Field Dungarvan for the opening Round of Division 4 Allianz Football League and again it was the visitors who secured victory in a hard fought game winning by the only goal of the game, 1.10 to 0.10. London were visitors a week later on Sunday 2nd. February to Mick Neville Park and after a very close game Limerick took the spoils by the narrowest of margins to win by 0.08 to 0.07. The following Sunday 9th. February the Round 3 game was played in Dr Cullen Park in Carlow, where a one point win was secured on a score line Limerick 1.07 Carlow 0.09.

Mick Neville Park was the venue on Sunday 23rd. February for Round 4 of the League and it was Wicklow who provided the opposition, Limerick were impressive winners scoring a 5.10 to 1.14 victory to remain undefeated. Antrim were the next opponents in Portlenone on Sunday 1st. March and it was the home side that took the League points on a score line of 2.21 to 1.12, however Limerick remained in contention for League promotion with two rounds to be played.

Because of the Covid – 19 Lockdown on 12th. March all Inter County fixtures were cancelled for seven months and Limerick’s Round 6 game was played on Sunday 18th. October when Wexford were visitors to Mick Neville Park (played behind closed doors) and the visitors scored a 1.13 to 1.10 win, which meant that the Round 7 games were to be vital for League Honours and promotion.

Saturday 24th.October was to prove a great day for the Limerick Senior Footballers as they played Sligo in Markievchz Park Sligo and after a very well contested game, they scored a merited 2 point win, 1.16 to 1.14, while on the same afternoon Wicklow defeated Wexford which gave Limerick a Top of the Table position and the Division 4 Allianz League Football League Title and promotion to Division 3.

No time to rest on their laurels, Limerick Senior Footballers were back in action one week later when on Saturday 31st. October, a third trip to Fraher Field in Dungarvan to play Waterford in the Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter Final and they continued their good form and secured a 2.14 to 0.09 win and a place in the Provincial Semi Final.

LIT Gaelic Grounds was the venue on Saturday 7th. November for the Munster Semi Final game, where Tipperary were the opponents, and after a great first half Limerick led by 2.06 to 0.05 but Tipperary got on top in the second half, the sides finished level Limerick 2.09 Tipperary 1.12, extra time was played, the visitors added 3 points to 2 for Limerick to win by 1.15 to 2.11. It was heartbreak for the Limerick players and Management to lose out on a place in the Munster Final.

It brought to an end, what can only be described as a very successful year for Limerick Senior Footballers and Management on the field of play. Well Done to all involved both on and off the field of play.

1. Sunday 29th Dec McGrath Cup

Limerick 0.14 Clare 2.06 Mick Neville Park

2. Thursday 2nd. Jan McGrath Cup

Waterford 0.10 Limerick 2.10 Fraher Field, Dungarvan

3. Saturday 11th Jan McGrath Cup Final

Limerick 0.20 Cork 0.16 LIT Gaelic Grounds

4. Saturday 25th. Jan Allianz Football League ( Rd.1)

Waterford 0.10 Limerick 1.10 Fraher Field Dungarvan

5. Sunday 2nd Feb Allianz Football League ( Rd.2)

Limerick 0.08 London 0.07 Mick Neville Park

6. Sunday 9th. Feb Allianz Footbal League ( Rd.3)

Carlow 0.09 Limerick 1.07 Dr Cullen Park Carlow

7. Sunday 23rd. Feb. Allianz Football League (Rd 4)

Limerick 5.10 Wicklow 1.14 Mick Neville Park

8. Sunday 1st. Mar Allianz Football League (Rd 5)

Antrim 2.21 Limerick 1.12 Portlenone

9. Sunday 18th. Oct Allianz Football League (Rd 6)

Limerick 1.10 Wexford 1.13 Mick Neville Park

10 Satuday 24th. Oct Allianz Football League (Rd 7)

Sligo 1.14 Limerick 1.16 Markievchz Park Sligo

11 Saturday 31st. Oct Munster SFC QF

Waterford 0.09 Limerick 2.14 Fraher Field Dungarvan

12 Saturday 7th. Nov Munster SFC Semi Final

Limerick 2.11Tipperary1.15 aet LIT Gaelic Grounds

                                                                   P W L D         For                Against

McGrath Cup                                         3    3 0 0          2.44 (50)       2.32 (38) +12

Div 4 Allianz Football League             7   5 2 0        10.73 (103)    5.88 (103) 0

Munster S FC                                           2  1 1 0          4.25 (37)        1.24 (27) +10

Total                                                       12  9  3 0         16.142 (190)   8.144(168) +22