2022 THE FOOTBALL THAT WAS

Now that the Limerick Senior Football team have completed their 2022 playing year, we look back on what was a very busy one, playing 14 Competitive games.

McGrath Cup (2)
Allianz Football League
Munster Senior Football Championship (3)
All Ireland Senior Football Championship Qualifier (1).

The McGrath Cup
The playing year got underway on Wednesday 5th. January when Limerick travelled to Austin Stack Park, Tralee to play Kerry in the opening game in The McGrath Cup where Kerry were victorious, four days later, Saturday 9th. January, Mick Neville Park was the venue for the second Round game in The McGrath Cup and after a very close encounter the visitors were winners by the narrowest of margins to end Limerick’s interest in the competition

Allianz Football League (Division 3)
Limerick began their second year in Division 3 Allianz Football League with a Round 1 home game in TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday 29th. January, where they scored a 4.09 to 1.11 over Longford, a week later Corrigan Park Belfast was the venue on Saturday 5th. February and a win over Antrim was recorded Limerick 2.09 Antrim 0.11. Two weeks later, on Sunday 20th. February. Allianz Football League Round Louth were visitors to UL Campus (the game switched from TUS Gaelic Grounds) owing to pitch and weather conditions, the visitors made a late rally to take the league points on offer winning by 1.14 to 1.12. On Saturday 26th. February, Limerick made the journey to Aughrim where they scored a 1.13 to 1.09 victory over Wicklow, the win put Limerick back on course in the three way promotion race with Westmeath and Antrim after Round 4. Westmeath were visitors to TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday 12th. March for Round 5 game,and it was the visitors who proved best to win by 1.1.12 to 1.06. A week later Limerick were back on road, this time to play Laois in Portlaoise and after a very closely contested game, Limerick scored a 0.15 to 0.14 win which gave Limerick second place (😎 behind Louth (9) on the League with only one game remaining which was played TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday 27th. March with Fermanagh providing the opposition. Limerick needed a victory and depended on others favourable results on the day to secure promotion. The win was secured by 1,16 to 0.14 and promotion to Division Two amid great scenes of joy. Limerick finished in second place in the League behind Louth, both sides gaining promotion to Division Two for 2023 and a place in the 2022 Allianz Football League Final which was played in Croke Park on Saturday 2nd April which Louth won by 1.14 to 0.12. Overall a great League campaign, winning five of the seven league games to gain promotion, losing the Division 3 League Final was a disappointment, but the main aim was Promotion and this was achieved.

Munster Senior Football Championship
Limerick opened their 2022 Munster Senior Football Championship campaign with a trip to Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday 30th. April, where they played Clare in a Quarter Final game. After a very exciting game the sides finished level Clare 1.19 Limerick 2.16 (After Extra Time). Limerick went on win on penalties to reach the Semi Final and were back on the road once again this time to Semple Stadium Thurles to play Tipperary in the Semi Final. Limerick reached the Provincial Final when they scored a 2.10 to 0.10 over the home side.
The Munster Final saw Limerick make the journey to Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney to meet Kerry on Saturday 28th. May who proved best to retain the Munster Senior Football Championship winning by 2.28 to 0.08.
In the All Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 2, Limerick were drawn to meet Cork who defeated Louth in Round 1 in Pairc Ui Caoimh, which was once again the venue on Sunday 12th June when Limerick playing their fourth Championship outing away provided the opposition and in a very well contested game it was Cork that emerged victorious on a score-line of 2.18 to 1.16 thus ending Limerick’s year on the playing field, a year that was a successful one, gaining promotion in the Allianz Football League to Division Two for 2023, reaching the Munster Senior Football Championship Final and giving a very good display in their last outing against Cork in the All Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 2 game.
Great Credit is due to all involved, the Players, Manager Billy Lee and his Management Team, Backroom Team, Football Development Committee and Limerick GAA .for what was year of achievement

McGRATH CUP
Wed 5th. Jan Kerry 2.23 Limerick 0.06 Austin Stack Park Tralee Sun 9th. Jan Limerick 0.14 Tipperary 1.12 Mick Neville Park

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Sat 29th. January Round 1. Limerick 4.09 Longford 1.11 in TUS Gaelic Grounds
Sat 5th. February Round 2 Antrim 0.11 Limerick 2.09 in Corrigan Park, Belfast
Sun 20th.February Round 3 Limerick 1.12 Louth 1.14 in UL North Campus
Sat 26h.. February Round 4 Wicklow 1.09 Limerick 1.13 in Aughrim
Sat 12th. March Round 5 Limerick 1.06 Westmeath 1.12 in TUS Gaelic Grounds
Sat 19th. March Round 6 Laois 0.14 Limerick 0.15 in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise
Sun 27th. March Round 7 Limerick 1.16 Fermanagh 0.14 in TUS Gaelic Grounds
Sat 2nd. April Final Louth 1.14 Limerick 0.12 in Croke Park

MUNSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sat 30th. April . Munster SFC Q/F Clare 1.19 Limerick 2.16(aet) Limerick win on penalties Cusack Park Ennis
Sat 14th.May Munster SF Championship SF Tipperary 0.10 Limerick 2.10 Semple Stadium.
Sat 28th. May Munster SF Championship Final Kerry 2.28 Limerick 0.08 Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney

ALL IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sun 12th.June All Ireland SFC Round 2. Cork 2.18 Limerick 1.16 Pairc Ui Caoimh Cork