SOUTH LIBERTIES
Parish Lotto
The Parish Lotto can now be played online at https://bit.ly/libslotto or click into our facebook page and the link is pinned to the top of our posts. There was no winner last week.
U15 Football County Champions
Congratulations to our U15 Lads on conquering Hospital/Herbertstown in the County Final last Sunday week in Mick Neville Park. These lads had remained unbeaten all through their rounds. They had met Hospital in their last round games in early September and won on a scoreline of 5-03 to 1-06. But Hospital seemed a different outfit this time round. We were level at half time with 1-03 a piece. H/H went 2 points up in the opening few minutes of the second half but our lads got a pep in their stride then and put 5 points over, followed by 2 goals and another point before H/H answered with a single point. We got our 3rd goal 3 minutes before the end with H/H finishing the scoring with their 7th point of the game. It finished 3-09 to 1-07 and shouts of glee followed from both the pitch and the sidelines. Huge thanks to our Mentors Gearoid Holland, Des Ryan and Declan Keogh for their dedication all year. Captain Sean Holland accepted the Cup from Limerick Bord Na N-Og Treasurer and South Liberties Club member Denis Carroll. All the players and their families went back to The Four Elms for food and refreshments and will be presented with their County Medals at a further date.
Senior Hurlers
Our Senior hurlers bowed out of the County Championship lately when defeated by Na Piarsiagh in Kilmallock on a scoreline of 1-23 to 0-09. Our lads were playing well in the first half and by half time we were only trailing by 3 points 0-08 to 0-05, with Na Piarsaigh having numerous wides, a similar result to our game V Patrickswell in the ¼ final so we were very hopeful.
But the big NAP men got into a stride then that was worthy of a County Hurling Side and they pushed on. In fairness to our own lads, they fought hard to the end. Reaching the semi-final was a huge achievement in itself, a feat that had not been achieved in 37 years. We have a big panel of young players and hopefully they can all look to this semi-final placing in 2022 and strive to keep reaching this stage and maybe push on one more in the coming years. Well done to all the panel and management on a great year for the Club at such a high level.
Best wishes to Anthony Nash and Mike Keane
Following our senior semi-final, Anthony Nash announced his retirement from Hurling. He was interviewed by “The42” stating that it was an emotional day for him to hang up his boots with the Liberties jersey on him. It was a dream for Anthony to finish his career with his cousin Barry on the field and his uncle a selector on the sideline. Anthony also said that his Grandfather, Paddy Shanahan, was crying after the game as was his uncle Mike while all his family were standing around hugging and embracing. It was an irrefutable honour for South Liberties to have had Anthony play with us these last 2 years, helping to bring us to a senior semi-final. A truly honourable feat.
Some days later, we hear that Mikey Keane is also retiring from hurling at the young age of 40. Mike celebrated this birthday recently and was presented with a framed action shot photo from the semi-final from Seamus Mc Elligott of Sport Action Photography. We will watch this space and see will Mikey actually stop playing at senior level.
We thank both these lads for their contribution to South Liberties and wish them well for the future.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Club man David Grimes who married his Na Piarsaigh wife Clare Ryan last Saturday week in Dromoland. David and Clare had organised for the semi-final clash to be seen on a television in the hotel so everyone was able to watch the game. We wish you both many years of health and happiness ahead.