All-Ireland hurling final ticket hunt by Limerick supporters begins
Limerick fans in frantic search for final tickets with Croke Park calling
NOW that hearts have returned to their regular resting beat, Limerick hurling fans’ thoughts have quickly turned to the scramble for All-Ireland final tickets.
John Kiely’s men overcame a titanic performance by Clare in Croke Park on Sunday by the skin of their teeth.
The Limerick hurlers and management have brought fans on a rollercoaster ride for the last eight years and now it’s back to where it all started - a clash with Galway in the All-Ireland final on Sunday, July 19.
Grown men cried that August day in 2018 when Declan Hannon lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup, not knowing what was to come. The win over the Tribesmen set Limerick on a journey to five All-Irelands and seven Munster championships. After a “drought” of two years Limerick are now back in an All-Ireland decider.
The ticket hunt won’t be as bad as it would be if Cork were in the final but they will still be like hen’s teeth as they will not be available for public sale through the usual outlets.
Limerick GAA club secretaries are sure to be inundated with requests for the €100 stand and €55 terrace tickets. Relations and friends around the country will be contacted.
Limerick being in the final would have traded at long odds with the bookies after Tony Kelly’s penalty nearly burst the net, putting the Claremen six points up with 13 minutes to play. But Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Adam English and Aidan O’Connor - who struck the game’s winning goal in the 70th minute - said: “Ye of little faith”.
Coincidentally, Limerick also made up a six point deficit against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final in 2018.
John Kiely spoke of the importance of the Limerick support after Sunday’s win. He geed up the crowd after Diarmaid Byrnes’ scored a trademark long-range point to cut the deficit to three late on.
“They were so rapt with the game, they forgot to do their job. They switched off. And we needed them to do their job. There's 15,000 of them behind me - do your job. Support the team. And when I turned around, they recognised that opportunity and of course, straight away, there was a reaction,” said John, adding that the crowd made a massive contribution to the team in the last seven or eight minutes.
“Because not only did I have eight defending our half of the pitch - I had another 15,000 holding them to account beside them. Shouting on every hook, every block, every catch. And we needed them to do that. They did a brilliant job of it - but they did need to wake up.”
A host of well-known figures from the worlds of sport, music, business and politics were among the spectators at Croke Park to see Limerick record a two-point win over the Bannermen.
Former captain Declan Hannon, his wife, broadcaster Louise Cantillon, Kneecap member Móglai Bap, comedian Dara Ó Briain and reality TV’s Paudie Moloney, who is the grandfather of star forward Shane O’Brien, were some of the famous faces seen in the stands.
A number of the team celebrated afterwards in the city centre pub where they partied in the wake of their Munster final win – The Tavern at Upper William Street, run by Chinese national Dominic. And on Monday, eight players enjoyed a round in Limerick Golf Club.