Limerick hurlers enjoy downtime before game time

THE CO-OP Superstores Munster Hurling League returns this Sunday as the Limerick hurlers take on Cork following a busy period full of festive fun.

Christmas Day saw stars Cian Lynch and Kyle Hayes spread some festive joy around University Hospital Limerick where they met Jack Stapleton Humphreys and his mum Sinead from Clareview in Limerick city.

Unfortunately, Jack, who just turned seven, had to make a quick 24-hour trip to UHL where he spent Christmas Day due to an underlying condition, but there was certainly a major silver lining for the young Na Piarsaigh GAA player as he got to meet two of his sporting heroes.

“We had got word that a couple of them were in with the Liam MacCarthy. I said nothing to Jack and just said I’d see what happens,” Sinead said.

“It made his Christmas. What was going to be a very disappointing Christmas in hospital, Jack turned around to me and said it was ‘the best Christmas ever’,” Sinead added.

Santa also managed to find Jack at UHL as he was given a VR headset which he was thrilled with according to Sinead.

“He got his VR headset and met the boys and got to see the trophies… He was so in awe that they just gave up their time to come into the hospital and see him and chat to him,” Sinead said.

Fellow hurlers Diarmaid Byrnes, Gearoid Hegarty, Dan Morrissey, and Cathal O'Neill spent their New Year's in London for the PDC World Darts Championship, watching on from the crowd at Alexandra Palace.

In a video posted to Diarmaid’s story, the All-Star-winning hurler recorded the crowd as they chanted for Michael Van Gerwen as he entered the stage.

Prior to the end of the year, a group of the Limerick hurlers enjoyed the festive season with a trip to Leopardstown for the race course’s annual Christmas festival which ran from December 26 - 29.

Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Gearoid Hegarty, and Declan Hannon were among the All-Ireland winning hurlers in attendance at the races in Dublin.

Elsewhere, Aaron Gillane and his girlfriend, Limerick junior footballer Róisín Ambrose rang in the new year in Playa Del Carmen in Southern Mexico.

Limerick’s first match in the Co-op Superstores Munster Hurling League takes place this Sunday, where they face Cork in Mallow at 2pm.