Banner ball-hopping begins after Limerick’s loss

MYSTERY surrounds how a fishing boat dedicated to the Limerick hurlers was commandeered by Clare GAA supporters this Tuesday.

A saffron and blue flag was seen flying proudly amid the sea of green. The famous Limerick fishing boat, owned by super-fan Christy Keogh, has been moored on the River Shannon since 2018.

The vessel is painted green and white and has Limerick flags for sails. It is currently located behind the courthouse on Merchant's Quay.

A video has emerged after the vessel was boarded and a Clare flag raised this Tuesday.

“We fixed that. We fixed it right. An Clár Abú. Up the Banner!” says a man in the clip, who obviously enjoyed Clare's victory over Kilkenny and Limerick's five-in-a-row hopes being dashed by Cork.

Limerick Live received a short jovial statement from a self-styled group calling themselves “The Banner Brigade”.

“We are an underground secretive operative group within Limerick city,” it joked.

In stories of this nature - a serious incident of criminal damage - Limerick Live would always contact gardai.

However, the statement goes on to say, “Police would normally be dusting for fingerprints at this stage but little do people know that the Banner Brigade have also infiltrated the police force!”.

The tongue-in-cheek incident is a reminder of when a prankster altered a signpost in Charleville to read the full-time score from the 2021 All-Ireland final - Limerick (3.32); Cork (1.22).