Limerick hurlers invited to stick their oars in at boat club

THE LIMERICK hurlers got cleaned out by opponents early in the season but thankfully it wasn’t on the field of play.

The panel paid a visit to Castleconnell Boat Club after receiving an invitation from Ballybricken’s Shane Ryan. The former Paralympic rower, who recently broke a world record, met John Kiely by chance at an awards ceremony last November.

Shane, who has about 6% vision, was honoured by Limerick City and County Council for rowing the Atlantic in 2020 with four strangers.

“The ceremony was held in Kilmallock back in November. I was presented with a certificate for my achievement – Cllr Brigid Teefy nominated me. There was eight of us in total because they couldn’t hold the event for two years.

“John Kiely was there representing the Limerick team who got a cert. I got talking to John – he is very sociable – and said I was with Castleconnell Boat Club. I told him if he ever wanted to change their training to give me a shout,” said Shane.

A few weeks later his phone rang and it was John taking Shane up on his offer. On a Friday night before Christmas around 30 hurlers rocked up to Castleconnell Boat Club.

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“The whole squad was there bar the Na Piarsaigh lads who were on a break due to the Munster club hurling,” said Shane, who was impressed with the hurlers ability on rowing machines.

“The size of them! The numbers they were pulling - it was gas. Some of them were quite good. If they started when they were young they’d be on the Olympic squad probably. The Morrisseys were doing well, as was Gearoid Hegarty – the size of him – and Kyle Hayes too.

“We put an under 18 team up against them and they beat the hurlers by a minute just on rowing technique. It was good fun. At the end we did a team relay with them – put them all up against each other in teams of four. I presented the Limerick winners with one of my Paralympic tops. They kindly gave the club a signed Limerick jersey,” said Shane.

James Mangan, head coach at Castleconnell Boat Club, agrees with Shane that the hurlers could be as good on the water as they are in Croke Park.

“If you caught them fellows when they were young they would be talented rowers,” said James, who thanked the players for taking the time to call out and speaking to their athletes.

“We have a lot of kids on the Irish team and for them to be able to meet the hurlers, see their attitude and connect with another sport was brilliant. You see it with good teams that they all do a lot of community connections.

“It was my first time meeting them and they were all very nice down-to-earth fellows. You can see why they are such good athletes,” said James.