Limerick Morrissey brothers are ‘hurling heroes’ to young players

THE MORRISSEY brothers are hurling heroes to the young boys and girls across Limerick but especially in their native Castleconnell.

“If the boys and girls see the brothers they just can’t believe that they’re in front of them,” Ahane GAA PRO Emer Kenny saidTom and Dan Morrissey and Ciarán Barry all represent Limerick at senior inter-county hurling level.

Tom and Dan both have four All-Ireland senior hurling medals under their belt and are looking to continue the streak by securing a place in the All-Ireland final on Saturday.

Only Galway stands in the way of the Limerick hurlers from securing four consecutive All-Ireland final appearance.

Ahane club president Louie Quirke is considered by club members to be a mind of information and believes the Morrissey brothers would give legendary Ahane GAA and Limerick hurler Mick Mackey a run for his money.

“Well they certainly have as many All-Irelands as him at this stage,” Mr Quirke laughed.

“It’s an awful change in times all of a sudden from getting nothing for years to having medals flowing into the club from league medals, Munster championships and All-Irelands.

The finishers will decide the outcome of Saturday's clash between Limerick and Galway

“We’re holding onto it and we don’t want to let it go,” he said.

According to Mr Quirke, Limerick have been shaping up in form over the last number of games so they will hopefully beat Galway on Saturday.

“They’ve gotten themselves back in it again. They were struggling early on in the year but they’ve seemed to put it behind them,” he said.

Last Saturday saw the Teleflex Medical OEM children's summer party held at Mackey Park, Ahane’s home ground where young club members showed up in force ahead of this weekend’s semi-final clash.

Ms Kenny said the buzz around the village of Castleconnell has been great leading up to the semi-final.

“Seeing the three boys, Tom, Dan and Ciarán representing the club at the highest level is fantastic. There’s a great buzz with the younger club members who want to be the next Tom and Dan,” she said.

According to Ms Kenny, the club goes above and beyond to support not just the Ahane boys but the entire Limerick team.

“Some of our underage squads would have gone to them together to shout on the boys,” she said.

Limerick face Galway in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final in Croke Park on Saturday in a match that will be shown live on RTÉ Two at 6pm.