The boys of Limerick got the celebrating out of the way early and they were back to reality fairly lively.
Reality for them is different now from what it was and it will probably feel like they’re still living a dream into the next few weeks, but the wild celebrations are over now and business has resumed for the players anyway.
The Treaty squad did their historic All-Ireland win justice with parties, pub crawls, singsongs, Sean South renditions and sessions for days but by Saturday, the lads involved with football clubs were back between the four white lines again.
And their fellow county men didn’t spare them. Gearoid Hegarty was the first of the hurling heroes to brave the elements again.
John Kiely’s big behemoth of a half forward led his St Patricks’ troops into battle on Saturday evening. He was brought back down to earth when the men of Fr Casey’s defeated them 1-14 to 1-11.
In fairness to Hegarty, he did his best to sustain the winning buzz wearing his lucky Limerick socks and togs in the Bog Garden clash, but they didn’t do the business this time around.
From Croke Park to The Bog Garden! All Ireland winner Gearoid Hegarty starts and captains St Patricks v Fr Caseys in Limerick SFC six days after hurling history. Throw-in 7.15 in Rathkeale #GAA #LLSport @StPatsGAALimk @frcaseysgaa pic.twitter.com/batNsGPZ2w
— Jerome O'Connell (@JeromeSport) August 25, 2018
Tweet Credit: @JeromeSport
Fellow Liam MacCarthy winners Darragh O’Donovan, Richie English and Pat Ryan were also kicking the big ball around the place on Saturday evening. The three lads play their club hurling for Doon and their football for Oola, but they couldn’t prevent their football club from losing to St Kieran’s six days after their Croke Park heroics.
They did their very best, however with both O’Donovan and English scoring goals in the four point loss.
There was club football again in Limerick on Wednesday night with Oola and St Patrick’s out again. The east Limerick men were well beaten this time around with Newcastle West defeating them 5-17 to 4-3, but that was despite the best efforts of hurling super-sub Pat Ryan who scored a goal in the first half of the game.
Meanwhile Hegarty’s St Patricks’ drew with Ballysteen as the SFC begins to hot up Shannonside.
And now the club hurling is only around the corner. The first round was played way back in April and finally the second stage of the competition will take place this weekend, the people of Limerick undoubtedly delighted with this long wait.
The tie of the round sees potential Hurler of the Year Graeme Mulcahy’s Kilmallock take on last year’s All-Ireland club finalists Na Piarsaigh. Ten of John Kiely’s panel of 36 will be involved in Saturday’s 6.30 throw-in.
Meanwhile, our tip for the championship Patrickswell are out against Ballybrown with Cian Lynch, Aaron Gillane and Diarmuid Byrnes leading the charge for the 2016 champions.
The boys are back at it again. The way they want it to be.
