Courtesy of brilliant Kildimo/Pallaskenry (KP), a Limerick team has captured a rare All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship.
In what was a repeat of the provincial decider, the Limerick and Munster champions again over-came Cappawhite (Tip-perary) in the showpiece of the All-Ireland Junior B competition at a well-presented and busy St. Ita’s Park, Raheenagh.
Some weeks earlier, only a point separated the sides, but in this repeat KP were clear-cut winners, 2-13 to 0-10.
Both goals arrived from the stick of the supremely talented Cathal Downes, while Aaron O’Donovan chipped in with a hefty eight points for KP.
John Chawke was simply outstanding in goal for the winners.
“Everything went my way, the boys gave in some super ball and I just finished the job for them,” said two-goal hero and Man of the Match Cathal, who accepted the award from local public-an/sponsor and Council-lor Adam Teskey.
It was a remarkable display by Cathal after he suffered a serious injury that curtailed his involve-ment with the Limerick senior football team. “I’m only back playing games a few months, and I’m just still kind of minding it to be honest.”
Cathal, along with his clubmates John Chawke, Kevin O’Connell, Mark O’Shea, Conor McMah-on, Aaron O’Donovan and captain Rodger Ryan, was subsequently unveiled on the Team of the Championship.
The champions were astutely managed by Brendan O’Shea, with support from solid clubmen in Shane Griffin, Adrian Garvey, Jim Maher and Danny O’Sul-livan.
Professionally hosted by Killeedy GAA, the All-Ireland Series has been around since 2005 and KP follow in the footsteps of Doon (2015) and Monaleen (2024) as local All-Ireland winners.
Other local sides to have won the Munster title are Bruree (2009), St. Mary’s/Seán Finn’s of Rathkeale (2010), Templeglantine (2014), Cappamore (2019) and Bruff (2023).
To set them on the way to such dizzy heights, KP defeated neighbours Ballybrown in the Limerick Final.