Limerick goalie Barry Hennessy gears up for the Dublin Marathon

LIMERICK goalkeeper Barry Hennessy is gearing up for the Dublin Marathon, which takes place this Sunday.

Barry, 28, has been in intensive training, running close to 20 kilometres per week in preparation for the grueling course.

In that time, he has raised thousands of euro for My Canine Companion, which trains dogs to assist children living with autism.

The All-Ireland winner decided to run the marathon after he was approached by Tanya Weeks, a regular customer at his mum’s pharmacy in Kilmallock. Her daughter Sarah has autism, is looking for a guidance dog, and must fundraise. 

He said the public response has been “very humbling”, and also paid tribute to his training partner Jamie Dillon “who has put up with me especially over the last two weeks!”

The appeal has been helped by the raffling of a hurley signed by Limerick’s All-Ireland panel in his mum’s chemist.​

Sadly for Barry, Kilmallock were eliminated from the club championship – but insisted that were they playing in this Saturday night’s showpiece, he would have also taken part in the Dublin Marathon.

“The plan was to collect my badge on Friday, come back down on Saturday, and go up on Sunday to run around Dublin for 26.2 miles,” he revealed.

He is hoping to complete the course “in and around” four hours, saying: “A very close friend of mine did it in 4.22 – so I'd like to be under that!” To donate, call 087-2284352.