Limerick family ties aplenty as young stars play in Munster final's Primary Game

WHILE all focus will be on the Saturday's Munster senior hurling final, 22 young boys and girls from Limerick will also enjoy the opportunity to wear the green and white of Limerick on a big championship day when they line out in the Munster GAA Primary Game exhibition games played at half-time in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

For 44 lucky girls and boys, Saturday’s match presents the opportunity of a lifetime as 22 children from primary schools in both Limerick and Cork line out in the Primary Game.

Aoife Kiely (Galbally NS) and Evan Murphy (Ballylanders NS) are well used to visiting the TUS Gaelic Grounds. Aoife is daughter of Limerick hurling manager John Kiely while Evan’s dad Johnny is the well-known inter-county referee (who will referee the Leinster SHC final on Sunday) and former Limerick senior footballer. Indeed, Johnny Muprhy represented Limerick Primary schools in football on no fewer than three occasions.

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John Kiely also lined out for the Limerick primary schools hurling team against Kilkenny while he was a pupil in Galbally NS.
Mary Buckley (Ballybrown NS) comes from a distinguished GAA family. Her grandfather John McDonogh was a Limerick hurling stalwart in the 1960s while her uncle Steve McDonogh lined out in the All-Ireland finals of 1994 and 1996.

Daragh Sheahan (Glengurt NS) is son of John Paul who lined out with Limerick hurlers in 2004 and 2005.

“Memories are made of such occasions,” said Joe Lyons, co-ordinator of the Primary Game and chairman of Cumann na mBunscol Luimnigh.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to play in front of a huge attendance, sharing the big match atmosphere with the top players in the province. The Munster Council deserves great credit for their vision and generosity,” he said.

“The Primary Game is unique and offers an experience that children treasure for the rest of their lives. To play on the same pitch as your heroes in your own county’s colours is an opportunity to be treasured.

“By Saturday evening, almost 500 boys and girls from all six Munster counties will have played in the Primary Game series this year. Every player will receive an entire set of playing gear in their county colours as well as tickets for the game for their parents. This is a huge investment by the Munster Council in the absence of a sponsor and demonstrates the commitment of the Munster Council to promoting Gaelic Games among our young players. It is an investment that will pay dividends in the future,” explained Mr Lyons.

Camogie panel: Éabha Brophy (Killinure NS), Kate Lynch (Caherline NS), Kelly Breen (Oola NS), Aisling Carroll (St Nessan’s), Mary Buckley (Ballybrown NS), Vivienne Darcy (Milford NS), Ellie Curtin (Dromcollogher NS), Emma Gooley (Ahalin NS), Áine Cunningham (Raheenagh NS), Aoife Kiely (Galbally NS), Saoirse Murnane (Bruree NS).

Roghnóirí: Paula Donnelly (St Paul’s NS), Niamh O’Dea (St Paul’s NS), Christine Farrell (Ballybrown NS), Margaret Bernard.

Hurling panel: Thomas Maher (St Brigids NS), Luca Ryan (JFK Memorial School), Jamesie O’Connell (Pallaskenry NS), Darragh Walsh (Ballyagran NS), Liam Bluett (Effin NS), Evan Murphy (Ballylanders NS), Paddy O’Sullivan (Monagea NS), Danny Anglim (Ballysteen NS), Darragh Sheahan (Glengurt NS), Scott Fitzgerald (Crecora NS), Bill Hayes (Tineterrife NS).

Roghnóirí: John Tuohy (St Paul’s NS), Ruairi Walsh (St Paul’s NS), Ciarán Crowe, Br JL Dormer.