Limerick man coaches Éire Óg to Clare Senior Hurling Championship glory

LIMERICK native Liam Cronin coached Éire Óg to the Clare Senior Hurling Championship title on Sunday. Éire Óg ended a 35 year wait for the Clare SHC title when they defeated Clooney-Quin 0-17 to 0-12 at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg. 2024 hurler of the year Shane O'Donnell and Clare senior hurler David Reidy were part of the Éire Óg winning side.  

Cronin has continued his role as coach of the Ennis based club after he got involved with the club last year. Former Clare senior hurling joint manager Gerry O'Connor is in charge of the club, O'Connor and Cronin previously worked together with the Clare senior hurling team. 

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John Kiely added Liam Cronin to the Limerick senior hurling backroom team this year. Kiely's side suffered a heartbreaking Munster final defeat to Cork after penalties and the Shannonsiders suffered a shock defeat to Dublin in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final. Limerick will be aiming to bounce back in the 2026 season. 

The Cappamore native has worked with Dublin and Clare senior hurling teams and Ardscoil Rís Harty Cup teams in the past. In 2024, he was the coach of the Cork senior camogie team which won the All-Ireland title. He was also coach of the Limerick minor hurling side with Shane Dowling in 2024. 

Cronin spoke with Leader Sport last year and he explained that his coaching journey started when he was back in college with his club Cappamore. 

“I do see an awful lot of overlaps between my profession on a day to day basis teaching and coaching. I was lucky enough 24 years ago to get the job in Ardscoil Rís. It's probably then that my coaching interest and career took off. I really enjoy working with players, trying to improve them and trying to get them to work together.”

Numerous Limerick and Clare players who attended Ardscoil Rís have went onto to win All-Ireland medals with their counties where the east Limerick native works as a teacher. 

“Anytime I'm part of a management team, I prefer to be on the coaching side of things as opposed to be on the managing side of things. I think, I'm at my best when I'm dealing with the players on the pitch. The biggest satisfaction of all is to see so many of our past pupils win All-Irelands with Clare and Limerick.”