Limerick District League target Oscar Traynor Trophy final glory

ON Sunday, John Lysaght’s Limerick District League side take on their Wexford DL counterparts in the National final of the Oscar Traynor Trophy. 

Limerick District will be hoping to win the trophy for the seventh time in their history. Limerick’s first success was in 1956 and eight years later they won it for the second time. Limerick had further success in 1977 and retained the trophy a year later.

A fifteen-year gap was closed when Limerick triumphed in 1993 and again in 1996.

All those successes were under the guidance of Paddy Cusack, but a bad run followed with cup final defeats in 2003, 2008, 2010 and 2015.

This barren spell was broken when Janesboro, under the guidance of Shane Hanlon and Aidan Ryan, brought the trophy back to Shannonside in 2019.

Manager John Lysaght had to do it the hard way. On appointment he was hit with a number of big-name players announcing their unavailability.

He soldiered on and developed a great team spirit among the group of players at his disposal. Injuries have allowed him to add shrewdly to the panel and the players have rewarded him for his loyalty.

PATHS TO THE FINAL:

LIMERICK DL

Group Stage: V Clare W 1-0 (Tom Kidd); V Kerry W 4-1 (Joel Coustrain (2), Leon Daly, Vinny Ryan); V Desmond League D 1-1 (own goal)
Regional S-F v Munster Senior League W 3-2 (Adam Lipper 3)
Regional Final v Waterford DL W 2-1 (Leon Daly 2)
National Q-F v Kilkenny DL W 2-1 (Vinny Ryan, Adam Lipper)
National S-F v Mayo DL W 2-1 (Kieran O’Connell, Shane Walsh)

WEXFORD DL

Group Stage: V Carlow W 3-1; v Defence Forces W 8-0; v Kilkenny DL W 3-2; Leinster Final; Kilkenny DL W 4-1; National Q-Final v Desmond League W 3-0; National S-Final v Waterford DL W 2-1
 
THE team will be chosen from the following players; Adam Foley, Adam O'Regan, Ciaran Jennings, Conor Carew, Conor Coughlan, Eliah Riordan, Joel Coustrain, Joey Rushe, Leon Daly, Sean Ezekannagha, Stephen McNamara, Tom Kidd, (Aisling Annacotty), Adam Lipper, Dylan Murphy, Gary Neville, Shane Walsh, Sean Madigan (Pike Rvs), Ewan O’Brien, Kieran O’Connell (Regional Utd), Shane Pearse, Vinny Ryan (Pallas Utd), Josh Toomey (Janesboro)

The Munster Shield has the potential to bring another trophy to the city with two sides in semi-final action this weekend.
On Saturday Star Rvs face a difficult assignment away tio Waterford side Tramore while a day later Herbertstown are in Tipperary to meet SC+K United.

A win for both would see another provincial final locally and hopes are high both can make it through.
There are two Premier games down with the focus on the drop zone.

With Carew already gone the battle for survival looks to be between Geraldines and Newport.

Geraldines are away to Janesboro and across the railway track Hyde Rgs will be hosing Newport.

In the Open Cup semi-final Balla B v Moyross B has the potential to be a cracker with Fairview C awaiting the winners in the final.