limerick are missing quaid wayne mac breen downes allis, with o grady and hickey just back and probably not 100% so still even enough i think..

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 21/05/2015 12:10:00    1726435

At the very most there will be 20,000 at the match Sunday. Those who think 30,000 are living in fantasy land.

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 21/05/2015 12:22:29    1726442

Are the terraces open?

the_post (USA) - Posts: 185 - 21/05/2015 12:31:11    1726447

Its Clare v Linerick in the munster championship. This is big.Id say a crowd of 25,000 with Limerick out numbering Clare 2 to 1 as usual.
It ll be a real cracking occasion.I wont go on about how special it is but put it this way if the munster chamlionship is scrapped then I wont go to anymore hurling games.

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 21/05/2015 12:34:30    1726451

yeah the munster match won't help matters either..

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 21/05/2015 12:35:13    1726452

Are the terraces open?

the_post (USA) - Posts: 185 - 21/05/2015 12:41:49    1726458

Surely the Munster game wont impact to much on the game lads.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 21/05/2015 12:56:18    1726477

yes both terraces are open, how much tickets are sold for them im not sure.
the munster match had only 12 thousand tickets sold for saturday yesterday morning
so both games could end up with a similiar attendance
of between 15-20 thousand

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 21/05/2015 13:16:13    1726502

you'd be suprised, a lot of hurling fans in limerick are rugby fans too and would be hard to go to both. And its a semi final in the rugby and a good few would have season tickets.

And before someone comes along saying the people who go to the rugby instead are only sunshine supporters, it's not a crime to like more than one sport!

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 21/05/2015 13:44:04    1726528

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 2089

1726477
Surely the Munster game wont impact to much on the game lads

If the Dubs were playing, it would be pointed at as a reason for a poor attendance! But god almighty, why couldnt they play the football before/after the game to at least promote football in these counties. I just dont see the logic, absolutely baffling.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 21/05/2015 13:58:07    1726543

yes, the terraces are open....

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1065 - 21/05/2015 14:00:08    1726548

Munster are worried about a lack of support against the Ospreys. Crowds are down all season...

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 21/05/2015 14:19:45    1726561

I like a lot of sports myself,but isnt the rugby on saturday?Whats that got to do with the hurling on Sunday?Munster have had lots of games this year.This is Limerick hurlers first big game of the year.Obviously for those that want to go to both there will be extra costs involved.Rugby or no rugby I still think any Limerick/Clare hurling people will be out in force come Sunday.25000+.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 21/05/2015 14:26:23    1726570

I was working in Clare in 1996.

From the minute the hurling season started, they were bonkers. Lads from all over, Shannon, Ennis, Tulla & whatnot were more than willing to pass comment on Limerick's league results. I remember us beating Wexford 1-13 to 0-8 in the NHL in Kilmallock in feb that year and the Clare lads saying things like 'the two worst teams in Ireland' etc.

As championship approached I sensed the Clare lads were looking for back to back titles. Limerick hammered an inexperienced Cork in the Munster quarter final and back at work on Monday the Clare lads were now in fever pitch. The build up to the semi final was intense but I thought the Clare lads really felt they'd give us a hiding like the year before. As I said good luck to them on the Friday before the game they were saying things like 'see you Tuesday' or 'next time we see you ye'll be out'.

That 1996 game was played in glorious sunshine. Gary Kirby's first half goal happened at the City end and all seemed to go in slow motion. Podge Tobin's hand pass put him through and Kirby who was faster than people thought basically had time to blast it past Davy. He did and the place erupted. Going into the last ten minutes though Clare had edged 0-15 to 1-9 in front. Gary Kirby got through on hid weak side and turned to put it over his shoulder for a point. Barry Foley got another and then a couple of minutes later he slotted one over to level it. As Davy pucked it out there was a little bit of nervousness in the Clare play.

When Ciaran Carey caught that ball few could have imagined hurling's greatest score ever was on the way. He took off from the 40 and made his way towards us in the Ennis end. As he got closer and as the heart began to fail, we tried to shout 'put it over' but no words came out. He had lost 4 Clare players on the way, then jnked to his left, then right and on his weak side he put it over.

BEDLAM!

The place was going bananas, all hoping for Willie Barrett blow the whistle. He did. I met a man from Shannon called John Madigan who said to me 'fifTEEN points the better team on the day but good luck'. The crowd was dangerous leaving the ground. A bucket of pints followed. We'd beaten them, de-throned the champions.

At work the day after a fella said to me 'all this will be useless unless ye beat Tipp'. We did after a reply. In August he said to me 'all this will be useless unless ye beat Wexford'. We didn't. Before the Munster final drawn game they decorated my car in blue & gold tape for Tipp. After we lost to Wexford, they had a dummy hanging off the ceiling at work in a Limerick jersey holding a sign saying 'Limerick, no balls no bottle'.

It can be a hard battle when you are on one side of the Limerick/Clare divide.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 21/05/2015 14:35:07    1726572

Hope your right, I'll be there Sunday anyway!

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 21/05/2015 14:45:51    1726588

slayer, great memories. One question - I remember the score, but not much else about the match. Was it an epic or just an epic finish?

I was in the Gaelic Grounds for the 1st time last year and the 1st thing I asked the Limerick lad beside me was "Where did Ciaran Carey score that point". It was without doubt in my view, given all that was at stake, against the All-Ireland champions, the greatest score in the history of hurling. I still remember watching him coming up the pitch, every sinew of him on the point of bursting, I thought he had blew it and should have moved it in quicker, but Carey had other ideas.

And at the same time, in Leinster, we were knocking Kilkenny out. Gone for the year. In spite of Offaly being the force in Leinster at the time, I think Wexford fancied our chances after that. Call me old-fashioned, but I still think the modern championships have lost that sparkle, in particular the provincial championships. Now that it is no longer "1 strike and you are out", I think the crowds have dwindled, the excitment has lessened and the "do or die" attitude is not there any longer. Which is a pity.

Also there is a lot riding on Sunday's game. Davy will face a serious inquisition if they are beaten, and questions about his management of Podge Collins, Davy O'Halloran, etc will all come up. For TJ, having missed out on promotion to 1A, will Limerick fans start asking questions if Clare roll into town and beat them?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 21/05/2015 16:10:36    1726661

epic in intensity.

The hurling was not free flowing. I remember a Clare player breaking a hurley and a sub coming on to give him a replacement. I was thinking the sub should get flattened. It later transpired that Loughnane had thought about that the year before!

The score was 1-13 to 0-15. These days that would be a half time score. But every ball literally was a potential injury, both sides were tough but fair. In many ways we robbed Clare as at 0-15 to 1-9 they had 2 wides from the left of the field from players hitting off their left hand side. Had they worked the ball infield they may have got a score.

Limerick had no man sent off in championship in Tom Ryan's 4 years in charge. It was a remarkable feat given some of the flaking that went on in that era.

The Clare selectors were very gracious after we beat them. Loughnane wished Limerick well, Considine said he'd miss Mike Mac's 'auld loud voice' until January and Mike Mac also wished Limerick well.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 21/05/2015 16:56:14    1726696

Carey's point in 96 was one of the best I've ever.

Donal O'Donavan's in 2013 was up there also, the sheer calculated manner of the build up to find a free man and then to deliver a do or die score - Holy Moses

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 21/05/2015 17:23:36    1726714

I don't even think that game in '96 was shown on live TV!!!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 21/05/2015 17:47:06    1726731

The heat is what i remember in particular about 96. it was so so warm, not a great game of hurling if truth be told but i'm glad i was there.
I was knackered at the end and that was just as a spectator. cant imagine how the players were. That bit of mad intensity is gone with the back door alright.
Sundays game will have an edge but not that suffocating sense of one slip up and the seasons over...

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1065 - 21/05/2015 18:39:59    1726761