Limerick Senior Hurling Championship

The Limerick Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Bon Secours Hospital County Senior Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Limerick SHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking senior clubs in the county of Limerick in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Limerick hurling.

Limerick Senior Hurling Championship
Current season or competition:
2024 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship
IrishCraobh Iomána Sinsear Contae Luimní
CodeHurling
Founded1887; 137 years ago (1887)
Region Limerick (GAA)
TrophyJohn Daly Cup
No. of teams12
Title holders Doon (1st title)
Most titles Patrickswell (20 titles)
SponsorsBon Secours Hospital
TV partner(s)RTÉ, TG4
Official websiteLimerick GAA

The series of games are played during the summer and autumn months with the county final currently being played at the Gaelic Grounds in October. The prize for the winning team is the John Daly Cup. Initially played as a knock-out competition, the championship currently uses a round robin format followed by a knock-out stage.

The Limerick County Championship is an integral part of the wider Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship. The winners of the Limerick county final join the champions of the other four hurling counties to contest the provincial championship.

Twelve teams currently participate in the Limerick County Championship. The title has been won at least once by 29 different teams. The all-time record-holders are Patrickswell, who have won a total of 20 titles.

The current holders are Na Piarsaigh.[1]

Format

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Overview

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The Limerick County Championship features a group stage followed by a knock-out stage.[2] Each team in the championship is guaranteed at least five games. Relegation also takes place with the Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.

Group stage

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For the group stage there are two groups of six teams. In 2018 the teams have been ranked based on their recent performances. Group 1 consists of what are regarded as the "strongest" teams. All six of these teams qualified for the knock-out stage in 2017. Group 2 is the "weaker" teams.

Teams play the other five teams in the group once, and match points are awarded depending on the result of each game, with teams receiving two points for a win, and one for a draw.

Following the completion of the group stage, the top four-ranking teams in Group 1 and the top two-ranking teams in Group 2 qualify for the knock-out stage of the championship.

Knockout stage

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The two quarter-finals consist of the third and fourth-ranked teams from Group 1 and the top two-ranked teams from Group 2. The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals where they join the top two-ranked teams from Group 1 who received a bye to this stage.

Teams

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2025 teams

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The 12 teams competing in the 2025 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship are:

Team Location Division Colours Position in 2024 In championship since Championship titles Last championship title
  Adare Adare West Red and black Group stage ? 5 2009
  Ahane Castleconnell East Green and gold Group stage ? 19 2004
  Ballybrown Clarina City White and green Quarter-finals ? 2 1991
  Doon Doon East Red and white Champions ? 1 2024
  Dromin/Athlacca Athlacca South Blue and white Group stage 2024 0
  Kildimo-Pallaskenry Pallaskenry City Blue and white Group stage 2021 0
  Kilmallock Kilmallock South Green and white Semi-finals ? 12 2021
  Monaleen Castletroy City Red and white Quarter-finals 2023 0
  Mungret/St. Paul's Mungret City Red and white Group stage 2022 0
  Na Piarsaigh Caherdavin City Blue and white Runners-up ? 8 2023
  Newcastle West Newcastle West West Black and white Champions (Limerick PIHC) 2025 2 1925
  Patrickswell Patrickswell City Blue and gold Semi-finals ? 20 2019

Sponsorship

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Between 2016 and 2018 the Limerick County Championship was sponsored by the Credit Union. The championship was previously sponsored by the Limerick Motor Centre. Since 2019 the Bon Secours Hospital are the primary sponsors.

Qualification for subsequent competitions

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The Limerick Senior Hurling Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship. This place is reserved for club teams only as divisional and amalgamated teams are not allowed in the provincial championship.

Venues

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Group stage

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Fixtures in the group stage of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams. Some of the more common venues include Fr. Hayes Memorial Park and FitzGerald Park, while the Gaelic Grounds also hosts a number of double-headers. Quarter-finals and semi-finals are also held at the Gaelic Grounds.

Final

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The final has been played at the Gaelic Grounds since it opened in the late 1920s. Prior to this the Markets Field regularly hosted the county final.

Trophy

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The winning team is presented with the John Daly Cup. A native of Limerick, John Daly (1845-1916) was a leading member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. In 1928, Madge Daly who was a niece of John Daly, presented the Limerick County Board with a cup for the county senior hurling championship. The first captain to accept the cup was Bob McConkey.[3]

Managers

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Managers in the Limerick Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the individual club committees. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and a backroom team consisting of various coaches.

Winning managers (2000–present)
Manager Team Wins Winning years
Ger O'Loughlin Adare
Kilmallock
4 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014
Tony Considine Garryspillane
Kilmallock
4 2005, 2010, 2012, 2021
Shane O'Neill Na Piarsaigh 3 2015, 2017, 2023
Dave Keane Adare 2 2001, 2002
Seán Stack Na Piarsaigh 2 2011, 2013
Kieran Bermingham Na Piarsaigh 2 2020, 2022
P. J. O'Grady Patrickswell 1 2000
Jim Fawl Patrickswell 1 2003
Eamon Meskell Ahane 1 2004
John Tuohy Bruree 1 2006
Gary Kirby Patrickswell 1 2016
Paul Beary Na Piarsaigh 1 2018
Ciaran Carey Patrickswell 1 2019

List of finals

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Legend

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List of Limerick SHC finals

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Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2024 Doon 0-16 Na Piarsaigh 2-09
2023 Na Piarsaigh 1-20 Patrickswell 0-19
2022 Na Piarsaigh 3-23 Kilmallock 2-15
2021 Kilmallock 1-24 Patrickswell 0-19
2020 Na Piarsaigh 5-27 Doon 1-12
2019[4] Patrickswell 1-17 Na Piarsaigh 0-15
2018 Na Piarsaigh 2-22 Doon 3-10
2017[5] Na Piarsaigh 1-22 Kilmallock 2-14
2016[6] Patrickswell 1-26 Ballybrown 1-07
2015[7] Na Piarsaigh 1-22 Patrickswell 4-12
2014[8] Kilmallock 1-15 Na Piarsaigh 0-14
2013[9] Na Piarsaigh 0-14 Adare 0-12
2012[10] Kilmallock 1-15 Adare 0-15
2011[11] Na Piarsaigh 2-18 Ahane 0-13
2010 Kilmallock 1-16 Emmets 1-12
2009 Adare 1-17 Na Piarsaigh 0-03
2008 Adare 0-13 Ahane 0-08
2007 Adare 0-14 Croom 0-05
2006 Bruree 1-16 Patrickswell 1-15
2005 Garryspillane 2-15 Kilmallock 2-12
2004 Ahane 1-11 Garryspillane 0-13
2003 Patrickswell 1-13 Adare 0-14
2002 Adare 0-14 Ahane 0-12
2001 Adare 2-17 Patrickswell 2-08
2000 Patrickswell 0-16 Doon 0-15
1999 Ahane 0-14 Kilmallock 2-05
1998 Ahane 1-11 Patrickswell 0-09
1997 Patrickswell 1-12 Garryspillane 0-09
1996 Patrickswell 1-12 Adare 0-06
1995 Patrickswell 2-19 Ballybrown 0-08
1994 Kilmallock 2-09, 1-12 Bruree 1-08, 1-12
1993 Patrickswell 0-17 Adare 0-07
1992 Kilmallock 1-12 Patrickswell 0-12
1991 Ballybrown 1-11 Kilmallock 1-10
1990 Patrickswell 1-15 Adare 1-12
1989 Ballybrown 4-10 Doon 2-09
1988 Patrickswell 4-10 Cappamore 2-06
1987 Patrickswell 1-17 Ballybrown 3-10
1986 Claughaun 1-09 Adare 0-09
1985 Kilmallock 3-12 South Liberties 1-13
1984 Patrickswell 4-13 Cappamore 3-05
1983 Patrickswell 1-13 Ballybrown 1-07
1982 Patrickswell 0-17 Bruree 0-15
1981 South Liberties 4-07 Kilmallock 2-11
1980 Killeedy 2-07 South Liberties 1-07
1979 Patrickswell 2-16 Tournafulla 0-16
1978 South Liberties 2-09 Bruree 2-05
1977 Patrickswell 3-07 Killeedy 0-07
1976 South Liberties 2-09 Killeedy 2-06
1975 Kilmallock 3-14 Patrickswell 3-07
1974 Kilmallock 2-09 Patrickswell 3-05
1973 Kilmallock 2-12 Killeedy 2-04
1972 South Liberties 4-08 Patrickswell 1-05
1971 Claughaun 6-06 South Liberties 2-13
1970 Patrickswell 2-14 Kilmallock 0-02
1969 Patrickswell 0-17 Pallasgreen 2-02
1968 Claughaun 2-09 Adare 2-05
1967 Kilmallock 4-07 South Liberties 2-07
1966 Patrickswell 5-11 St. Patrick's 3-07
1965 Patrickswell St. Kieran's
1964 Cappamore 5-05 Drumcollogher 1-04
1963 Feenagh–Kilmeedy 3-06 Emmets 3-01
1962 Western Gaels 4-05 Kilmallock 4-03
1961 Western Gaels 7-04 Treaty Sarsfields 0-09
1960 Kilmallock 4-05 Claughaun 0-04
1959 Cappamore 2-08 St. Patrick's 0-04
1958 Claughaun 2-09 Cappamore 1-04
1957 Claughaun 7-07 St. Patrick's 3-02
1956 Cappamore 5-04 Claughaun 2-07
1955 Ahane 2-05 Geraldines 0-05
1954 Cappamore 2-11 Western Gaels 3-05
1953 Treaty Sarsfields 2-05 Ahane 0-05
1952 Treaty Sarsfields 6-10 St. Patrick's 1-02
1951 Treaty Sarsfields 1-06 Geraldines 1-02
1950 St. Patrick's 4-05 City Gaels 3-05
1949 St. Patrick's 1-07 Geraldines 1-03
1948 Ahane 2-03 Croom 0-01
1947 Ahane 5-06 St. Patrick's 1-05
1946 Ahane 6-07 Rathkeale 1-01
1945 Ahane 5-09 Granagh-Ballingarry 3-02
1944 Ahane 4-02 Rathkeale 1-08
1943 Ahane 7-07 Croom 1-02
1942 Ahane 7-08 Rathkeale 1-00
1941 Croom 4-02 Ahane 4-01
1940 Croom 4-02 Ahane 3-01
1939 Ahane 5-08 Croom 2-04
1938 Ahane 4-05 Croom 2-02
1937 Ahane 9-05 Croom 1-02
1936 Ahane 7-08 Croom 0-03
1935 Ahane 6-08 Kildimo 2-03
1934 Ahane 6-06 Kildimo 3-03
1933 Ahane 1-07 Croom 1-01
1932 Young Irelands 2-06 Newcastle West 1-03
1931 Ahane 5-05 Croom 1-04
1930 Young Irelands 4-02 Newcastle West 1-04
1929 Croom 7-04 Cappamore 2-02
1928 Young Irelands 5-07 Rathkeale 2-01
1927 Fedamore 5-01 Young Irelands 1-03
1926 Claughaun 5-03 Newcastle West 1-04
1925 Newcastle West 3-02 Bruff 1-02
1924 Croom 6-03 Fedamore 2-01
1923 Championship not held
1922 Young Irelands 10-06 Bruff 2-02
1921 Championship not held
1920 Young Irelands 5-04 Newcastle West 0-01
1919 Croom 1-01 Fedamore 1-00
1918 Claughaun W/O Newcastle West
1917 Newcastle West 3-04 Young Irelands 3-01
1916 Claughaun 8-03 Caherline 3-01
1915 Claughaun W/O Fedamore
1914 Claughaun 6-00 Castleconnell 1-00
1913 Championship not held
1912 Fedamore 4-04 Ballingarry 2-02
1911 Ballingarry 4-02 Fedamore 1-02
1910 Young Irelands 4-02 Castleconnell 4-01
1909 Castleconnell 9-12 Croom 3-10
1908 Croom 2-06 Caherline 0-04
1907 Caherline 3-08 Ballyagran 0-01
1906 Championship not held
1905 Caherline 3-05 Rathkeale 2-02
1904 Cappamore 3-07 Ballingarry 1-05
1903 Championship not held
1902 Young Irelands 2-09 Monagea 0-05
1901 Championship not held
1900 Sallymount 7-01 Rathkeale 2-04
1899 Kilfinane 2-09 Lough Gur 0-00
1898 Shamrocks 1-06 Caherline 1-02
1897 Kilfinane 4-09 Cappamore 4-08
1896 Caherline 2-06 Ballingarry 2-01
1895 St Michael's 2-03 Boher 0-01
1894 Championship not held
1893 Bruree 9-01 St. Michael's 0-01
1892 Championship not held
1891 Treaty Stones 2-01 South Liberties 0-01
1890 South Liberties 0-01 Kilfinane 0-00
1889 South Liberties 1-02 Caherline 0-03
1888 South Liberties 0-01 Murroe 0-00
1887 Murroe 1-00 (R) South Liberties 0-01 (R)

No championship was held in the following years: 1892, 1894, 1901, 1903, 1906, 1913, 1921, 1923.

Roll of honour

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By club

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# Club Titles Runners-up Championships won Championships runner-up
1   Patrickswell 20 10 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2016, 2019 1972, 1974, 1975, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2015, 2021, 2023
2   Ahane 19 6 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1955, 1998, 1999, 2004 1940, 1941, 1953, 2002, 2008, 2011
3   Kilmallock 12 8 1960, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1985, 1992, 1994, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2021 1962, 1970, 1981, 1991, 1999, 2005, 2017, 2022
4   Claughaun 10 2 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1926, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1986 1956, 1960
5   Na Piarsaigh 8 4 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023 2009, 2014, 2019, 2024
6   South Liberties 7 6 1888, 1889, 1890, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1981 1887, 1891, 1967, 1971, 1980, 1985
  Young Irelands 7 2 1902, 1910, 1920, 1922, 1928, 1930, 1932 1917, 1927
8   Croom 6 10 1908, 1919, 1924, 1929, 1940, 1941 1909, 1931, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1943, 1948, 2007
8   Adare 5 8 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009 1968, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2012, 2013
  Cappamore 5 5 1904, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1964 1897, 1929, 1958, 1984, 1988
11   Caherline 3 4 1896, 1905, 1907 1889, 1898, 1908, 1916
  Treaty Sarsfields 3 1 1951, 1952, 1953 1961
13   Ballybrown 2 4 1989, 1991 1983, 1987, 1995, 2016
  St Patrick's 2 5 1949, 1950 1947, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1966
  Newcastle West 2 5 1917, 1925 1918, 1920, 1926, 1930, 1932
  Fedamore 2 4 1912, 1927 1911, 1915, 1919, 1924
  Bruree 2 3 1893, 2006 1978, 1982, 1994
Kilfinnane 2 1 1897, 1899 1890
Western Gaels 2 1 1961, 1962 1954
20   Doon 1 4 2024 1989, 2000, 2018, 2020
  Killeedy 1 3 1980 1973, 1976, 1977
Ballingarry 1 3 1911 1896, 1904, 1912
Castleconnell 1 2 1950 1910, 1914
  Garryspillane 1 2 2005 1997, 2004
  Murroe / Boher 1 1 1897 1888
St Michael's 1 1 1895 1893
Treaty Stones 1 0 1891
Sallymount 1 0 1900
Shamrocks 1 0 1898
  Feenagh–Kilmeedy 1 0 1963
30   Rathkeale 0 6 1900, 1905, 1928, 1942, 1944, 1946
Geraldines 0 3 1949, 1951, 1955
  Bruff 0 2 1922, 1925
Kildimo 0 2 1934, 1935
Emmets 0 2 1963, 2010
Boher 0 1 1895
Lough Gur 0 1 1899
  Monagea 0 1 1902
Ballyagran 0 1 1907
  Granagh-Ballingarry 0 1 1945
City Gaels 0 1 1950
Dromcollogher 0 1 1964
St Kierans 0 1 1965
  Pallasgreen 0 1 1969
  Tournafulla 0 1 1979

Roll of honour summary

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# Club Wins Last win Runner-up Last losing final
1 Patrickswell 20 2019 10 2023
2 Ahane 19 2004 6 2011
3 Kilmallock 12 2021 8 2022
4 Claughaun 10 1986 2 1986
5 Na Piarsaigh 8 2023 4 2024
6 South Liberties 7 1981 6 1985
Young Irelands 7 1932 2 1927
8 Croom 6 1941 10 2007
8 Adare 5 2009 8 2013
Cappamore 5 1964 5 1988
11 Caherline 3 1907 4 1916
Treaty Sarsfields 3 1951 1 1961
13 Newcastle West 2 1925 5 1932
Saint Patricks 2 1950 5 1966
Fedamore 2 1927 4 1924
Ballybrown 2 1991 4 2016
Bruree 2 2006 3 1994
Western Gaels 2 1962 1 1954
Kilfinnane 2 1899 1 1890
20 Doon 1 2024 4 2020
Ballingarry 1 1911 3 1912
Killeedy 1 1980 3 1977
Castleconnell 1 1909 2 1914
Garryspillane 1 2005 2 2004
Murroe 1 1887 1 1888
St Michaels 1 1895 1 1893
Treaty Stones 1 1891 0
Shamrocks 1 1898 0
Sallymount 1 1900 0
Feenagh–Kilmeedy 1 1963 0
30 Rathkeale 0 6 1946
Geraldines 0 3 1955
Bruff 0 2 1925
Kildimo 0 2 1935
Emmets 0 2 2010
Boher 0 1 1895
Lough Gur 0 1 1899
Monagea 0 1 1902
Ballyagran 0 1 1907
Granagh-Ballingarry 0 1 1945
City Gaels 0 1 1950
Dromcollogher 0 1 1964
Saint Kieran's 0 1 1965
Pallasgreen 0 1 1969
Tournafulla 0 1 1979

Records and statistics

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Team

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By decade

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The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Limerick Senior Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:

Gaps

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Top ten longest gaps between successive championship titles:

Top scorers

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Finals

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Final Top scorer Team Score Total
1979 Richie Bennis Patrickswell 0-07 7
1980 Éamonn Grimes South Liberties 0-06 6
1981 Paddy Kelly Kilmallock 1-05 8
Paddy Kelly Kilmallock 1-08 11
1982 Richie Bennis Patrickswell 0-05 5
1983 Séamus Kirby Patrickswell 1-05 8
1984 Liam O'Brien Cappamore 1-05 8
1985 Johnny Neenan Kilmallock 2-04 10
1986 Leo O'Connor Claughaun 0-04 4
1987 Christy Keyes Ballybrown 1-06 9
1988 Liam O'Brien (D) Cappamore 2-04 10
Gary Kirby (R) Patrickswell 1-02 5
Ciarán Carey (R) Patrickswell
1989 Richard Walsh Doon 2-05 11
1990 Gary Kirby Patrickswell 0-09 9
1991 Pat Davoren Ballybrown 0-07 7
1992 Gary Kirby Patrickswell 0-06 6
Paddy Kelly Kilmallock
1993 Gary Kirby Patrickswell 0-08 8
1994 Séamus O'Connell (D) Bruree 0-07 7
Séamus O'Connell (R) Bruree 1-05 8
1995 Gary Kirby Patrickswell 0-12 12
1996 Gary Kirby (D) Patrickswell 3-08 17
Gary Kirby (R) Patrickswell 1-06 9
1997 Gary Kirby Patrickswell 1-08 11
1998 Gary Kirby Patrickswell 0-06 6
Turlough Herbert Ahane
1999 Turlough Herbert (D) Ahane 0-06 6
Turlough Herbert (R) Ahane
2000 Gary Kirby Patrickswell 0-12 12
2001 Conor Fitzgerald Adare 0-07 7
2002 Conor Fitzgerald Adare 0-05 5
2003 Conor Fitzgerald Adare 0-10 10
2004 Niall Moran Ahane 0-06 6
Frankie Carroll Garryspillane
2005 Andrew O'Shaughnessy Kilmallock 1-04 7
2006 Stephen O'Halloran Bruree 0-11 11
2007 Donncha Sheehan Adare 0--5 5
2008 Conor Fitzgerald Adare 0-07 7
2009 Diarmuid Sexton Adare 1-03 6
2010 Donie Reale Emmets 1-04 7
2011 Shane Dowling Na Piarsaigh 1-10 13
2012 Declan Hannon Adare 0-11 11
2013 Declan Hannon Adare 0-07 7
2014 Eoin Ryan Kilmallock 1-04 7
2015 Diarmaid Byrnes Patrickswell 2-02 8
Kevin Downes Na Piarsaigh 1-05
2016 Aaron Gillane Patrickswell 0-07 7
2017 Graeme Mulcahy Kilmallock 1-04 7
2018 Shane Dowling Na Piarsaigh 0-12 12
2020 Peter Casey Na Piarsaigh 2-4 10

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Na Piarsaigh too good for Kilmallock in Limerick SHC Final". GAA website. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Munster club kingpins to face new 'Super Six' format in 2018 Limerick hurling championship". The 42. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  3. ^ Greensmyth, Harry. "Who is the Daly Cup named after?". Limerick Leader. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Lynch intervention lifts the 'Well back on top in Limerick". Irish Independent. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Limerick SHC final: Impressive Na Piarsaigh dispose of Kilmallock". Hogan Stand. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Magnificent Patrickswell still pride of the parish". Irish Examiner. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Na Piarsaigh pounce late". Irish Examiner. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Delight for 'Sparrow' as Kilmallock defy odds". Irish Examiner. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Downes sets the tone for Na Piarsaigh to grind it out". Irish Independent. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Limerick SHC: Mulcahy goal proves decisive for Kilmallock". Hogan Stand. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  11. ^ "The famine finishes for Na Piarsaigh in fine style". Irish Times. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
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