Good-humoured frenemies: Limerick and Galway fans gear up for All-Ireland final

Aislinn Connolly and Conor Fitzgerald with their children, Cóilí, Ailbhe, Brídín, and Peigí. Picture: Adrian Butler

As Galway and Limerick gear up to play in Croke Park under a scorching heat, some are ready to put their rivalry aside — until Sunday.

Lovers-turned-rivals, Conor Fitzgerald and Aislinn Connolly live in Adare with their four children. And while Limerick flags may be at the forefront of their home, Aislinn has her "big Galway flag" peeking out the window. 

While she played for Galway Camogie aged 12 to 30, her husband Conor played both football and hurling for Limerick. 

“As much as I am Galway, he's equally as proud and dedicated to Limerick GAA, so it's a bit of craic,” Aislinn told the Irish Examiner. “We’re kind of slagging each other. We have four kids, everyone's asking who are they supporting, and sometimes it's Galway and sometimes it's Limerick. 

“It's such a super thing to be in an All-Ireland final, it's great that we both equally get to share the excitement.” 

No matter who wins on Sunday, they might end up not talking to each other for a few hours. “When Limerick beat us in 2018 in the final, it was unexpected, and I didn't really talk to him for about two or three hours because I was thawing out. 

"I guess you could argue that there's a friendly and a neutral respect between the two teams. If we were to lose, we don't mind losing to Limerick, and if Limerick were to lose, Galway is the best kind of team to lose to.” 

The couple will be heading to Croke Park this Sunday with their two eldest, Ailbhe and Peigí. “We’re trying to kind of nurture the passion of the GAA in them. One way to do it is to bring them to some of the games to build up the excitement. 

"As I'm currently talking to you, my seven-year-old is watching a hurling game on GAA Plus at the moment. We're all wearing jerseys, and we're all very much into it at the moment.” 

Presenter Meghann Scully might be a Galway girl, but she lived in Limerick for seven years. On her 30th birthday, her tag rugby team in Limerick gifted her a double-coloured jersey representing her grá for the two counties.

When she was first pictured in the burgundy and green jersey, she received a bit of backlash online. 

Presenter Meghann Scully, originally from Galway, lived and worked in Limerick for many years.

“I couldn't get over the abuse I got off people. People got so angry about it, and I was like, 'Can nobody see the light-hearted and kind of fun side of this?' But they didn't. This time around, thankfully, everyone's been very funny and humorous about it.”

However this Sunday, she will be rooting for Galway — and no double jersey this time. “I feel like I would get annihilation in Croke Park if I showed up in that jersey,” she laughed.

Speaking of the Limerick team, she said: "They are absolutely incredible. If they do win it, which is obviously a strong probability, I won't be disappointed too much because they will just prove that they are one of the greatest hurling teams that this country has ever produced."

Limerick councillor and Galway native Maria Donoghue is also experiencing some “good-humoured” rivalry at home. “I don't think very many people expected to see Galway in the All-Ireland final, I certainly didn't. 

"Limerick have always been very good winners. Even in 2018 when we lost to Limerick, the chat afterwards was always very positive and I didn't feel slagged off too badly,” she said.

Her partner and children might all be rooting for Limerick, but she managed to get her dog Poppy into a burgundy jersey ahead of the final.

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“They’re all Limerick. Limerick. Limerick, Limerick, Limerick. But I don't mind that, supporting your county of birth is absolutely understandable.” If Limerick wins on Sunday, she will celebrate “to a point”.

“I've gone to the homecomings over the past years, it's much easier when you're not involved in the final. But this is a funny one because we didn't expect it, beating Cork, we were such underdogs.

“Come Sunday, I will absolutely be shouting for Galway. But Limerick is still a fantastic, a formidable hurling team. If Galway come within one or two of Limerick at the final whistle, I'll take it on the chin quite well.”