Experienced Limerick and Muskerry march on

Experience proved the key as Limerick and Muskerry qualified for the nationals finals of the AIG Irish Senior Cup and Barton Shield at Dungarvan on Saturday.

Two former winners of the South of Ireland Championship, Pat Murray and Justin Kehoe, and a beaten finalist, Michael O’Kelly, provided the backbone of the Limerick side as they came through the provincial finals of the Senior Cup at the expense of Tralee and Monkstown.

Muskerry’s hopes of regaining the AIG Barton Shield remain very much alive thanks to the efforts of Niall Gorey, Dave O’Donovan and Daniel Hallissey, all members of last year’s triumphant side, brilliantly supported by Shane Whooley. They defeated Youghal in the semi-finals before withstanding a brave challenge from Shannon in the decider. The most recent of Limerick’s four Irish Senior Cup pennants was achieved in 2002 (when O’Kelly was a member of the side) but they have been relatively quiet in the meantime.