Limerick Post Sports Blog all the sports not fit to print

Ecowarm Competition Winner

Earlier this year, the Limerick Post Newspaper in association with Ecowarm Insulations offered one lucky reader the chance to win a 1000 euro voucher for home insulation. All that was needed was a favourite GAA memory from the last 25 years. Several events  of the last 25 years of the GAA were picked, but one moment kept coming up, again and again. Ciaran Carey’s point against Clare in the 1996 Munster final. The winning entry from Liam O Brien of Shannon Banks in Corbally recorded this moment the best.  Following a massive entry and some magnificent memories, Liam’s portrayal of the event, we think you will agree, summed up all that is good about the GAA and Limerick in the glory days of the 1990’s

Limerick v Clare 1996, Ciarán's finest hour
It was a really lovely morning in June and our household was a beehive of activity, with the family preparing for the big game in the Gaelic Grounds. Green and white hats and jerseys were being passed around as well as the, by now precious match tickets. The flag was cable-tied to the branch of a cherry blossom tree that hung over our front wall. Another big game beckoned….

The mood in the county in the weeks leading up to the game was one of quiet confidence. Though we had made history by absolutely hammering Cork in their own back yard three weeks previously, we were now facing the All-Ireland champions, Clare. This was the team that had shocked the hurling world when they beat us in the 1995 Munster final in Thurles and had gone on to win the Liam McCarthy. This was a highly motivated team driven by the passionate Ger Loughnane who had banished the curse of Biddy Earlie and at last brought success to the Bannermen. We realised the enormity of the task facing us, which was very much in keeping with the “Nobody said it was going to be easy” Guinness slogan of that summer. However, we knew we had a chance with great players like Carey, Kirby, Clarke and McDonagh to mention but a few.

My Dad drove us into town and dropped my brother, my neighbour and me outside Sexton St. C.B.S. around two hours before the game. The rest of my family, including my Dad, had all made different arrangements to go to the game that day as it would have been almost impossible for us all to watch it together. So the three of us made our way on foot down town and even at that early stage there was a large amount of supporters crossing Sarsfield Bridge, all making their way up the Ennis Road. This was a big game and it was already obvious there was going to be a huge crowd at it. The sun was at its highest point in the sky by the time we reached Páirc na nGael, it was an absolutely scorching day (thankfully we had previously purchased straw hats). After a brief chat with some work mates I had met (from both sides of the Shannon!) we made our way in via the turnstiles on the Ennis Road. On finding the ground almost already half full, we made our way through the ever growing masses on the Embankment and took our position at the City End of the stadium. We watched the Junior game and waited with bated breath for the main event. We were not to be disappointed. When both teams raced onto the pitch, the Gaelic Grounds was a cauldron of excitement, passion, noise and colour. From the time the referee threw in the ball, 'till well after the game was over, there was electricity in the air. This may have only been a Munster semi but it would later be regarded as one of the most memorable days ever at the Ennis Road venue.

The game started off pretty even and a fine goal by Gary Kirby (just below where we were standing) halfway through the first half tilted the advantage ever so slightly in our favour. The men in saffron and blue battled back and the likes of the Lohans, Daly and McMahon were not going to lie down easily. Early in the second half Clare looked to be in a commanding position with the brilliant Jamsie O'Connor picking off some lovely points. However Tom Ryan's men were not licked yet! Clare probably had Limerick on their knees but never delivered the killer blow and with about ten minutes left were still only a few points ahead. The ever reliable Gary Kirby and his fellow forwards had chipped away at Clare's lead when, with only a few minutes remaining, Barry Foley entered the fray and levelled the game with a point. The heat-fanned tension was unbearable as 45,000 pairs of eyes followed the sliothar up and down the field. Davy Fitz pucked out the sliothar and much to our delight Ciarán Carey was under it, leaping like a salmon to pluck it bravely from the sky, enveloped by men and ash alike. On and on he went, soloing into the opposition half, roared on by the home crowd. Nothing would have stopped him that day (not even the Clare hills!), there was only going to be one outcome, one hero, one winner. When he struck the ball and it sailed over the bar there was an explosion the likes of which had not been heard in Limerick since 1691. Shortly afterwards the game ended and the wearers of the green and white invaded the pitch in their thousands to salute their heroes.

Meanwhile, up on the Embankment Corner of the City End Terrace, we were involved in our own victory celebrations. It was such a contrast to see the Limerick supporters hugging and kissing each other in an absolute frenzy of joyous delight while our Munster neighbours were frozen in shock and disappointment. We left the dry, dusty stadium on a huge high having beaten the reigning champions.

When we returned home that evening our sunburn was soothed by the evening breeze and our thirst quenched with plenty of cold drinks. Everyone we talked to was of the same mind… we had witnessed one of the great hurling occasions, with Ciarán's point one of the greatest single moments in Limerick's long and glorious history. As long as hurling is talked about, that magnificent score will always be remembered.

Liam O'Brien