Priest and nun pray for return of the Liam Maccarthy Cup to Treaty County after 45-year wait
THE first town to win an All-ireland title is praying for divine intervention to bring the Liam Maccarthy Cup back to Limerick.
Sister Patricia Coughlan, who can lay claim to being the Treaty County’s most devoted supporter, will even be giving out Communion in the green and white shirt this weekend.
Her hurling altar in St Andrew’s Church in Kilfinane before the semi-final went viral –and she has added more holy touches with pew ends in the county colours in the run-up to the final.
The man above is also under no illusions as to which team the parishioners support as he has been asked to hear a special prayer of the faithful relating to the All-ireland today.
In response to the prayer, “Please let Limerick beat Galway”, there was a fervent, “Lord hear us” during the Masses said by Fr Michael O’shea – who is another big Limerick supporter – in the hill-top town.
A sliotar which reads “C’mon for God’s sake” in black biro – penned by Sr Patricia – hangs just above two criss-crossed white and green hurleys on the beautiful altar display.
Sr Patricia – who was a camogie goalkeeper and coached the local team in her parish – even found a special hurler’s prayer which has been placed on the altar.
She said: “We have the flags, the hurleys, the sliotar which says, ‘C’mon For God’s sake’, and the green and white.” Believing the prayers will be answered, she added: “Yes, they should do.
“Everybody seems to be excited about it. I played in goals for Ardpatrick. That’s why I sympathise with [Limerick goalkeeper] Nickie Quaid.”
She said she has also discovered her own parish has enjoyed success on the biggest stage of all.
Fr Patricia added: “Kilfinane won the first All-ireland ever. They played in 1897 and it was parishes and Kilfinane represented Limerick.
“Kilfinane had green and white so Limerick now wear green and white.”
The town is even represented on the crest of the Limerick hurling jersey.
Parish priest Fr O’shea said they have been amazed by the reaction to Sr Patricia’s altar displays which went viral when they were posted by local woman Grace O’connor O’brien.
He added: “There is a great atmosphere around. We’re praying at every Mass for
the team.” Down the road in Glynn’s Takeaway in Bruff, where county hurler Sean Finn works part-time, it’s a case of serving up a quick autograph with nearly every other bag of their famous chips.
Owner David Glynn said: “He’s so down-toearth and anyone looking for an autograph there’s no problem.
“A young fella came here the other day with a hurley to sign and he was absolutely thrilled Sean was here behind the counter serving him chips and signing the hurley.” The player, who has been working in the chipper while going through college, even refused to take holidays this week. David added: “He wanted to keep the routine so he’s working away. “There is a real buzz in Bruff with flags, banners and pictures in every window and shop.
“The place will be deserted on Sunday. Everyone is talking about the match.”
Around the corner at a training session with the juvenile teams from the neighbouring club of Dromin Athlacca Banogue, the smallest GAA supporters were getting caught up in the excitement.
In answer to the big question of the day, the children roared: “Limerick are going to win.” There is huge pride in local player David Reidy who scored a point when he was brought on in the final minutes of the semi-final clash.
Club chairman Colum Breen said: “Davy’s point against Cork was the first time a Dromin Athlacca player had ever scored a point in Croke Park in the Championship.
“He’s a great ambassador for the sport locally with the amount of time he gives to the kids in the juvenile club.” In Kilmallock, publican and former county player Mike Houlihan was preparing to get on the road to Croker with his customers in his own spraypainted green and white van.
With local players like Graham Mulcahy and Barry Hennessy producing hurling gold in the Championship, he said there is great excitement about the clash against Galway.
Mike added: “The van is going to Croke Park now on Sunday. Hopefully we will have better luck this time.
“It’s tickets mania but that’s a good problem. We’re all behind them. We’re on the train to the All-ireland.
“I think we’ve a massive chance if they perform. The county is alive.”
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