A team of sporting 'galacticos' helped Ahane to the Limerick junior football title on Thursday evening.
Ahane edged Camogue Rovers in the Limerick junior A football final with a late score from sub Gavin Rowsome sealing a 1-12 to 1-11 victory under the lights in Doon.
The Ahane team included a who's who of Irish sporting talent with three former Irish rugby players, an All-Ireland club winning footballer as well as a five time All-Ireland winning hurler.
They also had a former international rules player in their ranks; a man who played and starred for his county for fourteen years up until his retirement two years ago.
It takes a village 💚💛
Blessed with the best supporters who kept shouting from minute one to minute sixty eight 🌟💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/JcWcDUzWlo
— Ahane GAA Club (CLG Átháin) (@AhaneGAAClub) November 14, 2024
That's Clare's Gary Brennan who has married into the area recently with the former Clondegad and Ballyea player joining up with former Irish rugby internationals Ian Keatley, Tommy O'Donnell and Sean Cronin.
O'Donnell and Keatley live in the area as employees of Munster rugby with Cronin also having married in.
Keatley is the second highest scorer in Munster's history while two-time European Cup winner Sean Cronin has some 72 caps for Ireland. Before that, Cronin was a part of Monaleen's Limerick senior football championship winning team in 2005.
Tipperary native Tommy O'Donnell played 13 times for Ireland while Dan Morrissey, better known for his hurling exploits with Limerick, has also represented his country in the recent shinty international. His brother and fellow five-time All-Ireland winner Tom was also listed among the subs.
Picture credit: @Hassett68 Twitter.
Centre forward Michael Kearney won an All-Ireland club with Nemo Rangers back in 2007, surely making them one of the most over-qualified junior football teams of all-time.
Keatley and Cronin joined forces in Ahane's half back line on Thursday night - Cronin was centre back - with Morrissey and Brennan partners in midfield, scoring 0-5 between them. Kearney hit 0-2 with O'Donnell on the bench.
David Laing was named man-of-the-match having hit three from play from full forward, with former Limerick and Ahane player Ollie Moran describing him as 'the Gooch of Ahane football'
Congrats to all involved with @AhaneGAAClub Junior A footballers on a super win, and to the veteran @laing_david on a fantastic individual display - the Gooch of Ahane football 🏆🏐 🌟
— OLLIE MORAN (@olmorfs) November 14, 2024
