Limerick Hurling Club, Chicago
Limerick Hurling Club carried the Treaty county’s name onto the hurling fields of Chicago for half a century. It started life as Shannon Rangers, won the North American senior hurling title in 1977, and ended a 31-year wait to win it again in 2008.
From Shannon Rangers to Limerick
The club was formed as Shannon Rangers and took the name Limerick Hurling Club in the mid-1960s. It marked its 50th anniversary in 2009. Over the years some well-known hurlers passed through, with Leonard Enright and Pat Fox among the names HoganStand listed as former players.
The first North American senior hurling title came in 1977. Limerick reached the final again in 1985, losing to San Francisco Gaels, but the next national crown would take more than three decades.
The 2008 Clean Sweep
2008 was the year it all came together. Limerick won the Chicago league and championship double, beating Cuchulainns 3-0 in a best-of-five Chicago final. At the North American finals in Boston they knocked out Wexford of Boston in the semi-final and then beat Na Fianna of San Francisco 4-14 to 3-13 in the final.
That team was managed by Pat Haugh, with Donie Gleeson as trainer and Joe O’Malley as selector. Chairman Eoghan Murphy also kept goal, and the panel included Enda Barrett, Bernard Gaffney, Mike Walsh, Tom Sheehy and Peadar Hurley. The youngest was 16-year-old Shane Barrett, son of the club’s main sponsor, Johnny Barrett.
Limerick were back in the national final in 2010 and came close again, losing 3-14 to 1-15 to Naomh Pádraig of San Francisco.
The Treaty County in Chicago
The club took its name, and much of its identity, from home. Because it shares that name with the Limerick county team, the Chicago crest is what tells this club’s jersey apart.
This FanFile covers Limerick Hurling Club, Chicago as a club rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its specific season and edition.
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