The Limerick Blogger - latest Limerick news and Limerick events

Am still officially on my break from the site, so have not really posted much in the way of scandal and intrigue this week. Will be back to full fettle on Monday.

Just some things to let you know.

Please keep sticking your memories on the 10 things I miss about Limerick thread. We are going to hit 200 comments with this one I think, making it the longest thread on the blog.

I should know by tomorrow evening how many books I can give away to those that posted.

Eddie Rockets competition closes in FIVE days. That is July 3rd, at 2359 hrs, with the winner being selected shortly after midnight on July 4th, which seems apt given that Eddie Rockets is an American style eatery, and July 4th is US Independence day and all that.

A issue of some concern has come to my attention regarding the use of the TOR network to access this site. Having looked at the site stats of the site I have found that about 2 percent of those who visit the site use the TOR Anonymous network to do so. Most of them are either Spammers or drive-by gobshites. therefore, I have blocked access to this site to users of TOR.

This time last week we were getting upwards of 100 spam comments a day, since I started blocking TOR two days ago only one spam message turned up in the comments list.

Ah jaysus, it’s not good for the blood pressure but sure who cares! Limerick 37 left it until injury time again this week but came away with all three points this time. Having gone behind twice to an impressive enough Shelbourne outfit, the superblues came back with goals from Rossi Cosgrave and Kevin Waters to leave the score at two all going into injury time. Roared on by a crowd of 800 the super blues had super sub Paul Danagher to thank as he stuck the winner into the shelbourne net. The crowd who had been in good voice all night even lit a flare in celebration!! Having played four games in 14 days the blues now have a week to recover before their next game away to Monaghan.

After our last post about Thomond Park being renamed created a bit of a stir, (and we will have a follow up post to this in the near future) this time its a bit more normal team news with the following of note. Full back for the last few years Shaun Payne has been appointed full time Team Manager with Jerry Holland remaining on in an advisory capacity. Payne will continue to play rugby at club level with UL Bohemians. Also New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki is set to team up with Munster subject to him getting medical clearance and obtaining a work permit. The 31 year old centre captained the Maori in the recent Churchill Cup competition in England and was one of the beaten finalists’ stand out players.

With at least ten of the squad expected to be unavailable to coach Declan Kidney until their involvement with Ireland in the World Cup is ended, Munster have named an extended squad (35) for the coming season.

Players Outgoing: Frank Roche, Christian Cullen, Tim McGann, Trevor Halstead, Eoghan Hickey, Chris Delooze, Shane O’Connor, Brian O’Meara, Diogo Mateus, Ross Noonan.

Munster: Tony Buckley, Marcus Horan, Darragh Hurley, John Hayes, Eugene McGovern, Federico Pucciariello, Denis Fogarty, Jerry Flannery, Frank Sheahan, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Chris Wyatt, James Coughlan, Anthony Foley, Denis Leamy, John O’Sullivan, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace.
Brian Carney, Ian Dowling, Anthony Horgan, John Kelly, Kieran Lewis, Mossy Lawlor, Barry Murphy, Jeremy Manning, Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary, Lifeimi Mafi, Peter Stringer Paul Warwick.

Development Contracts: Denis Hurley, Gerry Hurley, Tom Gleeson, Keith Earls, Ciaran O’Boyle, Mark Lelbourne, Timmy Ryan,

Management:

Declan Kidney – Coach:

Jim Williams – Forwards Coach:

Tony McGahan – Skills/Defence Backs Coach:

Shaun Payne – Team Manager.

Limerick native Conor McNamara, who will be well known to all you soccer heads out there as a radio commentator on BBC five live and also on Match of the day has been unveiled as the anchor commentator for TV3’s coverage of the upcoming rugby world cup in France. Conor is the eldest son of well known local personality Mickey McNamara of old radio 2 fame and also the director of HSI in O’ Connell Avenue. Conor’s profile has been rising considerably since he started commentating on Championship games and he is now a regular commentator of premiership games on radio 5 live on the BBC. Most of the coverage of the Rugby world cup will be on Setanta sports but TV3 have coverage of the Irish Games. RTE have no live coverage of the rugby world cup, so no Hookie, Popie and McGurk for you rugger fans. Instead you will have Matt Cooper hosting the studio coverage with pundits including Paul Wallace. Former International Phillip Matthews will be the analyst during the games with Conor as head commentator. Best of luck to Conor, flying the flag for Limerick!

Time for your regular dose of Marks and Spensers rumerage.

According to the Limerick Post’s John O’Shaughnessey, the M and S brand will be coming to Limerick, and will be located at the Crescent Shopping Centre.

If after the initial research is completed, the UK chain do decide to come to Limerick, a planning application will be lodged with Limerick County Council.

Marks and Spencers began looking for a location in Limerick four years ago, and ever since there has been roughly one rumour a month concerning their location. All of which turned out to be untrue.

Limerick 37 had a good result at Dundalk Tuesday evening as they held the league leaders scoreless at Oriel Park and with this Friday’s visitors to Jackman park Shelbourne,- holding Cobh ramblers to a two all draw, the super blues go into the weekends fixtures in third place in the eircom first division. Dundalk lead on 35, Cobh are second on 34 and Limerick are third on 28 points, 6 ahead of Finn harps who have a game in hand.
After slipping up last week at home to Kilkenny city and being extremely lucky to salvage a draw with the last kick of the game, the home side will be anxious to avoid a repeat performance and result for the second week in a row against a team languishing near the bottom of the table. A crowd of 1,500 came to Jackman park so see the game against Dundalk some time ago and the club are hoping for a good crowd for the game against the Dublin outfit who are running busses down for the game. The home sides chanting has come on leaps and bounds in recent times and hopefully will be up to the task for some good humoured banter against the invaders!! Kick off is 7.45pm and hopefully this time we will remember to bring a camera!
The club have asked for the poster below to be distributed to help promote the game so we are happy to help. Hopefully the super blues will get a good result and put some pressure on Cobh Ramblers who are playing Monaghan on Saturday. League leaders Dundalk are also away to Wexford youths on Saturday