Eleanor Flegg

LIMERICK Polocrosse Club’s annual tournament played out in fine weather over the last weekend in August at Collins EC in Athlacca.

Tension at the penultimate tournament of the season was high for two reasons. At club level, coaches were keeping a close eye on the play before naming players and positions for the National Championships. At the same time, the Limerick tournament was one of the final selection events for the World Cup 2015 and Ireland’s international coach David Young plans to announce his team in two weeks’ time.

This kept the players in the international squad on their mettle in a series of A Grade matches that showed the sport at its fastest and most furious. The A Grade was won by Carrickmines with Dara Mangan, Conor Doyle, and Tony O’Donnell narrowly beating the Equus team of Joanne Lavery, Mark Hall, and Amy Buckley. Tony O’Donnell was best player and Recession, ridden by Emily MacDonagh of Horetown, won.

The B Grade title remained in Limerick as the home team of Dan Birrane, Paul Scott and Karl Hearn beat Ed Kavanagh, Clive Nuzum, and Hilary Barnes of Wicklow Bay. Karl Hearn was named best player and his mount, Wasabi, won best horse.

The Wicklow Bay team of Laura Bradshaw, Liam Holt, Abbey Hamill, Caroline Bradshaw, Cian Hamill and Zoe Nuzum won the C Grade by a clear margin. Limerick, with Elise Beausang, James Moore Marion Carmody, Paddy O’Brien, Danny O’Leary and Mac Birrane came in second place. Danny O’Leary won best player and best horse was awarded to Bourbon, ridden by Lee Slowe of Carrickmines.

D grade

Horetown won the D Grade with Lisa O’Reilly, Emma O’Sullivan, and Sarah Murray whose mount, Dimples, was named best horse. The Wicklow Bay team of Ben Darcy, Jody McDonnell, and Sean Kirrane came in second place, with Kiranne named best player.

Limerick is one of Ireland’s oldest polocrosse clubs.

“I’ve been playing since 1990,” said James Moore of Limerick.

“At that time the only other club was Horetown in Wexford. We used to have to play each other and there were no rules as such. Polocrosse is much safer now and really family orientated.” Limerick now has second generation players as well as new members like the young Natasha Hanrahan.

“She’s only been playing 15 months and she’s fearless,” remarked Moore.

Like all Ireland’s polocrosse clubs, Limerick is actively recruiting new members. “We’ve never turned anyone away yet,” says Moore. “As a club we have a lot going for us. There are trained polocrosse horses for hire and we’ve got a sand arena so we can train through the winter.

“There’s a great social side to the club. We’ve got people like Dan Birrane – he’s an all-round team player and a great man for the campfire – if you want to find him you only have to look for the smoke.”

The National Polocrosse Championships will take place at Carrickmines Equestrian Centre on September 13th-14th.