Liam O'Brien - Recognised for his service to East Limerick GAA & Cappamore

Our own Liam O'Brien was recognised at this year's East Limerick Gaels Awards for his contributions to Cappamore and Limerick hurling. This was all before his trojan efforts both on and off the field with Na Piarsaigh over the past 30 years.

You can read a lovely piece on Liam's Cappamore and Limerick exploits as prepared for the awards night.

Liam O'Brien - Cappamore & Limerick

Liam O'Brien has devoted a lifetime of service to the G.A.A as a player, coach and administrator over the years. His early playing days as an attacking hurler of note in the late 1960s and well into the 1970s coincided with an upsurge in fortunes for Cappamore hurling. He was an inspirational and a leading figure on many talented underage teams at this time. These underage teams were to go on to form the nucleus of a very formidable Senior Hurling team throughout the 1980s contesting Limerick co. Senior Hurling finals in the years 1984 and 1988. Liam was central to this wonderful era for Cappamore as the following excerpt from the late Fr. Liam Ryan's book "Cappamore A Parish History" illustrates.

"At senior level Jimmy Butler, Liam O' Brien, Mike Lonergan, Pat Creamer and Ger Sheehan continued Cappamore's representation on the Limerick team. At club level, however, it was not until 1979, after fifteen years in the wilderness, that Cappamore showed that they were back as serious contenders. In the opening round of the East Championship, they drew 2.4 to 1.7 with South Liberties, the county champions and unbeaten in the East since the competition began in 1971. A feature of the game was the aggressive solo-runs of Mike Lonergan and the accurate free-taking of Liam O' Brien. Liberties had to come from behind with a very late goal by Joe McKenna, their only score in the second half. Cappamore lost the replay in what was one of Pat Hartigan's last games for Liberties. Cappamore went on to reach the East Cup final of 1981, losing to Ahane 3.8 to 1.4 and again in 1982 losing to Boher 5.12 to 5.5. They recorded their first success in the East Cup a year later on a score of Cappamore 6.14 Fedamore 3.4. They won it again in 1985 and '86.

By the 1980's, the East and County championships were run independently of each other. Cappamore re-established their reputation at county level with some dramatic victories to reach the County final of 1984. After drawing with Feoghanagh, 1.13 to 2.10, Cappamore won the replay, 2.12 to 1.12 with a late burst.

Four spectacular goals from Liam O' Brien helped Cappamore draw, 4.3 to 2.9, with Claughaun in the quarter-final at Kilmallock. His lethal striking for both goals and points from frees saw Cappamore through by a point in the replay. Cappamore easily accounted for Bruff in the semi-final, but did not play up to their capacity in the county final, played on Sept. 14th, when losing to Patriclswell, 4.13 to 3.5. The defeat in the county final was largely responsible for an unexpected loss to Doon a month later in the East final Doon 0.12 Cappamore 0.11. Cappamore dominated the east championship for the remainder of decade, winning titles in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990, but losing to Doon in 1986 and 1989.

Cappamore reached its tenth Limerick senior hurling final in 1988 when beating South Liberties 3.8 to 1.10, Newcastlewest by 1.17 to 0.13 and in yet another dramatic clash with Claughaun confirming their superiority by 3.9 to 1.13. The Co. Final Sept. 11th, ended in a draw, Cappamore 2.11 Patrickswell 1.14, when Gary Kirby equalised with the last puck of the game. On October 16th, Cappamore lost the replay, Patrickswell 4.10, Cappamore 2.6. The team, which had been together for much of the decade, were unlucky not to get the ultimate reward for their dedicated effort.”

Same outstanding performances during these campaigns helped bring Liam and club colleagues Mike Lonergan, Pat Creamer and Ger Sheehan to the attention of the Co. Selectors- all four representing Limerick at senior level at this time. A feature of Liam's play at this time was his taking of bullet-like 21 yard frees, most of which would end up in the back of his opponents net.

"A Limerick City based employee of An Phost" and with such notable players like Pat McCarthy, Mike Alfred, Joe Grimes, Denis Keating and Timmy O'Connor (Limerick)- Neill Ronan and Phil Ryan (Cork) and Clares Mick Fogarty and Flan Lyons- he helped them annex three All Ireland Senior Inter-Firm Hurling titles during his peak playing years of the 1980s.

Having devoted these peak playing years to his native Cappamore Club where he also starred in many club tournament competitions- (which were the norm at that time) Liam transferred his allegiance to Caherdavin based Na Piarsaigh in the early 1990s helping them to Co. Intermediate honours in 1994 before eventually calling time on his long-playing career.

In the intervening years his contribution to the Bórd na nÓg side of this club has been immense with notable up and coming future stars like Shane Dowling and Peter Casey to mention but a few coming to prominence under his management, coaching and leadership. One of the highlights of this era was the under 14 hurling team reaching the 2011 All-Ireland Feile Na Gael final in Galway where they were narrowly defeated by O' Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny. His son James holds a number of Co. Senior Hurling Championship medals with Na Piarsaigh and has also represented Limerick at senior level.

Originally from the Cappamore townland of Farnane- Liam is happily married to Limerick lady Mary with one son and two daughters. He is currently enjoying the uplift in fortunes of Limerick hurling.

We extend a warm welcome to him- his family and friends and are delighted to present this overdue award to him as the chosen representative of his native Cappamore Club here tonight.