Sports
Colin Ryan, Limerick All Ireland SHC winner, crowned Poc Fada Champion
Colin Ryan has been crowned GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada winner
Colin Ryan, Limerick All Ireland SHC winner, crowned Poc Fada Champion
By I Love Limerick Correspondent Ann Mc Donald
Just a month after winning a second Liam MacCarthy Cup title in three years, Limerick gains another All-Ireland title from the M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada finals from Limerick All-Ireland SHC winner Colin Ryan.
The Pallasgreen native was presented with the Corn Setanta trophy by GAA President Larry McCarthy after winning the M. Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada final at Annaverna Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula.
A thick fog resulted in the competition being held on the shorter course which is usually reserved for the Women’s All-Ireland Final, due to poor visibility higher up the mountain.
The Limerick man was the only player to complete the course in 21 pucks, with five other players taking 22 pucks to get across the finish line.
Colin had to hold off on some stiff competition from former champions Cillian Kiely (2019 and 2018) and Tadgh Haran (2017) to win.
Limerick's Colin Ryan (winner: hurling), Martina McMahon (Limerick representative: camogie) and All Ireland Poc Fada Competition sponsor, Martin Donnelly (his 25th year) on Annaverna Mountain today.@Colinmalachy10 @missmartimc pic.twitter.com/HbAU4xFYR2
— The Green and White (@LimerickGAAzine) September 25, 2021
He finished ahead of Cathal Kiely, Cillian’s brother, from Offaly, came in second, getting his 22nd puck 5 yards further than that of Laois senior hurling goalkeeper Enda Rowland who finished in third and previous winner Cillian Kiely came in sixth.
Colin, who won the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2018 is now the fifth Limerick man to be crowned national Poc Fada champion.
Limerick native Br Vincent Godfrey was the inaugural winner in 1961, with Pat Hartigan following him in 1981 and 1983, Tommy Quaid won the title in 1991, and Albert Shanahan joined them in 2001 and 2005.
Colin participated in the event in 2019, finishing in fourth place, just 4 shots behind winner Cillian Kiely from Offaly. Colin had qualified for that final as a runner-up in the Munster Poc Fada final.
As the event was cancelled last year due to Covid-19, the Poc Fada Craobh na hÉireann celebrated the 60th anniversary of its first finals this year, with its first final and 60th final both won by Limerick men.
For more about the Poc Fada go HERE
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