Tag Archives: Jimmy Smyth

Clare have enjoyed some memorable and famous Munster SHC victories over Limerick in Cusack Park, recalls Joe Ó Muircheartaigh. THE 1972 Munster semi-final was only four minutes old, but the 13,000 packed into Cusack Park already sensed that Limerick had enough. Noel Casey whipped a breaking ball to the net at the old scoreboard end, before Jimmy McNamara rattled another past Jim Hogan and the end was already in sight. “Maybe it’s 1953 all over again,” mused Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh on match commentary — it wasn’t that bad for Limerick, who had been on the receiving end of a 10-8 to 1-1 defeat 19 years previously, but it was still bad, very bad. “It was a day to remember in the chequered annals of Clare hurling,” wrote Sean King in The Clare Champion after Clare’s 3-11 to 2-10 win. “Clare, the unheralded underdogs, pitted against all-conquering Limerick, whose supporters were conjuring up all sorts of images of All-Ireland success. “It …

THE tenth hurling book by Ollie Byrnes is a homage to Ruan’s Jimmy Smyth, one of the greatest hurlers of all time. A Hurling Life deals with, St. Flannan’s college, Ruan, Clare and Munster hurling teams covering the years 1947-1971.  During Smyth’s time, Ruan hurling club had two great eras, 1948-1952 and 1959-1962. In 1958, they produced a strong minor team which lost to a Denis Henry-inspired St. Joseph’s in the county minor final by 5-5 to 3-5. However the Ruan seniors got at least 10 players from this team, which was a great return. Though Ruan had an indifferent Clare Champion cup (league) run in 1958/1959, they came good in the championship beating Eire Óg, the favourites, in the final.  This was Ruan’s first senior championship title since 1951, and as well captaining the team, Jimmy Smyth was also a manager, selector, trainer and he demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities.  In 1995 speaking to Ollie Byrnes, Smyth recalled:“The Eire Óg …