Damien Reale

Damien Reale
Personal information
Irish name Damien Ó Roghail
Sport Hurling
Position Left corner-back
Born 1981
Hospital, County Limerick, Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation Health and safety officer
Club(s)
Years Club
Hospital-Herbertstown
Club titles
Limerick titles 0
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2001-2011 Limerick 37 (0-2)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NHL 0
All Stars 0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 18:04, 4 November 2012.

Damien Reale (born 1981) is an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-back for the Limerick senior team.

Reale made his first appearance for the team during the 2001 National League and immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen. A three-time All-Ireland medalist in the under-21 grade, he enjoyed little success as a member of the county senior team. Reale ended up an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Reale is a county intermediate championship medalist with Hospital-Herbertstown.

Playing career

Club

Reale plays is club hurling with Hospital-Herbertstown and has enjoyed much success in a lengthy career.

In 2000 he was just out of the minor grade when he won a county intermediate hurling championship medal.

A decade later Reale won a second county intermediate championship medal, as Hospital-Herbertstown triumphed once again.

Under-21

Reale first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Limerick under-21 hurling team in 2000. After a 1-13 apiece draw with Cork in the provincial decider, Limerick went on to win the replay following a stunning 4-18 to 1-6 victory.[1] It was Reale's first Munster medal. Limerick subsequently defeated Galway by 1-13 to 0-13 in the All-Ireland decider, giving Reale a coveted All-Ireland medal.

In 2001 Reale added a second Munster under-21 medal to his collection as Limerick retained their provincial title following a 3-14 to 2-16 defeat of Tipperary. Limerick later went on to defeat Wexford by just a single point to retain their All-Ireland title.[2] It was Reale's second All-Ireland medal.

Limerick's great run of success continued in 2002. That year Limerick retained the provincial title for the third successive year with Reale winning a third Munster medal following a 1-20 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary. A subsequent 3-17 to 0-8 trouncing of Galway gave Reae a third successive All-Ireland medal.[3]

Senior

By this stage Reale was a key member of the Limerick senior hurling team. He made his debut in a National Hurling League game against Antrim in 2001 and was later included at corner-back for the championship campaign. Reale lined out in his first Munster final at senior level that year. Tipperary were the opponents on that occasion, however, Limerick faced a narrow 2-16 to 1-17 defeat.[4]

Limerick hurling went onto decline following this defeat and faced a number of years of early championship exits.

In 2006 Reale claimed his first silverware at senior level with Limerick. A 1-19 to 3-10 defeat of the Waterford Institute of Technology secured the Waterford Crystal Cup for Reale's side.[5]

Reale was appointed captain of the Limerick senior hurling team in 2007. That year he lined out in a second Munster final, this time with Waterford providing the opposition. A 3-17 to 1-14 defeat was Limerick's lot on that occasion.[6] Limerick later gained their revenge on Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final, thus gaining qualification to a first All-Ireland decider in eleven years for the Treaty men. Kilkenny provided the opposition and got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin combining to score two goals within the first ten minutes. Limerick were eventually defeated on a 2–19 to 1–15 score line.[7]

Limerick failed to build on their reasonably successful 2007 season and went into decline once again.

In November 2009 Reale announced his retirement from inter-county hurling in protest over changes made in the Limerick hurling panel by team manager Justin McCarthy.[8] Following McCarthy's resignation as manager in 2010, Reale returned to the hurling panel.

In 2011 Reale won a National League (Division 2) medal that year following a 4-12 to 2-13 defeat of near neighbours Clare.[9]

Following the completion of the championship in 2011, Reale announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[10]

Inter-provincial

Reale has also lined out with Munster in the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition. He captured a winners medal in this competition in 2001 as Munster defeated Leinster.

Honours

Team

Hospital-Herbertstown
Limerick
Munster

References

  1. ↑ "Brilliant Limerick rip Cork to shreds". Irish Independent. 24 August 2000. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Limerick wins the U21 All-Ireland hurling final". Breaking News website. 16 September 2001. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Breheny, Martin (16 September 2002). "Limerick make history". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Breheny, Martin (2 July 2001). "Tipp's grace under pressure produces late victory flourish". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  5. ↑ Kinsella, Colm (10 February 2006). "Tipp's grace under pressure produces late victory flourish". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Breheny, Martin (9 July 2007). "Dynamic Dan adds some extra dash for the Déise". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Kilkenny overpower Limerick to retain title". Irish Times. 2 September 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Reale quits Limerick hurling panel". RTÉ Sport. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  9. ↑ O'Connor, Christy (2 May 2011). "Limerick on the rise". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "Reale explains retirement reasons". Hogan Stand. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
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