Limerick GAA has capped yesterday’s thrilling National League final by signing a new sponsorship deal for its county senior hurling championship with Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons. The three-year partnership will see Limerick’s oldest hospital deepen its relationship with Limerick GAA as it puts its support behind one of the most competitive and exciting county senior hurling club championships in the country.
The sponsorship - the blue riband competition will be known as the Bon Secours Hospital Senior Hurling Championship - was announced today at Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons in the company of the Dr. Croke Cup claimed yesterday in the clash with Waterford.
Today’s event was attended by Limerick Manager John Kiely, players Declan Hannon, Cian Lynch and Shane Dowling; Chairman John Cregan and Secretary Mike O’Riordan, as well as Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons Manager Jason Kenny.
The partnership comes on top of the existing relationship between the two that sees the hospital provide quick access to Limerick senior players for MRI and Xrays to ensure quick and exact injury diagnosis and, in turn, allows players to embark immediately on their recovery programme.
The club championship sponsorship agreement kicks in for the commencement of the first round of the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick Senior Hurling Championship next weekend.
Speaking at today’s announcement, Limerick Manager John Kiely said; “It’s a great time for Limerick hurling but all that’s happened over the last year or so would not have happened were it not for our clubs. The success at county level is making our club championships hugely competitive and it’s great to get this support for it from our local Bon Secours hospital.
“Many of our players know this hospital very well from coming in and out of here for injury diagnosis. They look after us brilliantly and the fact that they are now coming on board to provide this important financial backing for the club championship shows their commitment to sport in the county.”
Said Limerick GAA Chairman John Cregan: “Yesterday was a great day on the pitch for us and today is a great day off the pitch. It all starts with the club. Nothing happens without the club and we’re delighted to be getting this boost so close to the start of this year’s championship.
“We have a long-standing relationship with this hospital and it’s a really positive one as we get expert, quality care here for our players. The hospital is going from strength to strength under the Bon Secours Health System since it acquired it two years ago and this is deepening its investment in Limerick. This is a great fit.”
Said Jason Kenny, Hospital Manager: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the senior club championship. It’s a top club competition and we already have a great relationship with many of the players as they come in and out to for injury scans. They’re an absolute pleasure to deal with and we are just delighted to be able to bring our expertise here to bear.
“We’ve invested €6m on the hospital since we acquired it just under two years ago and we are now investing in something that’s very important to this city and county. We saw the joy that last year’s All-Ireland final win brought to everyone in Limerick and, indeed, yesterday’s league win on top of that. With this investment in the club championship, we are supporting the grass-roots structure that all this has been founded on.”
