September Road

Limerick's targetmen: From Ned to Joe and Beefy to BegleyWhere are they now: Tipperary 1971Munster and All-Ireland champions. 1. Peter O'Sullivan: Cashel goalkeeper still involved in hurling in Rosegreen parish. 2. Liam King: A farmer in his home parish of Lorrha. 3. John Kelly: A teacher from Cappawhite, Kelly is the author of his club's history. 4. John Gleeson: Now living in Galway where he works for Iarnroid Eireann. 5. Tadhg O'Connor: Living and working in Roscrea.. Mick Roche: Works with Carrolls, the Carrick Davins clubman, "a prince of centre backs" according to county PRO Liz Howard, captained the county in two losing All-Ireland finals. 7. Len Gaynor: A farmer, Gaynor managed his club Kilruane to an All-Ireland club title, and also managed Clare and Tipperary. 8. PJ Ryan: The Carrick Davins man is living in Carrick-on-Suir. 9. Seamus Hogan: A teacher in Borrisokane, the Kildangan man is a keen golfer. 10. Francis Loughnane: The Roscrea publican had spells coaching a number of Tipperary clubs. 11. Noel O'Dwyer: The Borris-Ileagh man served as a selector under Babs Keating in the mid-90s. 12. Dinny Ryan: Played with Sean Treacy's, now living in Templederry where he is involved with local club. In Australia supporting the Lions. 13. John Flanagan: The "firebrand" of the team, the Moycarrkey man died a few years ago. 14. Roger Ryan: Works with Roscrea Foods. Still involved and has a close association with county champions Toomevara. 15. Babs Keating: Managed Tipperary to All-Ireland wins in '89 and '91 and since had a spell with Laois. Subs: Jimmy Doyle: Injured in the run-up to the '71 final, the team of the Millennium man works with the Mid Western Health Board. Paul Byrne: Son of the famous "Rattler", the former Thurles Sarsfield man now teaches in Boherlahan NS.

NEXT WEEK: SUNDAY: Leinster SHC final - Kilkenny v Wexford, Croke Park. Ulster SFC final - Cavan v Tyrone, Clones. SATURDAY: All-Ireland SFC: Third-round qualifiers - Armagh v Galway; Sligo v Kildare; Laois v Derry; Westmeath v Louth (neutral venues to be fixed today)Compiled by Liam Ryan

BRIAN BEGLEY (top right) is only the latest in a line of big, bustling full forwards. Some of his predecessors recall their days in a Limerick shirt.

Eamonn "Ned" Rea (1963-1977) - Had two stints with the county team, playing mostly as a corner back from 1963 to '68. Then moved to Dublin where his hurling career was reignited with Faughs and he returned to the Limerick panel in 1972, again as a corner back. Didn't start the '73 championship, but was tried out as a full forward in a challenge match and the rest, as they say, is history.

Played in Munster final, and although he did not score he was seen as instrumental in setting up Limerick's three goals. "My job was to hold up ball and break up ball for the likes of Eamonn Cregan and Liam O'Donoghue," he recalls now.

Scored 3-1 in the Munster final the following year on one of his most productive days.

The '73 All-Ireland success is his obvious career highlight - he scored three points - but he prefers not to dwell on that time too much. "It's history now and this weekend it's all about the players that are doing it now."

The 1974 final loss to Kilkenny and the Munster final loss to Cork in 1975 (the beginning of the end of that particular team) were the major disappointments of his career.

A successful publican in Dublin, Rea has been chairman of the Faughs club since 1985 and is chairman of the Limerick Supporters' club in Dublin. First cousin of Mike O'Brien, who played yesterday.

Joe McKenna (1973-1986) - (Far right) From Shinrone in Offaly, McKenna moved to Limerick for work reasons in 1970 and joined the South Liberties club. Played at corner forward in All-Ireland winning year of '73.

Inherited the number 14 jersey from Rea after his retirement in 1977 and won four All Stars as a full forward - having previously won one as a wing forward and another as a centre forward.

Had many good days, but having won an All-Ireland as a 22-year-old in his first year, trying to repeat that success proved impossible.

"Obviously the finals we lost were big disappointments," says McKenna, "particularly to Galway in 1980 and after a replay in 1981."

The latter year, particularly the Munster championship campaign, provided many examples of his prodigious capacity for scoring goals.

In three consecutive matches, he amassed tallies of 3-1, 1-2 and 3-3. The first two are from the games with Tipperary, the last from the Munster final against Clare.

Involved in the South Liberties club for a couple of years after his retirement, he left to concentrate on his business and he has a thriving hardware, engineering and hire business today.

Pat "Beefy" Heffernan (far left) (1990-1997) - An underage full back and centre back, Heffernan played most of his senior hurling at full forward. 1994 was the year that contained both his career high and career low.

Beating Cork in the first round with a spectacular comeback (they trailed 2-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes and Heffernan scored two goals in the fightback) was the high. "Tipp had been beaten by Clarethe week before and the mood changed after that. We knew if we could get over Cork, then only Waterford, Clare and Antrim stood between us and an All-Ireland final."

That final and Offaly's late smash and grab provided the career low. "It was like a sudden death in the dressing-room afterwards, like a morgue. When you heard about it later, on the radio or whatever, it was like getting flashbacks."

Now a teacher in the Edmund Rice school in Limerick, Heffernan is a coach with Tipperary club Cappawhite and Limerick club Murroe.