Brian Geary

For the Australian rules footballer, see Brian Geary (footballer).

Brian Geary

Personal information
Irish name	Briain Ó Gadhra
Sport	Hurling
Position	Centre-forward
Born	1980 Castletroy, County Limerick, Ireland
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Monaleen
Club titles
	Football	Hurling
Limerick titles	4	0
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
1999-2012	Limerick	45 (0-11)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	0
All-Irelands	0
NHL	0
All Stars	0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 19:45, 20 November 2012.

Brian Geary (born 1980) is an Irish hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Limerick senior team.

Geary made his first appearance for the team during the 1999 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 2012 championship. A two-time All-Ireland medalist in the under-21 grade, he enjoyed little success as a member of the county senior team. Geary ended up an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Geary is a four-time county football championship medalist with Monaleen.

Playing career

Club

Geary has enjoyed much success as a Gaelic footballer with the Monaleen club.

In 2002 Geary lined out in his first championship decider. Adare provided the opposition and were hopeful of a county double. After a thrilling draw and a replay, Monaleen were the victors on a score line of 1-10 to 1-19. ^[1] It was Geary's first county championship medal.

After a three-year absence Monaleen returned to the county final again in 2005. A 0-13 to 2-5 defeat of St. Kieran's gave Geary a second championship medal. ^[2]

Monaleen once again went into decline following this victory, but reached another championship decider in 2010. Adare provided the opposition, however, a 1-9 to 1-5 defeat gave Geary a third county championship medal. ^[3]

After failing to retain their title on various previous occasions, Monaleen were back in the county final again in 2011. A 1-12 to 1-7 defeat of Newcastle West saw Monaleen retain their title, while Geary collected a fourth championship medal. ^[4]

Minor and under-21

Geary enjoyed his first inter-county success as a dual player in the under-21 grades.

In 2000 he was a key member of the Limerick under-21 football team that broke the provincial dominance of Cork and Kerry. A 0-7 to 0-4 defeat of Waterford gave Geary a Munster medal in football.

That same year Geary was also a member of the successful Limerick under-21 hurling team. 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. ^[5] It was Geary's first Munster medal in under-21 hurling. Limerick subsequently defeated Galway by 1-13 to 0-13 in the All-Ireland decider, giving Geary an All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship medal.

In 2002 Geary 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. ^[6] It was Geary's last game for the under-21 hurlers.

Senior

By this stage Geary was a key member of the Limerick senior hurling team. He made his championship debut in a Munster quarter-final defeat by Waterford in 1999.

Two years later in 2001 Geary lined out in his first Munster final at senior level. Tipperary were the opponents on that occasion, however, Limerick faced a narrow 2-16 to 1-17 defeat. ^[7]

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

In 2006 Geary 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 Geary's side. ^[8]

Geary was appointed co-captain of the Limerick senior hurling team in 2007. That year he lined out in a second Munster Senior Hurling Championship final, this time with Waterford providing the opposition. A 3-17 to 1-14 defeat was Limerick's lot on that occasion. ^[9] 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. ^[10]

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

After indicating that he would return for one more season with the Limerick senior hurling team, Geary announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 19 November 2012. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

References

1. "Brilliant Gavin dashes Adare's dreams of double". Irish Independent. 4 November 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
2. "Dramatic finale but Gavin's brief stint saves Monaleen". Irish Independent. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
3. "O'Brien shines for Monaleen". Irish Independent. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
4. McCarthy, Kieran (17 October 2011). "Collins turns the screw to deny wasteful Newcastle West". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
5. "Brilliant Limerick rip Cork to shreds". Irish Independent. 24 August 2000. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
6. "Limerick wins the U21 All-Ireland hurling final". Breaking News website. 16 September 2001. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
7. Breheny, Martin (2 July 2001). "Tipp's grace under pressure produces late victory flourish". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
8. Kinsella, Colm (10 February 2006). "Tipp's grace under pressure produces late victory flourish". Limerick Leader. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
9. Breheny, Martin (9 July 2007). "Dynamic Dan adds some extra dash for the Déise". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
10. "Kilkenny overpower Limerick to retain title". Irish Times. 2 September 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
11. "Geary hints at staying on". Hogan Stand. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
12. "Geary calls it a day". Hogan Stand. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
13. "Limerick defender Brian Geary calls time on inter-county hurling career that began in 1999". RTÉ Sport. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.

Sporting positions
Preceded by T. J. Ryan	Limerick Senior Hurling Captain 2007	Succeeded by Damian Reale