Area: Emly
Started: August 1948
Finished: March 1949
Poles used: 1641
Line used (km): 140
Premises connected: 560
The figures above were sourced from our REO News magazine, to learn more about what these figures mean, visit our interactive map. The map above shows the area boundary and is from a digitised version of the original map used during the scheme.
The REO News reports on a hurling match in Emly from the May 1949 issue
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Emly v. R.E.O. (Hospital)
On Wednesday 11.5.49 at 7.15 p.m. (O.T.) R.E.O. (Hospital) played Emly at the latter’s venue in a hurling contest. The R.E.O. team was drawn from the Office and Manual Staff in the Area, with Mr. T. C. Costelloe, Limerick, as guest player.
R.E.O. were rather unlucky to be beaten on the score 3‑2 to 2‑4 in a game that provided good hurling and kept some 300 held in intense excitement, as each team went all out for victory. Backs and forwards pulling hip to hip, in real Munster style, led to many hectic goalmouth exchanges.
Play opened on a fast note with long clearances by both sets of backs before Emly broke through for a goal per C. Leary in the fourth minute. Emly then turned on the steam but a minor from a free by the same player was all that was conceded."
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"R.E.O. then came to life and after some hectic goalmouth rushes a nice centre field movement was finished to the net by J. Hackett to leave the score Emly 1‑1 R.E.O. 1‑0. Emly then took up the running and after some hard pulling broke through for P. Hayes to score a major. Clearly added another point from a free a few minutes later. R.E.O. went all out to reduce the arrears but failed to register before the half‑time whistle went. Half time score – Emly 2‑2 R.E.O. 1‑0.
Thrills abounded in the second half as R.E.O., seeming to get life from the interval rest, broke away from the throw in, backs, forwards and ball winding up in the control centrefield was then obtained by P.J. Grey and M.J. Brosnan, which fared the Emly backs to concede a number of frees. In the fifth and eighth minutes of the second half P.J. Grey added two points from 21 yards frees to leave the score level at 2‑2. All. Emly threatened with the field time and time again to have their efforts thwarted by the R.E.O. backs and the ball returned in quick time to their own goal end, where hurling became hard with first time pulling the order. There were some fierce goalmouth exchanges before Emly conceded another free and with P.J. Grey again on the mark R.E.O. took the lead. With the R.E.O. team all out to keep and increase the lead, Emly wore for a long period pinned in their own half, but a fast raid down field found R.E.O. backs out of position and T. O’Connell raced through for an easy goal to give Emly the lead again. Dusk was setting in as R.E.O. put in a storming finish. Emly goal had many narrow escapes in this period as it was hit R.E.O. with time running out, a dashing effort was made to pull the game out of the fire. M.P. Brosnan broke through from centre field, passed to J. O’Connell at centre half forward, who dodged his man and sent the ball goalwards. T.C. Costelloe came racing in from the corner position to connect first time and strike the crossbar with the ball, which bounced over to net, thus leaving Emly the victors on the score 3‑2 to 2‑4.
Best for the winners were S. O’Brien, “Doctor” Daly, T. Joy, C. O’Leary, A. Ryan and H. Gargan. For the losers P.J. Grey, T.C. Costelloe, M.P. Brosnan, C. Hayes, J. O’Connell were outstanding.
The game, which was refereed by Mr. J. Hastings, Limerick South G.A.A. Board, was attended by Mr. P.G. Collier, D.E. Limerick, Mr. T. McCarthy, Asst. D.E. Limerick and Mr. T.P. Hough, R.A.E. Hospital. After the game the teams were entertained by the Emly Hurling Club.
After the game the R.E.O. team received an invitation from the Knocklong G.A.A. Club to play them at Elton – Grounds owned by South Limerick G.A.A. Board – on Wed. 18.5.49 at 7.15 p.m. (O.T.)."