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Ewan Fenton was the gaffer in 1971. Sonny Price was the man in 1960. Heres an interesting piece from the Leader archives:
After 23 years of hard and honest endeavour Limerick finally won the League of Ireland Championship in the 1959/60 season. Having finished runners-up in successive seasons - 1943/44 and 1944/45 it was an occasion to savour.
Unlike other years, when the majority of the sides were local, this team had a nucleus of Dublin based players who supplied six to the panel, there were five from Limerick, two from Cork and the remainder from junior circles.
Lady Luck was on Limerick's side, for although they lost their last game 3-2 to St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday, April 17 1960, they still captured the championship.
The trophy was not available on the day and some of the players did not see it until it was won, 20 years later in the Eoin Hand era.
In this era, where managers have a film-star profile, such was not the case, some 40 years ago. For the record Sonny Price was coach of that Limerick team and Noel "Noisy" Murphy of rugby fame put the players through a strict training routine to attain a high fitness level. He was living in Limerick at that time.
The following players wre on the Limerick books during the 1959/60 season:- Pat Skelly, Willie Clinton, Fergie Crawford, Joe Casey, Gerry McCarthy, Harry McCue, Dessie McNamara, Jerry O'Brien, Georgie Lynam, Clem Dillon, Dick O'Connor, Leo O'Reilly, Donie Wallace, Eddie McCarthy, Denis Linnane, Sean Moloney, Johnny Fogarty, Tony Brosnahan, PJ Meagher and Jimmy Murphy.
Amateurs on League of Ireland forms:- Mick Doyle, Eamonn O'Connor, Dick Butler, Jimmy Forde and Liam McMahon.
Other players who played with Limerick during Dessie's sojourn include Mick "Dobber" Lipper, Tim "Togsie" Cuneen, Ewan Fenton, Mick Doyle, Frankie Johnson, Al Finucane, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Vinny Quinn while a legion of Cork friends include Johnny Coughlan, Ray Cowhie, Jackie Morley, Donal Leahy, Austin Noonan and Donie Wallace wish him well.
Des played in two F.A.I. Cup finals 1965 and 1966. A fairytale first final ended all square after a great game. It will be remembered as the Mick Doyle final as he broke his leg just before half-time.
The following year Shamrock Rovers won 2-0. Des also figured in two European Cup campaigns-versus Young Boys of Berne and C.S.K.A. Bulgaria.
Des, always on the fringe of International honours, played in schoolboy and minor international trials. In the 1958/59 season he was capped for the League of Ireland against the Irish League. This game was played at Windsor Park, Belfast, with victory going to the League of Ireland 3-2.
When his League of Ireland career ended, he helped local junior team - Hibernians to win the Jim Jackman Cup.
He returned to Pike Rovers in 1971 to lead them to victory in the Munster Junior Cup final at the Marayke against Crosshaven. Des has the unique honour of winning Munster Minor, Junior and Senior Cup medals.
He also holds every honour in inter-firm football.
His son, Brian, won a Munster Minor up medal with St Clement's.
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