{{Short description|Irish hurler}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player | code= Hurling | sport = Hurling | image = | name = Damien Reale | irish = Damien Ó Roghail | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|5|17|df=yes}} | feet = 5 | inches = 9 | occupation = Health and safety officer | county = Limerick | province = Munster | club = Hospital-Herbertstown<br>→ Emmets | clubs = | clyears = | clapps(points) = | clcounty = 0 | clprovince= | clallireland = | counties = Limerick | icposition = Left corner-back | icyears = 2001-2011 | icapps(points) = 37 (0-2) | icprovince = 0 | icallireland = 0 | allstars = 0 | nhl = 0 | clupdate = | icupdate = 18:04, 4 November 2012 | birth_place=Hospital,<br>County Limerick, Ireland }} '''Damien Reale''' (born 17 May 1981) is an Irish former hurler. At club level, he played with Hospital-Herbertstown, divisional side Emmets and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team.
==Career==
At club level, Reale first played for Hospital-Herbertstown at juvenile and underage levels before progressing to adult level. He claimed his first Limerick IHC medal in 2000 following a 2-11 to 1-05 win over South Liberties in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA/Default.aspx#panel=document|title=Hospital-Herbertostown return to the senior grade|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=25 September 2000|access-date=20 April 2025|first=|last=}}</ref> He added a Limerick JAHC medal to his collection in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA/Default.aspx#panel=document|title=Three years of heartache finally ends|publisher=Limerick Leader|date=5 November 2005|access-date=20 April 2025|first=|last=}}</ref> Reale won a second Limerick IHC medal after a 2-11 to 0-15 win over Dromin/Athlacca.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportinglimerick.com/reeling-in-the-years-limerick-gaas-2010/|title=Reeling in the Years: Limerick GAA’s 2010|publisher=Sporting Limerick|date=22 June 2020|access-date=20 April 2025|first=|last=}}</ref>
At inter-county level, Reale first appeared for Limerick as a member of the minor team in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/limerick-sport/145462/Limerick-minor-hurlers---trying.html|title=Limerick minor hurlers - trying since 1985|publisher=Limerick Live|date=7 September 2014|access-date=9 May 2025|first=|last=}}</ref> He immediately progressed to the under-21 team and won three successive All-Ireland U21HC medals between 2000 and 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/young-guns-grab-glory-for-limerick-26109433.html|title=Young guns grab glory for Limerick|publisher=Irish Independent|accessdate=3 October 2015|date=18 September 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/limerick-hold-on-to-u-21-crown-1.396923|title=Limerick hold on to U-21 crown|publisher=Irish Times|accessdate=8 April 2017|date=16 September 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/limerick-make-history-26034660.html|title=Limerick make history|date=16 September 2002|publisher=Irish Independent|accessdate=13 October 2013|first=Martin|last=Breheny}}</ref>
Reale made his senior team debut in the National Hurling League in 2001. He was appointed team captain in 2007, in the absence of the nominated James O'Brien.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/reale-to-lead-limerick/26281976.html|title=Reale to lead Limerick|date=25 January 2007|publisher=Irish Independent|accessdate=13 October 2024|first=|last=}}</ref> Reale captained the team when Limerick had a 2-17 to 1-15 defeat by Kilkenny in the 2007 All-Ireland final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/kilkenny-handed-final-glory-on-a-plate/26315446.html|title=Kilkenny handed final glory on a plate|publisher=Irish Independent|date=3 September 2007|accessdate=31 October 2018|first=|last=}}</ref> He retired from inter-county hurling in November 2009 in protest over changes made in the Limerick hurling panel by team manager Justin McCarthy, but returned almost a year later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20104837.html|title=Reale quits Limerick in protest at player cull|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=4 November 2009|accessdate=31 October 2018|first=|last=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/no-regrets-at-walking-away-as-reale-relishes-limerick-return/26686154.html|title=No regrets at walking away as Reale relishes Limerick return|publisher=Irish Independent|date=2 October 2010|accessdate=31 October 2018|first=|last=}}</ref> Reale won a National Hurling League Division 2 medal in 2011 following a 4-12 to 2-13 defeat of Clare in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/limerick-on-the-rise-2634833.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130108003803/http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/limerick-on-the-rise-2634833.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2013 |title=Limerick on the rise |publisher=Irish Independent |accessdate=3 November 2012 |date=2 May 2011 |first=Christy |last=O'Connor }}</ref> He retired from inter-county hurling at the end of that season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Limerick/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=156851|title=Reale explains retirement reasons|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=4 November 2012|date=21 October 2011}}</ref>
Performances at inter-county level for Limerick resulted in Reale being called up to the Munster inter-provincial team. He won his sole Railway Cup medal in 2001 following a defeat of Connacht in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/railway-cup-hurling/|title=Railway Cup hurling|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=20 April 2025|first=|last=}}</ref>
==Honours==
;Hospital-Herbertstown *Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship: 2000, 2010 *Limerick Junior A Hurling Championship: 2005
;Limerick *National Hurling League Division 2: 2011 *All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship: 2000, 2001, 2002 *Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship: 2000, 2001, 2002 *Waterford Crystal Cup: 2006
;Munster *Railway Cup: 2001
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Navboxes |title=Damien Reale navigation boxes |list1= {{Limerick Under 21 Team 2000}} {{Limerick Under 21 Team 2001}} {{Limerick Under 21 Team 2002}} {{Limerick Hurling Team 2007}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reale, Damien}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Hospital-Herbertstown hurlers Category:Emmets hurlers Category:Limerick inter-county hurlers Category:Munster inter-provincial hurlers Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen