WHEN the final whistle blew in the Limerick-Tipperary Munster semi-final in June, it triggered more memories of the halcyon days from the 1990s.
Despite the match being on in Thurles, Limerick’s supporters outnumbered Tipp’s. Their natural reaction at the end of such an epic tussle was to invade the pitch and celebrate a big win like no other county does. Just like last year’s Munster final, it was a day of days. Supporters carrying their heroes off the field like gladiators. Epic stuff.
Last year’s success was Limerick’s first Munster title since 1996 but it is easy for Limerick supporters to feel now like their county is at the centre of Munster hurling’s universe. Along with the seniors, the minors are also reigning Munster champions. Last year was the first time since 1980 that Limerick were represented in both deciders.
When they won both titles, it was the first time since 1940 that the county had managed such a feat. On Sunday, Limerick are looking to win successive titles in both codes for the first time in their history.
When Limerick set up their five-year development plan in 1995, it sowed the seeds for the senior football revolution of the early 2000s, along with the U21 hurlers’ haul of three All-Irelands in-a-row between 2000 and 2002. Yet that U21 success was never built on at senior level and Limerick don’t intend on wasting any more positive opportunities.
Limerick are confident that they have their coaching model right but there will always be challenges. Unlike the cities in most hurling counties, the ground in Limerick city has always been difficult to till, especially when rugby is so strong.
When the National Hurling Development Plan was drawn up in 2005, Limerick city was identified as a blackspot. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Participation levels at primary schools increased by 84 per cent in seven years.
After the success of the U21s, most of the last decade was a write-off for Limerick’s underage teams. The minors did reach an All-Ireland final through the back-door in 2005, while the U21s went nine years without contesting a provincial final, before finally winning a title in 2011.
Those two teams were nowhere near as high-profile as the three successful U-21 sides but Limerick mined serious talent from both of them: Gavin O’Mahoney, Tom Condon, James Ryan, Seamus Hickey, Conor Allis, Declan Hannon, Shane Dowling, Kevin Downes and Graeme Mulcahy.
Hannon, Downes and Dowling came off the Ard Scoil Ris production line. Ard Scoil was always a rugby stronghold but hurling is now as much a part of the school’s identity because of the crusade that group went on to try and win an All-Ireland.
In terms of mentality and outlook, they thought, acted and prepared like elite athletes. They agonisingly lost two All-Ireland finals to St Kieran’s Kilkenny but they completely altered the culture and the mindset of how young Limerick teams needed to prepare to compete at the top level.
Limerick’s underage squads now follow a structured strength and conditioning programme but Ard Scoil’s progress also underlined the importance of competing at Colleges’ level.
For years, Limerick CBS had been Limerick’s flagship school in the Dr Harty Cup but they left a huge vacuum in the county when they pulled out in 2003. Now, four Limerick sides — Ard Scoil, Doon CBS, Castletroy College and West Limerick Colleges compete in the Harty Cup. Ard Scoil and Doon CBS contested this year’s Harty final.
Last year was a massive breakthrough and the confidence gained has carried into this season. The minors had a narrow escape in their semi-final against Cork two weeks ago but most of last year’s panel are still underage and Limerick are favourites to win the All-Ireland, along with Munster.
A disastrous end to their league campaign, when a draw with Offaly torpedoed promotion, was underlined when Limerick were hammered by Galway in a league quarter-final.
When they subsequently lost their coach Donal O’Grady after a dispute with the county board, their season looked over before it began. Yet they responded heroically once more and they defied everyone with their win against Tipp.
They are underdogs again on Sunday but they have a far better chance than the bookies think. None of their six forwards performed anywhere near their potential against Tipp. A couple of them completely underperformed yet they still hit 2-18.
Cork may be red-hot favourites and playing at home. Yet in Limerick at the moment, well, they believe that anything is possible.
Verdict: Draw
