Limerick 'need championship win' to go the extra mile

STAND back and take a look at Limerick's 2005 hurling season.

They took Tipperary to a replay in the Munster championship before losing by a point, and then lost to eventual All-Ireland finalists Galway in the qualifiers, again by a point. They looked Kilkenny in the eye in Croke Park in the All-Ireland quarter-final, when a disputed goal might have won the game for them. Their minors overcame a heavy defeat in the Munster final to put up a stirring performance in the All-Ireland final.

Why the gloom, then? Selector Ger Cunningham is upbeat.