Limerick’s football revolution

WHEN Louis XVI saw that his subjects had taken to the streets in 1789 he exclaimed to a courtier: “This is a rebellion.” “No, your highness” came the reply, “This is a revolution.”

Before yesterday Limerick footballers had merely tilted at the big two of Munster football. There had been gallant defeats, an U21 victory, good league runs, enough to earn them condescending pats on the head.

They’d done well . . . for Limerick. Nobody in Cork or Kerry ever believed that they would go so far as to defeat one of the major powers.

Seventy sublime minutes at Pairc Uí Chaoimh mean that we all know better now. Limerick just got fed up of knocking at the door and decided to kick it down instead. They became revolutionaries.

It’s easy to go overboard on the hyperbole when championship time comes around but this is a genuinely astounding achievement.

The last time Limerick beat Cork in a championship match Sean Lemass was Taoiseach, The Sound of Music was in the cinemas and Man hadn’t walked on the Moon yet. This is one giant step for Liam Kearns and his men.

The feeling that the championship had just become more democratic was exacerbated when Monaghan pulled off an even more incredible result, toppling All-Ireland champions Armagh by four points.

Armagh were hoist by their own petard.

Their victory last year showed that superb preparation and physical intensity can enable counties to come from the pack and overturn the odds.

Monaghan were eager students of that lesson. But it still feels like Limerick’s day.

Monaghan teams have beaten Armagh teams before but Limerick victories over Cork are rare as spare beds in a Dublin hospital.

This was the day when Limerick as a serious footballing force stopped being a rumour and became an indisputable fact.

Cork played like men caught in some terrible nightmare which refused to end. Limerick will have little sympathy.

Their footballing nightmare has lasted for a lot longer than seventy minutes.

Perhaps Limerick’s attitude can best be summed up by a famous revolutionary slogan.

“The great only appear great because we are on our knees. Let us arise.” They have risen. It’ll be hard to put them kneeling down again.

In the dressing room manager Kearns was understandably jubilant.

“I’m not surprised at the victory,” he declared, “but I am by the winning margin. It was so comprehensive it’s hard to believe.

"This was the game we set our sights on from the day the draws were made. There was no diversions.

"Last week’s league final defeat didn’t worry me in that I knew coming down here today that the lads’ minds were totally focussed on beating Cork in Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

“We worked very hard mentally on the players all week, and if anything last Sunday’s defeat was just the spur we needed going into this game.

“Hindsight is a great thing but yes, I feel the defeat by Westmeath in the league final won us the bigger prize this afternoon.

“You dream of days like this. To come to Pairc Uí Chaoimh to take on the Munster champions, and produce a performance like we did, is something I won’t forget in a hurry.

“It was full of character, passion, commitment and anything else you want to mention. Another thing that makes a victory like this so special is that there was no fluke about it.

“We dominated Cork from start to finish. We kept our shape all through. While we had some magnificent players out there today, I wouldn’t dream of singling any one particular guy out. It was a team effort from everyone and that’s what makes it so special.

“Today’s victory is for all the other minnows around the country. Nobody gave us a chance coming down here. We were written off in every paper, radio and TV, and what we have achieved can be done by other counties if they have the same belief as we have.”

When pointed out to him that when all the excitement dies down, Limerick had only won a first round Munster Championship match, Kearns was quick to point to the symbolic importance of the victory.

“It’s massive for us. We have removed a huge obstacle. There is a lot more in this team. The win will give the lads a huge boost going into the semi-final against Clare.

“They’ll fancy their chances with home advantage, but we’ll be ready for that game when it comes around.”

One player who revelled in the victory was outstanding midfielder and the longest serving member of the team, John Quane.

“I’ve waited 14 years for this day. I thought it would never come,” said Quane who farms very close to the Cork border around Mitchelstown.

“Our hunger was decisive. There was no way we were going to beaten two Sundays in a row. Everything we tried worked for us, and some of our long range points were brilliantly taken.

“Cork were never going to lie down and we knew they would come at us in the second half but our defence rose to the challenge superbly and without wishing to sound big-headed about it, there was only one team in it for most of the match.

“While we had a good season last year, we needed to make an impact in Munster to really establish ourselves as a football force, and it would be fair to say we have now.”

Team captain Muiris Gavin made a major contribution to the victory with his impeccable free-taking, but said every member of the squad, even those who didn’t play, contributed something.

“Today’s success is down to four years extraordinary hard work by all of us. There were days when we doubted our own ability, but full credit to our coach Liam Kearns for having faith us. This victory is all down to him,” said Gavin.

“We were hurting all week after last Sunday’s defeat, have no doubt about that. We wanted that league title just as much as Westmeath did.

“Having lost we knew the only way we would get the respect of the Limerick public was to beat Cork in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, and there was a determination in all of us to do that.

“Unlike in other years, Limerick played with their hearts and souls, but also their heads. We never panicked on the ball and we owed it to Liam Kearns after losing to Westmeath.

“He was completely deflated by that defeat. He never expected us to do what we did in the last five minutes the last day, so for once, we had to back up his faith in us, and not the other way around.”