Limerick ‘heart and passion’ back, insists hotshot Ryan

Jim O’Sullivan

Limerick led Tipperary by five points on Sunday but had to rely on a late Paul O'Grady score to force a replay. (Saturday, Gaelic Grounds, 6.30pm, RTÉ Two).

But Ryan insists Limerick, who endured a troubled league campaign, have not missed their chance of a home Guinness Munster hurling semi-final against Clare on June 5.

"This team needs matches and the more we can get the more we can

expect an improvement. I think we will improve, as will Tipperary," he said.

"They'll have their team more organised. From our point of view, we'll be looking to get our own house in order.

"The respect is back, and the heart and the passion is. But, at the end of the day, it's results we are chasing.''

Ryan says he wasn't in the least surprised by the level of their performance. "I knew it was coming. Even though we didn't play particularly well in our League matches against Laois and Dublin, things seemed to be working for us. Then we met Waterford in a friendly and that worked well.''

Ryan's contribution of 1-7 featured an excellently-taken penalty won by his brother Donie, three minutes into the second half. Yesterday, he laughed off comments on The Sunday Game that Donie had taken 24 steps before the referee blew his whistle.

"No doubt about it, these boys on TV 'know everything' about hurling! To say he took 24 steps is a disgrace. His hurley was actually pulled out of his hand at the finish and his man was fouling him from the word go.

"He was holding his arm and holding his hurley. Maybe they (analysts) need to look at themselves rather complaining. If he over-carried, maybe he did marginally."

Ryan admitted he hadn't been over-enthusiastic about moving from defence to attack. What helped him, he explained, was the way the forwards were playing. "The style of play we are playing probably suits us a bit more. It's more of an open game."

Former Tipperary captain Thomas Dunne maintains home advantage won't make any real difference in the replay.

"We enjoy playing in Thurles. The atmosphere is very special and it was a huge occasion on Sunday. The next game will be different and a little bit more difficult,'' he said. "We have a fairly good record in Limerick. It's not a huge distance to travel as opposed to Pairc Ui Chaoimh.''

Dunne admits that he was concerned before Sunday's game that Tipperary hadn't shown 'any sort of form' and that Limerick could be a serious threat. "They were in the situation where the League didn't go well for them. They probably hit rock bottom after losing Padjo and losing a couple of games. A team in that type of scenario is always going to be dangerous. I wasn't surprised with the intensity of their play. In fairness, we didn't live with it particularly well. But we still got a result after not playing well, which was encouraging.''

Encouraging for him personally was that he was able to play a part after being introduced early in the second half. It was the first time since the 1996 replay (when he had no involvement) that he hadn't started a championship game since making his debut against Kerry in 1993.

"It was a difficult time to go into the game because we were struggling a bit. Redser's goal was very important for us. Definitely it got us back on the road, but I think we saw signs of a bit of recovery before that. He was after getting a bit of possession in the half-forward line, something we hadn't been doing.''

Delighted to be still involved, Dunne revealed that he had been 'indifferent' at the start of the year about continuing. "I didn't think I was capable of being involved. And I didn't want to be involved if I didn't feel I could make a worthwhile contribution something I felt I wasn't doing for the last year or two. Ken Hogan wanted me to continue and I said I would give it everything I have for this year and see how things develop."

The Munster Council has reduced the admission charges by 5 across the board for the replay.

No tickets will be issued in advance. Cash will be taken at the stiles for both stands and terraces.

Meanwhile tickets for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final between Waterford and Cork will be on sale tomorrow night at Pairc Uí Rínn between 7pm and 9pm.

Tickets for the terrace and stand will be available but no family tickets will be on sale.