Hectic times but no complaints from Begley

THERE was a time when a Limerick senior footballer would be lucky to see one day of championship action in a year, when even the hurlers would be grateful for a second day out.

But these are changing times in the GAA and in Limerick in particular. Brian Begley is a dual player with the county and for the Tralee-based garda the last few weeks have been fairly hectic.

"It's been all go, the division two football league final above in Croke Park, playing Cork in the Munster football championship a week later, beating them, then Waterford coming up in the hurling, a draw and replay (which was lost) and Clare now this Sunday in the football.

"Big days, absolutely fantastic. Since the back-door system over the last couple of years you get the second chance and it makes a huge difference.

"Now, even in the hurling, we're still looking forward to the next day, another day out in the All-Ireland qualifiers and hopefully we'll make amends. These are the kind of days inter-county players live for, the championship is the highlight."

Last Saturday evening was that Waterford replay in the Munster SHC semi-final and a couple of days later Begley is back in training with the footballers for this Sunday's MSF semi-final tilt against Clare in Cusack Park.

Hurling to football, from a disappointing one-point loss to building up hope for the weekend. Yet the 6'5" full-forward reckons there is no problem adjusting.

"It's not a question really of adjusting, just keeping the focus on what you're doing. We were keeping in touch with the footballers for the last couple of weeks (there are several dual players), while we were concentrating on the hurling, and it's nice to be back.

"Nice too, to have another chance in a championship game so soon after losing in the hurling, a second chance to get into a Munster final."

Their first-round win over Cork in the football set many a tongue a-wagging, talk of a Munster final tilt with Kerry. Dangerous talk, reckons Begley, with the hardy men of Clare waiting. talk of a Munster final tilt with Kerry. Dangerous talk, reckons Begley, with the hardy men of Clare waiting.

"It's going to be a very tough game for us. When we beat Cork, a lot of people immediately were saying

Limerick-Kerry Munster final, but we know we're going to find it very hard against Clare." Were Limerick fearful, was there a possibility they could freeze on the day?

"I wouldn't say fearful, but we have huge respect for them. We're very conscious of the fact it's going to be a tough game for us.

" It annoys us a bit that some people assumed that after beating Cork this would be a bit of a cakewalk for us, that we'd go up there and beat them well.

"Some people were looking forward to the Munster final but we knew what we were facing, and if we do beat Clare, there will only be a point or two in it. We've had a few injuries but that's all cleared up now, and hopefully we can get it right on the day."

They didn't get it right in the hurling, a fact that caused Brian some obvious anguish.

"It's hard to put a finger on what happened. It was a completely different game to the first day, very stop-start, much slower which didn't suit us at all.

"We weren't able to get the right kind of ball into the forward line, weren't able to get the scores. Once they got the goal, we were chasing the game, and anytime we got a point they were able to get one back.

"We never caught them, but we had our chances in the last couple of minutes." Prominent over Brian's right eye as he spoke was a blood-caked scar, several stitches, a reminder from that game.

"Yeah, a souvenir from Saturday, just before half-time I got a little nick."

A reminder too of how fickle this game is, how difficult it is to reach a Munster senior final, hurling or football. Begley knows take something for granted in this game and you're going home empty-handed.