‘There’s no comfort zone anymore’

CAST your mind back a couple of weeks, to Limerick’s All-Ireland quarter-final win over Clare.

In the 24th minute of the second half, Clare had come back into a game in which Limerick had been comfortable — how could they have found themselves only a score in front, after nearly 60 minutes of dominance?

That could be partly explained by the Limerick puck-outs — they were under pressure to win their own ball, four puck-outs lost in succession.

Time for a change of tack: 10 minutes earlier James O’Brien had been introduced as a sub, the big Bruree man won a puck-out and bombed a point from the sideline, point. That score settled Limerick and they went on to win by seven.

“Brian picked me out with the puckout,” James explains; “I caught it, had the shot, and after that you’re just hoping it goes over. I thought it was dropping short at one stage and the boys were slagging me afterwards that I was just trying to pass it into Brian Begley, but it went over the bar anyway!”

Against Tipperary in the drawn replay O’Brien did the same thing, coming on and scoring two vital points, and he also did well as a sub in the second replay. He’d prefer a starting role of course, and not just because that would also see him have the honour of captaining Limerick (Bruree are county champions). He’s just got that attitude. He craves the responsibility.

Whether starting or not, he’s ready.

“You have to be. Starting is easier, on the bench you’re fighting the temptation to get caught up in the game itself, enjoy the view. You have to be on the alert all the time, be ready to come in, focused, tuned in. It’s a nice feeling when you do come in, and lucky enough I’m getting the odd score when I do.”

It’s important that those who don’t start feel they’re still in with a chance, and under manager Richie Bennis and his team that’s been the case with Limerick this year.

“That’s the thing, eight or nine subs have been used over the championship, so fellas know they can be called on, and they’ve shown they can deliver. It’s a thing that started in Kilkenny; there’s no comfort zone anymore, on the bench or on the field, fellas know if they get the jersey they’re going to have to work to hold onto it.’’

Against Waterford in the Munster final Limerick weren’t at their best but were still in with a shout halfway through the second half, ahead by a point with 20 minutes to go, 1-9 to 0-11. Cue Dan Shanahan’s three goals in the final 20 minutes and a nine-point loss.

It hurt, and no-one felt the pain more than ‘keeper Brian Murray. Could he have saved any of those goals? No, the short answer.

“I was unfortunate for the first one, great save from Paul Flynn’s shot but Dan was there for the rebound; the second one he came in one-on-one. Could have saved, maybe, but it was a slippery ball, I didn’t know if he was going to bury it or what, just unfortunate I couldn’t get the hurley fully on it. The third was another one-on-one, could do nothing about it.”

Despite that kind of critical self-analysis, how sane is it to stand your ground in the face of a charging Dan Shanahan or Seamus Prendergast or John Mullane, hurling’s equivalent of Pamplona ‘s running with bulls?

“It is a big mad alright,” says Murray. “You either love it or you hate it. I love it. It’s a family thing, my grandfather played there for the club, John Murray. He was smaller than me but I’m told he was the hardest man you’d ever come across. That’s something to aspire to.”

There was a rare error against Tipp in their trilogy, soft goal conceded, and Murray brought his hurley up over his head in anger — but even as the hurley was being brought to earth the control kicked in. The stick never even touched the grass.

“Two years ago the hurley would have been driven three feet into the ground, but you can’t be doing those kind of things anymore. You do it as a young fella, a bit mad.

“I’ve made many mistakes over the years, made some great saves as well, but none of that matters – it’s the next ball, you have to keep your sharpness for that. Block out everything that has just happened.”

The challenge for Brian and his defence is to block out Waterford, block out everything Dan Shanahan and company can throw at them.

“The Waterford half-back line is very strong. I was at the match on Sunday and the balls they were giving into the forwards was super. Our defence has been super all year but if our lads can stop those pin-point clearances, that will mean a lot of pressure off us.

“They stepped it up again against Clare, the forwards were outstanding, Andrew (O’Shaughnessy), Donie (Ryan), lads like that. We’ll be hoping for a performance like that again. This is the time to stop Dan the Man, the big day; if ever there was a day to stop these shots it’s this Sunday.”