Mickey Ned: It all boils down to one man

AT the close of 2007, there was an unmistakable sense that the Limerick footballers were starting to retreat into the shadows.

After a golden era which yielded two Munster final appearances in 2003 and 2004, Limerick’s ability to consistently challenge the Munster football aristocrats of Kerry and Cork was starting to wane. The 2007 championship had been a dispiriting experience with a 13-point thumping by Cork ending their provincial interest and Louth bringing their All-Ireland qualifier adventure to a halt at the first hurdle.

But from the precipice they’ve righted themselves. Last year saw shoots of recovery. In Munster they ran Cork all the way to the finish tape and should have breasted it first, before blitzing Meath in a madcap fashion 4-12 to 4-3 in the All-Ireland series.