September date with destiny a ‘massive carrot’ for Limerick

LIMERICK have nothing to lose Sunday in Croke Park, no pressure on their shoulders – that seems to be the common refrain this week.

Stragglers in Munster, where they were beaten by Waterford in their opening round after a replay, strugglers thereafter through the qualifiers, even their most loyal supporters have been pleasantly surprised the Shannonsiders have made it this far in the championship – bonus territory now.

Just don’t try telling that to Stephen Lucey. Unusual in the modern game, Lucy is a dual star, but he has already suffered on the double this season with the footballers alone, narrowly beaten in the Munster final by Cork, then pipped again in the final round of the qualifiers by Meath. Nothing to lose?