Another step on the ladder as Treaty trio seek immediate redemption

IT has been a season of progression for Limerick hurling, their teams making an impression at every level from colleges to senior.

This evening, at Cusack Park in the Munster semi-final in Ennis, against Clare, it’s the turn of their U21s.

Yesterday, however, manager Leo O’Connor spoke of the difficulties in preparing a team at this grade, not just in Limerick, but in every county.

“This is probably the most difficult grade as regards team management, you’d be tearing your hair out at times. You have fellas involved who are with every other team from minor to the senior, not to mention club commitments. We had three lads playing with the senior team on Sunday (Kevin Downes, Declan Hannon and Graeme Mulcahy); the Limerick intermediate team this year is a development squad and we have several players in that too. We’re trying to integrate players from the various panels, get them as much big-game experience as we can. Whatever works for the long-term success of Limerick hurling, that’s what we’re all working towards, and Limerick hurling is very definitely on the up. But the truth is this team has yet to play a full game together this year.”

Another problem in Limerick is the dual player. “We have a lad on the senior football panel, Seamus O’Carroll, and he’s not even togging out with us. He has a big football game coming up this weekend, against Kerry at Croke Park (All-Ireland senior football quarter-final). I’d love to have Seamus as an option tomorrow night — you see the pace he has, and he’s a good, tidy hurler. But he’s just not there. It has become almost impossible to mix the football and hurling at the top level, so many games now. I can’t deny Seamus his opportunity at the highest level, the risk of injury so close to the game, and he’s playing very good football. He will be with us, but he’ll be in his civvies. But there’s no point complaining, t’s the same in every county. Those are the cards you’re dealt, you know the situation when you come in.”

The three big names on the Limerick team are those mentioned above — Downes (U21 captain), Hannon (top-scored against Dublin on Sunday with 0-11) and the flying Mulcahy. Far from being demoralised after the defeat of the senior team, those guys are now champing at the bit again, says Leo: “Their heads are fine. Two of them rang me today and said they were really looking forward to this game. It’s an early opportunity for them to get over the disappointment of Sunday, a chance for immediate redemption, and that’s how I approached it with them. They have something to look forward to, they’re in a position where they can drive on, Kevin especially, as captain.”

Clare, however, have also been making massive strides in hurling, at underage especially, exemplified in the displays of their minor side in capturing this year’s Munster title.

It has all the makings of an outstanding match.