Hannon turns focus toward taming Tribe

IT WAS after 10pm on Wednesday night by the time Declan Hannon finally reached the sanctuary of the Limerick dressing room in the Gaelic Grounds.

After the giddy chaos that erupted when Limerick’s extra-time victory was sealed in an epic provincial U21 hurling decider, Hannon found himself engulfed by kids eager for his signature on their jerseys and adults eager to slap him on the back. That was the level of acclaim for the Adare youngster who grabbed the decisive goal in extra-time. And he savoured every moment of it.

“It was an incredible night. You could see that with all the people staying out on the pitch afterwards, wanting to stay celebrating. People talk about how great Munster rugby supporters are but I think Limerick GAA supporters would give them a serious run for their money. I remember being over the far side of the field near the finish, and seeing our substitutes bouncing up and down. There was a real buzz amongst the supporters. You could sense something special was going to happen.”

Hannon may have taken the plaudits for his cool finish in the 75th minute, yet he lay the credit for the run, which saw him bound onto Graeme Mulcahy’s popped pass, with his county senior boss Donal O’Grady.

“Graeme did all the donkey work and gave a perfect pass. Donal O’Grady always tells me to make the support run, you might make 20 in a match and only get one pass. Thankfully, I got that pass tonight and Donal has to take credit.”

There was still time for late drama as Cork pounded the Limerick rearguard. When Michael O’Sullivan scythed through the defence, Hannon had a flashback to last April’s All-Ireland Colleges decider when St Kieran’s broke the hearts of himself and his Ardscoil Rís colleagues with an injury-time goal.

“When I saw a Cork fella going in along the end line I thought — here we go again. But, thankfully, it hit the side netting. For myself and the other Ardscoil lads, it helps makes up for how devastating that All-Ireland final defeat was.”

Hannon has no intention in stopping now. Next up for Limerick is an All-Ireland semi-final date with Galway on August 20, just 72 hours after Hannon receives his Leaving Cert results.

Preparations for the game will be a welcome diversion.

“Thank God I’ll have this to concentrate on,” he laughs. “The mother and father won’t be giving out to me about the Leaving Cert results, as I’ll have to think about the game! These are the soundest bunch of lads you could ever play with and who knows if we’ll get this opportunity again.”

Meanwhile, Cork U21 hurling boss Ger Fitzgerald believes every effort must be made to accommodate senior footballer Aidan Walsh if he attempts to fill a dual inter-county senior mandate next season, after his herculean individual display in Wednesday night’s decider.

“I made a song and dance last year about these lads playing for us and, tonight showed the reason for that. Aidan was immense. He came in last Monday night and had a puckaround with us. That’s his only hurling done since the semi-final against Tipperary. He’s a huge talent. Ciarán Sheehan, who is injured, is another with huge potential. For Cork hurling going forward, all those players have to be available and have to play a part.”