O’Riordan: You can’t beat local rivalry

Changed and exciting times in Limerick.

The heartache and anger which followed the stand-off between the senior hurlers and the county board two years ago are now a distant memory. Instead everyone is united as they prepare to face Clare in Saturday’s win or bust All-Ireland SHC qualifier in Semple Stadium.

It is the fifth competitive meeting of the counties this season, but such familiarity is not dampening the interest in this game according to Limerick secretary Mike O’Riordan. “No, it’s great, you can’t beat local rivalry and there’s added value in that there are two more matches as well, all for €25 for a stand ticket. The reaction so far has been very positive, a big interest in relation to ticket sales over the last few days, a big demand.”

O’Riordan feels that much of the interest is being generated by the emergence of outstanding new young talent on Shannonside like forwards Declan Hannon, Shane Dowling and Graeme Mulcahy who have exploded onto the scene in the past couple of years.

“It’s not just Shane and Declan and those at senior level,” continues O’Riordan. “If you look at all Limerick teams right from U14 to senior level, every team is competitive. The conveyor belt is beginning to kick in, the number of new players emerging through the system is very encouraging.

“You have the likes of Conor Allis, Seanie O’Brien, Tomas Ryan from South Liberties — he came on against Tipperary. That day we finished with three 19-year-olds on the field which is a great sign for the future.”

That ‘conveyor belt’ of talent the Limerick secretary refers to is no accident, rather the result of very deliberate policy and planning by the county board, headed by chairman Liam Lenihan, over the past several years.

O’Riordan said: “There’s a lot of work being done at underage in Limerick now, the infrastructure around the county is nearly complete. We have a fabulous facility in Rathkeale with five pitches, dressing-rooms and so on and there is a stand planned for the end of the year. We have the facilities in UL, our base for coaching and games development, we have five full-time coaches who work out of offices there.

“We have a regeneration officer moving into LIT in August, we have Gavin O’Mahony moving into Mary I (teacher training college). We will have an additional team in the Dr Harty Cup and in Corn Uí Mhuirí next season, a West Limerick amalgamation. All our teams are now very competitive, at every grade. Even if you look at the Feile, Na Piarsaigh reached the final of the hurling last year in the premier competition while Patrickswell were beaten in the semi-final this year.”

A veritable ocean of talent, just waiting to be harnessed. A breakthrough is what’s needed, says O’Riordan.

“One thing we need to do now is win a Munster title at minor level, to give those lads the experience of playing at that level and winning those games. Clare have that experience with a few Munster minor titles and an All-Ireland U21. They have a vast amount of experience coming through, their youth policy is working tremendously well.”

A win for the seniors on Saturday would do wonders for all those youngsters, put Limerick back to the forefront of hurling. If they manage it, however, it will be the first time this year they’ll have beaten the Banner, a challenge becoming ever more difficult given the progress their neighbours are making under manager Davy Fitzgerald this season.

O’Riordan agrees: “Clare have become a very formidable outfit, young but with great experience. They’ve had a tougher route to this stage than we had, a great win over Dublin last Saturday. We know it’s a huge task.”