Allen: This means a lot to Limerick

There wasn’t a happier man in Semple Stadium on Saturday evening than Limerick manager John Allen.

“When the final whistle goes on All-Ireland final day and you’re on the line as the manager, that’s as good as it gets and that was the biggest day I’ve had as a manager,” he said afterwards, reference to his time as Cork All-Ireland winning manager in 2005.

“But I don’t think I’ve ever been as animated on the line as I was this evening. Limerick’s hurlers have had bad press from time to time but, hand on heart, even if we’d lost, this is as fine a bunch of young fellas as I’ve ever seen, a fine, decent, hard-working bunch of players. You could see from the reaction of the crowd and the players on the pitch afterwards, this means a lot to Limerick, and it certainly means a lot to me.”

Allen was full of praise for full-forward Niall Moran, scorer of five invaluable points. “He was tremendous, as were they all,” said Allen. “Brian Geary started, did his bit, was the man that he is when coming off, a fine solid man; he had a job to do, did it for as long as he could, and we replaced him. Niall Moran from the off was at the pace of the game, scored some fantastic points, worked like a trojan all through. There’s credit due to all of them — Dodge (O’Grady), Niall, Gavin, and the fellas who came in.”

Donal O’Grady was even more effusive in his praise of Moran: “He is the most dedicated man in training, minds himself 100%, trains by himself in the alley when we’re off. I’m delighted for him, he got some great points to settle us and then again in the second half, got some great points from the sideline. Niall was outstanding.”

They’re becoming a real force are Limerick, their talent reflected as much off the field as on. John Allen: “This was the first time this year we could say that in the final 15 minutes we’d have our strongest team on the field. You bring on Seamus Hickey, you bring on Declan Hannon, you bring on Kevin Downes — we were in a good position, and the next day, hopefully, we’ll have one or two more vying for positions. That’s how we want it.”

O’Grady concurred: “The win is what we needed and it’s a great boost. The day for moral victories in Limerick is gone, fellas had nothing in their minds only the win. .

“The goals made a big difference but there were a few words said at half-time. The one thing about John Allen is he lets the players do the talking. It was brilliant, we stood up and got one over the Banner finally. One thing this year, the panel is very strong — there’s actually one or two lads not on the 26 and peoples’s jaws sort of dropped when they weren’t named. The competition for places is great and this gives the lads a boost going into the U21s.”

As for Wayne McNamara’s goal, that surge forward, the dummy pass sold by the Adare star then bought by outstanding Clare corner-back Domhnall O’Donovan? “I can remember him scoring one against Waterford as well,” reckoned Donal; “Wayne kind of takes off on these solo-runs and we’re inclined to think, open up the gates there and let him out! But it was a lovely dummy, great finish and he’s good off his left. Mind you it took him half an hour to get back!”

As for Limerick’s future? “We can’t get too carried away,” says Donal. “We’re in an All-Ireland quarter-final, will be playing Kilkenny or Waterford. Kilkenny? Sure look, after the last day (Leinster final loss to Galway) they’re beatable. But we can only worry about ourselves. If we meet Kilkenny, great, a big test, if we don’t we’ll go out and give it 100% whoever we’re meeting. We have a bit of confidence now after these three wins.”