Limerick dedication amazes Cregan

Eamonn Cregan has been around the block a few times, seen many changes in hurling since he first began pucking a ball in his beloved Limerick over 60 years ago.

He was a member of the first ever All Star team (1971) and was a key player when Limerick won its last All-Ireland SHC title in 1973, shifted from the attack to the pivotal centre-back position where he played a starring role.

He managed Offaly to that never to be forgotten All-Ireland win in 1994 – against Limerick and this year, Cregan is a selector with Limerick’s Munster championship-winning minor team, along with Brian Ryan, Paul Finn, Aonghus O’Brien and Jerry Wallace.

As Limerick prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final with Galway on Sunday, Cregan has been blown away by the commitment and work involved amongst the teenagers.

“Oh God, I’m getting too old for this! It’s a serious commitment, the amount of training, the number of matches — it’s unbelievable. We didn’t do as much work in 1973 when we won the All-Ireland and we were the best-trained team in Ireland that year, under my brother Mickey, an Army man. We have a former Army man now training this team, Brian Ryan, and maybe that’s an omen!”

There are many who are surprised at the success (so far) of this team, figuring that because they have so many ultra-talented 17-year-olds in their midst, next year would be their year. Cork and Waterford were supposed to be the two big guns in Munster and when the latter took down the Rebels, they then became instant All-Ireland favourites. In a Munster final replay however, Limerick forced them through the back-door (they have now qualified for the All-Ireland final).

Cregan revealed: “I was kind of down after the drawn Munster final, for a very simple reason — only about four of our players played to their potential. Cian Lynch kept plugging away and kept putting the ball over the bar, Ronan Lynch kept potting the frees, and that kept us within touching distance. A goal then and suddenly we were back in it — Ronan even had a chance to win it but he was hooked and the ball went wide. For the replay we upped our game considerably. But we’re on a journey and God knows where it’s going to end.

“It could end Sunday against Galway,” he continues, “and no better man than Mattie Murphy to prepare a team. Minors are up and down like yo-yos. One day they’ll play well, the next day they won’t. You’ve got to be able to handle all that, get the balance right, keep their heads in the right place. I’m hopeful against Galway. It’s an advantage having the senior team playing also — hopefully it will take a lot of the pressure off us.”