Ryan has no fears for Limerick

Limerick manager Brian Ryan does not think his side will be affected by the long lay-off since their Munster final replay win over Waterford on July 23.

Ahead of meeting Galway at Croke Park (1.30pm) tomorrow, he prefers to focus on the positives.

“You could look at it and say that we were better off drawing the Munster final the first day as if we’d won that we’d have to wait nine days longer!” he laughs.

“It’s a bit shorter this way but we’ve filled the gap with challenge matches and the lads have been back with their clubs, there were minor and senior championships games.”

The worry in such situations, though, is that players will suffer injuries while with their clubs and Limerick have been unfortunate in that regard.

“Stephen Cahill, who was full-back, is unfortunately gone off the panel completely now,” Ryan said, “and Jamie Butler, who played at midfield, is out as well.

“That’s the problem with playing club games and it’s the risk you take. It was the county board’s decision to play those games but we can’t complain. We know that they have to go ahead too.”

Limerick still won’t fear Galway tomorrow, though Ryan admits the Tribesmen are more of an unknown to them than vice-versa.

“We played them just before the Munster semi-final against Tipperary, the night that the Leaving Cert finished actually,” he said.

“Other than that, Galway have a had a better chance to look at us, Mattie Murphy or Cyril Farrell would have been at the games. We saw them against Laois alright but that’s all we have to go on. At the same time, we just have to worry about ourselves.”

One area where the Shannonsiders are sure to have an advantage is in terms of support. It is a boost, Ryan acknowledges.

“It’s going to be absolutely tremendous,” he said.

“If we had lost to Waterford and then beaten Antrim, we’d have been playing last week. This way it’s great to have the benefit of the 16th man.

“Hopefully it’ll be a big help in Croke Park, we don’t get there that often whereas it’s almost an annual event now for Galway. We’re a young team, but we got experience of a big day with the Munster final and hopefully that will stand to us.”