Progressive Limerick no longer soft touch for rivals, warns McCarthy
John Allen’s men overcame Tipperary and Cork en route to a first Munster title in 17 years and aside from their tame All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Clare, McCarthy believes it was a season of definitive progress.
“Teams think we are an easy touch, there is no getting away from that,” said McCarthy.
“Hopefully they don’t think we are an easy touch any more. I am sure Tipperary are delighted they got us in the first round of the Munster championship after what happened this year. We are going into the lion’s den and you have to love that. The one thing we felt that came out of this year is that we showed other counties we are not an easy touch. Teams recognise that. We train as hard as any other inter-county team and that was reflected in our performances.”
The All Star corner-back, Limerick’s first since 2007, was shocked to see John Allen walk away after two years in the post, but expressed greater surprise at the return of former manager Dónal O’Grady. The first target of the new management will be promotion to the league’s top tier, but McCarthy stressed Division 2 isn’t as disastrous as it is made out to be, adding that the familiarity of O’Grady and TJ Ryan will benefit the panel heading into 2014.
“It was a surprise to see John go, we thought he would stay on. He let us know straight away that he wasn’t going to stay on for another year.
“He told our captain Donal O’Grady a few weeks after the Clare game and then Donal relayed the news to the rest of the panel. He is a man that sticks to his word so we knew then that he wasn’t going to stay on. I am surprised Dónal is back, but he is a great appointment.
“He is a fierce professional fella, he will have everything down to a tee. We just have to build on what we did this year and John Allen has great foundations set for next year.
“TJ Ryan was a selector under Donal O’Grady and he worked with my own club Kilfinane a few years ago. We need someone who knows us fierce well because at the start John Allen didn’t know us and was depending on selectors. These two men know us, they know our strengths, our weaknesses and the players around them who they can bring in to freshen matters up.
“The league was disappointing this year, but Division 2 isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Dublin were in it and they, like ourselves, nearly got to an All-Ireland final. Promotion is the goal, it has to be the goal. We just have to concentrate on the Cork match in the opening round of the league. It is going to be a struggle straight away.”
With the monkey of the Munster title now off their back, ambitions will be on a grander scale next summer.
“Looking back on the year you have to deem it a success. Playing hurling is all about winning titles, championship titles in particular. At least we now have that notch on the belt and it is a monkey off the back in some respects.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
