Allen: Treaty still labelled with tag of soft touches

The perception of Limerick hurlers as soft touches remains despite the great strides made last summer, former manager John Allen believes.

Allen confessed he never feared the Treaty men during his playing days and said the current crop are still labelled with the tag of soft touches.

The former Cork hurler assumed the Treaty reins for the 2012 campaign and alluded to the lack of belief which was noticeably evident. A seismic shift in mindset materialised over the ensuing two years, he insisted; public perception, however, hasn’t changed one iota.

So, Allen is baffled why Limerick are third favourites for the 2014 Munster championship.

“If you’re not successful you tend to get written off, especially if it goes on for a while,” Allen noted.

“As a Corkman and I would have said this to the players, I never feared playing against Limerick because there was always a perception you would beat Limerick.

“I think I heard one of the Limerick players saying after they beat Cork in the Munster final last summer that it was the first time they had beaten Cork in their playing careers. So there is a danger there if you haven’t been successful... I remember listening to Radio 1 last May when they were doing their preview of the hurling championship build-up, Limerick wasn’t mentioned. That’s where it was at. Now they will be mentioned this year.

“In saying that, they are third favourites to win Munster in 2014 having won it in 2013. Among the hurlers the mind-set has definitely changed. The fact that you did beat Clare the year before last, you should have won the league last spring. They now know they are capable of beating what is out there.”

Limerick open their Division 1B league campaign away to Cork this Saturday, but casting an eye further down the line Allen is confident TJ Ryan’s men can bring an end to the county’s 41-year All-Ireland title famine. Central to this belief was the corner turned last year in opening the eyes of the players as to what it takes to dine consistently at the top table.

“There is no doubt last year everybody really rode into what we were doing. They are all very aware now what it takes to win, of the sacrifices it takes to get to the standard where you need to be at, physically, mentally and skills-wise. They did buy into that last year. They were absolutely extremely fit. They were very dedicated in what they were doing, they made all the sacrifices.

“I think it is there (the talent to win an All-Ireland). You had a minor team last year and you would be hopeful one or two would make the breakthrough in the next year or two. You’ve Na Piarsaigh winning Munster. I don’t see any reason why Limerick aren’t as good as....we beat Clare the year before last in the championship. They beat Tipperary, beat Cork. There is no reason at all why they can’t make the breakthrough.”

As to the old order striking back, Kilkenny in particular? Allen warns Kilkenny haven’t disappeared after just one mediocre summer and with Shefflin and Cody still on board, the threat posed by the Cats remains ever-strong.

“We will all be interested in Kilkenny this year. When you look at the statistics, the GAA was founded in 1884 and Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny have shared 90 titles. So that domination has been there.

Will it remain? Hard to say. I have no doubt Clare have gone the right route. Their underage record in recent years has been exemplary. Galway are due an All-Ireland. Galway have the players, Galway have the underage structure. They’ve been successful at underage, Galway have to be in the reckoning.”

And finally to Allen himself. Have we seen the last of the Aghabullogue native patrolling the inter-county sideline? “I can’t see myself returning. One should never say never about anything. I said the same after Cork that I would never ever do it again.

“It just fell that I retired and then I was asked to go with Limerick, it just fell that way.”