Limerick need to develop winning attitude, says O’Shaughnessy

Limerick hurling suffers greatly from a crisis in confidence, according to former player, Andrew O’Shaughnessy.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner as part of The Big Interview tomorrow, the Kilmallock man fears they missed a golden opportunity to win an All-Ireland title last year when they defied their stereotype at least in the Munster SHC.

“We like to play ourselves down for matches and fair enough, if we work hard, give it to them nice, tough and physical, we’ll be close enough to teams. We never say ‘Jesus, we’ll go out and actually outhurl them’. We have to have that inner belief and confidence,” he said.

“Any match I go out, I expect to win. That’s not arrogance, it’s confidence and as a team and as a county, we lacked that at certain times. Last year was a prime example when we had it. That’s exactly what we want to be. You have to go out that way all the time. You’re not going to win every game but at least you have the attitude to win them. Invariably, success will follow that. The only unfortunate thing is it was so open last year, the All-Ireland was there for him.”

O’Shaughnessy, who retired in 2011, aged 26, worked under Donal O’Grady for a brief spell. Although he believes the responsibility for O’Grady’s exit lay “60-40” with the county board, he questions why the Corkman returned.

“I couldn’t see the reason why he came back in the first place. He’s a fantastic coach, no doubting, his credentials state that but he had his time. He said he would stay for a year and I respect his honesty in saying that. Then coming back after Munster he was on a hiding to nothing, I think.”

O’Shaughnessy looks back with regret at how some of his team-mates, especially Stephen Lucey, were singled out for criticism in the 2010 strike.

“We’re actually the only county to get a strike wrong,” he said.

“At the time, he was playing hurling and football with UCD, hurling and football with Limerick U21s, hurling and football with Limerick seniors, club hurling and football with his club.

“Saying he was lacking commitment was wrong. He’s quite outspoken and loud in a funny way. People were saying he was trying to cause trouble but he wasn’t. He wants to do everything right and you can’t question a fella who is trying to do everything right.”

O’Shaughnessy was appalled to learn of hate mail sent to his friend and current captain Donal O’Grady after last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Clare.

“You don’t know these players... getting that in the mail is ridiculous and uncalled for.”