Ryan’s sweet dreams after the sleepless nights

He doesn’t mind admitting it now but there were several sleepless nights for Limerick senior hurling manager TJ Ryan last week, nights in which he tossed and turned, wondering if he had done everything right in the run-up to Sunday’s Munster championship semi-final against Tipperary in Semple Stadium.

We all now know the answer, a superb win for Limerick, outstanding display by the players, outstanding job done also by TJ and his management team.

Joy unconfined then in the Ryan household in Garryspillane? No, not completely. Joy yes, but tinged by the bitterness that still lingers in pockets in the county, legacy of the many disputes of the past few years.

“From my own point of view, when you win everything you did is right, when you lose you’re just a plonker so I’m going to enjoy this for a few days anyway.

“Going back to the Justin McCarthy era and that controversy, I publicly supported the players and said Justin should resign, which didn’t go down well with some people. One individual in particular has had a few ‘gos’ at me since then, a very negative column every week in the Leader. I don’t let it get to me but it can be an influence out there and it’s something we could do without really.”

Influence or not, it certainly didn’t seem to get to the Limerick supporters who turned up in Thurles in their thousands on Sunday, out-shouted the home support and was surely a factor in bringing Limerick home in what was a down-to-the-wire contest.

“It was incredible, in fairness to them. To me it felt like there were more Limerick fans than Tipperary and this was in Thurles, which is a fair reflection of their loyalty. Afterwards on the pitch it was mighty.

“We’d have been seen as lacking experience (TJ only took control a few weeks ago, after co-manager Donal O’Grady had resigned) but the likes of Mark (Lyons, trainer), Davy (Clarke, selector) and Paul (Beary, coach), they’re really good guys. Paul has won championships with Na Piarsaigh at county and Munster level; he’s not known at national level so doesn’t get the recognition he deserves but we know how good he is.

“The players too though — they deserve more credit from everyone than they get. Their ability is overlooked a lot, and not just in the media, but there’s great character in that team and they showed that again yesterday.”

Reluctant though he was to single out individuals from those players, even TJ couldn’t but be impressed by the performance of one of his own, Garryspillane clubmate James Ryan, man-of-the-match in a game that had several outstanding performers from both sides.

“Jim Bob (his nickname) was outstanding, wasn’t he? He’s probably more suited to midfield than up front – he’s not a natural forward, was doing a job up there but midfield is his position, he gets on a lot of ball.”

A couple of words also for another three of Sunday’s heroes, defenders Richie McCarthy and Seamus Hickey, marksman Shane Dowling – in his third season but still U21, lest people forget!

“Shane is a deadly free-taker, you just have to play him. A lot of the frees he took yesterday weren’t easy but he scored them all. T

As for Richie, handed the task of subduing probably the player of the league, Seamus Callanan?

“Richie is a fantastic big-game player, rose to the occasion again, leads from the back. He reads the game exceptionally well, very clever, that’s why he’s an All-Star full-back.”

And Seamus? “Most people have no idea of the effort Seamus has made in the last nine months, since the All-Ireland semi-final, what he has done to get back to be able to play inter-county hurling.”

“I’m fine, running on adrenaline since yesterday afternoon, awake early this morning. The sideline can be a lonely spot and well I know it. We thought 12 months ago we had a good U21 team (he was manager), had prepared well but got a poor start – game over.