Liam Kearns hopes for a change of fortunes in Killarney

Old wounds die hard and Liam Kearns is testament to that adage. The prospect of a return to Fitzgerald Stadium on Munster final day brings memories of the 2004 final flooding back for the former Limerick manager.

“In the first Munster final (2003), they were too good for us. We learnt from that and came back and got to play them in the next two or three. We knew we could compete. You have got to start competing with them first, and we came up short a few times bridging the gap from four or five points down to a point or two and we drew with them, then led them seven points in Killarney in the replay.

“The Gooch tripped over his own laces that day and got a penalty. We got no breaks and went in a point up after playing all the football in the first-half and lost the game by four points in the end.”