Ryan refuses to buy in to ‘swell of emotion’ after Limerick title

At Leo Enright’s funeral in November, Tom Ryan fell into conversation with Christy Heffernan.

“What a year for hurling,” the Kilkenny giant declared to the former Limerick manager, trying to add some colour to a sad day.

“What are you talking about?” returned Ryan. “Not one fucking hurl was broken.”

Of course, Ryan was delighted his native county did what they did. Though not for him or 1994 or ’96.

“I didn’t need any solace — I know myself why we lost those two All-Ireland finals and we didn’t play well enough. I have no regrets; you can’t cash them in any place. I didn’t laugh or cry last August, I enjoyed it. I was delighted for the lads.”

But he prefers to look at the “bigger picture” that is the game of hurling. He views the high scores now being put up with scepticism. He believes Limerick have set a fine example of how hurling should be played, but you won’t hear him preach how great 2018 was, no siree.

“There was a phoniness last season,” he says, “and that’s not anything against Limerick. They’re a fairly level-headed bunch and they’re a very young team so they’re easily managed in that regard. They’re a lovely bunch of lads who love their hurling too. Success was long overdue but it’s in the past now and there is a test yet to come.

There was a huge swell of emotion and that was to be expected, but I wouldn’t be one to buy into it. You have to take these things in your stride. It was great for Limerick and good for hurling and Limerick brought a freshness to the whole thing but they got the roll of the dice as well.

“People went overboard talking about it being a great season. There was more showbusiness to it than a sense of reality. We’re inclined to forget in Limerick that Clare had a very large win against us in Ennis. Tipperary were in a ball last year, Waterford didn’t know what they were doing but the team that disappointed me most was Galway. I was shocked they fielded three injured men in the final and still they were only beaten by a point.”

Ryan wonders if it’s healthy that the last two All-Ireland champions have come from Division 1B; if it’s right that Limerick could win an All-Ireland with just one Na Piarsaigh player starting in the final.

“They’re the best hurling club in Ireland — what does it say when most of them were on the bench? The way the season has hurt them. Nobody wants to talk about that in Limerick because Liam MacCarthy is here and that’s all that matters and that neutralises any argument.”

Ryan worries that the demise of football as a spectacle has inflated the perception of hurling.

“As if hurling is the saviour because of the way football has gone. It has to be remembered that this thing with football didn’t happen overnight — people have been giving out about the handpassing for years. We have to take care that hurling doesn’t go the same way because man- marking is non-existent. If we go along the same lines of keeping the puckout short and all this bollox, then hurling is not in this safe place they’re talking about. I’m not being a pessimist, I’m just being fearful.”

As Limerick head to Wexford tomorrow, he wants the hosts to change their ways.

“I hope to see a good game of orthodox hurling and I hope Davy (Fitzgerald) leaves the sweeping brushes back in Sixmilebridge and goes man to man against Limerick. I know it was the Super 11s but I was impressed with Limerick’s physical commitment in Boston. They took Wexford on head-on and if they stick to that, they’ll win again.

“Winning last year will be of immense value to Limerick. It brings confidence and the title won’t be taken off them too eas ly but they have given impetus to Wexford, Waterford, and especially Clare.”