'Best team ever' Limerick will be back, insists Cork's Wayne Sherlock

The Blackrock man says he looks forward to John Kiely's side regrouping next term.

Wed, 10 Jul, 2024 - 10:49

John Fogarty

Cork selector Wayne Sherlock fully expects Limerick to be contending for a sixth All-Ireland title in eight seasons in 2025.

Sherlock, who hails Limerick as the greatest hurling team he has seen, rejects the idea that Cork’s All-Ireland semi-final win over John Kiely’s side marked the end of an era.

"No way. The age profile of that team is still good so they'll be back. I fully expect them to be back and I look forward to it too. Everyone wants the best teams involved. It's better for Cork, it's better for Clare and it's better for everyone else if this Limerick team keeps going. And they will too.

“To me, they're the best team that has ever, ever played the game of hurling. There's no need to sugarcoat that either. They've been absolutely incredible in how they've raised standards.

“Even getting out of Munster is hard, which we know all too well because we weren't able to do it last year and there's no guaranteeing that we'll do it next year. Munster is a minefield, so for any team to win it six years in a row is just unbelievable. And to go on and go so close to winning five All-Irelands in a row is just a sign of how good they are.

“Even on Sunday, you'd have to admire the way they kept going when we were ahead for a lot of the game. There's plenty for our players to learn from this Limerick team because of the standards they set. Those standards kept going up and up too. For us to progress, we need to copy what Limerick did because they got better and better every time they went out in Croke Park. That would be our aim."

As an assistant to Pat Ryan, three-time All-Ireland SHC winner Sherlock’s first thought upon knocking Limerick out and qualifying to face Clare in the final was the players who didn’t get game-time. He was in a similar situation in 2005 when he wasn’t brought on in the final win over Galway.

“I suppose when you're a player, all you're focused on is trying to get yourself right so that you won't let any of your team-mates down on the pitch. As a selector, you have 38 players to worry about and you're looking at whether they're fit or if they're in good form. You're trying to keep everyone happy.

“When the whistle went on Sunday, you're looking around and looking out for fellas who weren't even togged out. They're part of it too. But to see the smiles on the players' faces was absolutely brilliant. Very special."