Down from the heights of Machu Picchu, Morrissey eager to hit the ground running back in Limerick
RERESHED: Limerick hurler Tom Morrissey. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
It was around the world in 90 days for Tom Morrissey and his girlfriend Elaine. Well, seven of South America’s 12 countries to be precise.
The pair only returned home last Friday after taking in the sights and sounds of the Latin continent, from the heights of Machu Picchu to the beaches of CopaCabana and Ipanema.
"We've always marked that we wanted to go travelling at some point. The opportunity came and we said we would go for it. Mentally feel great, feel refreshed and hungry to go again for this season. Three months without thinking about hurling too much, preparing for hurling or holding a hurley, really.
“While it is nice to disconnect it does build up a small bit of hunger that you can't wait to get back. There was definitely a part of me that was eager to get back into training. But there was another part of me that would have stayed on travelling and enjoying that side of life for a while. But happy to be back.”
With John Kiely’s full blessing, Morrissey left on November 3.
“Even though matches aren't going ahead with Limerick, if you're still going to functions or going around with the cup, you still feel like you're in the Limerick set-up.
“John and the lads have been very good to ensure that they get those done in a timely manner and that lads get an adequate break to enjoy their lives, I suppose, away from the Limerick set-up and make sure that we are fresh when we do come back.”
No sooner had Morrissey touched down from their last stop in Brazil that he was back in training. But he had been putting in the work these last five weeks. “Obviously, it is three months’ travel but I was conscious that I was coming back into a competitive environment, senior inter-county hurling. I wanted to make sure I was some way ready for that.
“As soon as Christmas hit, the new year, I started finding gyms over there and running the streets to make sure that I am in some bit of proper condition when I get home.
“I'm sure I'm still not where I want to be and there is work to be done and then the hurling side there is definitely a bit of brushing up to be done but at the same time I'm confident a week’s practice and training with the lads, I'll be up to speed in no time.”
Although brother Dan should be involved, facing his father Donal’s home county of Tipperary is unlikely to be on Morrissey’s agenda this Sunday. The trip to Kilkenny on February 23 seems a more reasonable consideration.
The distance never mind time Morrissey has put between himself and last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork has helped. "I haven't actually watched the tape of it, no. Obviously, I'd be lying if I didn't say it has crossed my mind. Like, you think about it. It obviously hurt a lot in the immediate aftermath.”
The 28-year-old suggests Limerick’s year wasn’t defined by one game. Bowing out to Kilkenny in 2019, he points out they had lost twice in Munster previously that season and being beaten by Cork twice last year he proffers “you just can’t have any complaints, really.”
Morrissey expands: “It's not just on the day where you lose a game. It's the culmination of the year where performances might have been inconsistent or not good enough and that comes to what you're doing in training. Clearly, we maybe weren't good enough all through the year last year if you're not going to be the best at the end of the year."
As the Central Competitions Control Committee weigh up a possible retrospective ban for Seamus Flanagan following an incident with Cork defender Niall O’Leary on Saturday, Morrissey says he has not seen any of the flashpoints from the game.
“I didn’t see any of the incidents, to be honest. Yeah, I know there was a lot of niggly stuff going on around the field. It happens a lot in inter-county games. Some get picked up, some don’t. Whatever happens, happens as a result.” He continued: “The best thing to do is not to get yourself in those situations.”
As for the new league format, Morrissey sees pluses and negatives.
“Personally, I’ve two views on it. I think it has increased the competitiveness of it, two-up, two-down, reducing Division 1 to seven teams. From that aspect, it’s very good but from the aspect of actually developing hurling in the weaker counties, I don’t know. Is it good for them?”
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