Limerick hurlers delighted to have 'mother figure' Caroline Currid back

"If we have a problem, we can go to her," Cathal O'Neill said about Currid. "She's just that calming voice and you can be sure that she's going to make it somewhat better or go away completely."

Limerick hurler Cathal O'Neill described sports psychologist Caroline Currid as a "huge player favourite". Pic: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Limerick hurler Cathal O’Neill has described returning sports psychologist Caroline Currid as a “mother figure” and “huge player favourite” within the Treaty set-up.

Not part of the Limerick operation over the past two years, O’Neill said Currid rejoining John Kiely’s backroom team, as revealed by the Irish Examiner last month, was welcomed by the entire panel.

Involved for the 2018 All-Ireland breakthrough and again for the four-in-a-row at the beginning of this decade, Currid was absent the three times Limerick were unsuccessful in their Liam MacCarthy bids, in 2019, ‘24 and ‘25.

“We've nearly all worked with Caroline, so we know what she brings. Obviously, she's a huge player favourite and we were all in favour of her coming back. She kind of brings that bit of calmness to the group, so we're just delighted to have her back and delighted to be working with her for the coming year,” said O’Neill.

“She kind of is that mother figure for us, that we're able to bounce ideas off her. If we have a problem, we can go to her. She's just that calming voice and you can be sure that she's going to make it somewhat better or go away completely. We're just really happy to have her back.” 

Asked if that calming voice would have been particularly beneficial during the two-week gap between their Munster final penalty shootout defeat to Cork and shock All-Ireland quarter-final exit at the hands of Dublin, O’Neill replied that “it's hard to know”.

O’Neill paid tribute to the departing Declan Hannon, someone he “looked up to” in primary school and was delighted to share a dressing-room with in recent years.

It was O’Neill who held Hannon’s old No.6 shirt during last weekend’s challenge against Tipp in aid of the Dillon Quirke foundation.

O’Neill, who briefly held the centre-back role for two games during the 2024 National League, revealed that he has been playing there in training since Limerick regrouped for the 2026 season.

“I've been playing there in training, so I suppose it's something just to look at. At this time of year, it's just to try things and see if they work and maybe if different combinations work, so I'm not sure. I'm just delighted to get on the pitch more than anything at this time of year.”