Eamonn Cregan still can't watch as beloved Limerick enter 'the lion's den'

The Treaty legend on a famous day down by the Lee. 

LEGEND: Limerick manager Eamonn Cregan during the Munster SHC quarter-final against Cork. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

“Where did that ferocious determination out there today come from?” asked Jim Carney of RTÉ.

It's 2001 and Limerick have just beaten Cork, who are out. A Munster SHC quarter-final, no second chances at this hurdle.

So how did Limerick motivate themselves to dethrone a formidable Rebel outfit?

“The media! Every single one of them wrote us off”, blasted Eamonn Cregan, Limerick’s manager, hellbent on changing the fortunes of his native county.

He lets rip. Cregan is an icon in Limerick hurling. 

Those who never saw him live, this writer included, have to be aware of his contribution to GAA, hurling in particular.

Limerick, without a win in the province since 1997, pulled off the massive shock and went on to defeat Waterford to reach the Munster final. However, the county would have to wait until 2007 to win another game in Munster. That Páirc Uí Chaoimh success came totally against the grain.

Cregan added that the 'Cork Examiner' had claimed four of his players would “be afraid to go into a darkened room". It was actually an unnamed former Limerick hurler quoted in the Irish Independent but what difference? "There is the answer today. They were the ones insulted and they’ve proven they have what it takes to win.”

Two-and-a-half decades on, Cregan won’t be drawn on that sideline interview, instead reflecting on the approach to the game.

“The lead up to that was the previous year. We were with Cork until late on but we faded out of the game. We lost by nine points.” 

So he rolled the dice in the build-up to the season opener. He enlisted support from two men who’d been enjoying success in rugby — Mick Galwey and Niall O’Donovan of Shannon and Munster.

Former Limerick hurling manager Eamonn Cregan.

“Coming into 2001, it was myself and Derry O’Donovan (coach) who decided we needed something. We got Mick and Niall from Munster Rugby. They were well known, and they came in and gave us a talk. One thing Galwey said that checked in my mind was ‘accept that the opposition are going to score on you’. 

"When Cork went ahead, I said to myself, ‘Were they listening at training?’ His side were huge underdogs but led from the off against the defending Munster champions. However, four unanswered points put the Rebels ahead entering the final 10 minutes in front of more than 40,000.

“Paul O’Grady had a free. I shouted to him to aim for the ‘S’ of the Daily Star sign above the terrace. He split the posts perfectly to level the game, before Barry Foley cut over the winner. You don’t see those too often these days!” 

Why the media? “I had to hit out at somebody!” 

Cregan believes that it was all part of motivation for his team. He felt his team were firmly dismissed in the build-up and that was fuel for his side.

Motivation could come from different angles this Sunday for Limerick. A viral clip of Cork celebrating their 2025 Munster final win in a pub is cited. Some took offence, others laughed it off, but the three-time All-Star wasn’t pleased to see it.

“That incident with Cork last year was below the belt. That was a bit low for me. My father had a very simple saying; ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’.”

Limerick have beaten Cork just once on Leeside in the Championship since that ambush 25 years ago. John Kiely has overseen wins over Cork in four venues but only once in Páirc Uí Chaoimh – in 2022.

Despite all their success since 2018, the former Offaly manager is under no illusions about the test that awaits his native county on Sunday.

“Limerick are going into the lion’s den. There is very little between these two sides. It took penalties last year and now if Cork were fully intent on winning the League is another question. I am apprehensive, because it is a first game for Limerick. Some of the younger lads will be playing and the senior lads are going to encourage them and look after them. There is enough experience in the side to do that.

“This team have done so much in the past, but that is forgotten. This is going to be a tough, tough match for Limerick. 

“It’ll take Limerick time to settle and that first 20 minutes is the danger period for Limerick. They’ve got to get up to the speed of the game. That game for Cork last week will be a great help to them in that regard, I’d expect them to be a lot sharper from the start of the game. 

"But I am sure Paul (Kinnerk) and John have looked at that side of it and they’ve prepared accordingly – those first 20 minutes will count for a lot.” 

'Freshness'

Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill, Adam English and Shane O’Brien are expected to start, particularly given their early-season form.

“They’re bringing a freshness to a side that has basically been the same players all along. They’ve got to get to the rhythm of it, of how Paul wants them to play. 

"Hurling is a simple game. When you are without the ball, 15 men defend, when you are with the ball you attack. To me, some of the players who have been in and out of the team haven’t been playing well. So, it is up to them to raise their game, and to do it from the very start. If they don’t do it from the start, that is where Limerick could be in a bit of bother.

“Aaron (Gillane) had a superb League final. Aaron is so dangerous, we had him in Mary I. He always looked dangerous in those days, and he has confounded a lot of people even within Limerick with his ability to go where he has gone today.” 

It is well known that Cregan can’t sit and watch the county for whom he lined out between 1965 and 1983. Instead, he potters about at home awaiting second-hand information via his family.

“I know by the silence, I know by the shouts, one or the other. If they’re silent we haven’t won and if they’re shouting, we’ve won. 

"If we win, I’ll watch it back, it we lose, I won’t. I hated losing, you know? Hated, hated losing. But sure, everybody is the same.”

The 80-year-old laughs. He will continue his own routine this Sunday, nervously awaiting the result before he and Limerick quickly move onto another old rival, Clare in their second bout.