Limerick v. Cork Live on TV3 Sunday 4th July @ 2.00
SUNDAY the 5th of July. Remember that date, for it very well could go down in history as one of the greatest days in Limerick sport. The Limerick senior footballers take on Cork on Sunday in the Munster Football final.
It is 113 years since Limerick last won a Munster title. They are going for only their second crown ever. Standing in there way are the Rebels of Cork. A Rebel team who have already disposed of Kerry. If Limerick win this one, it will eclipse all that has gone on in GAA in this county since 1973. Mickey Ned O Sullivan’s men are 70 minutes from immortality.
Ahead of the final this week, I spoke to Limerick manager Mickey Ned about how the team was prepared for this weekend.
The Manager
“I am very fortunate in that I have one of the best back up teams in the country. Joe Reddington and Paddy Ives have over 30 years playing experience with Limerick, never mind their coaching. In Donie Buckley we have the best coach in the country and I have no doubt about that. They are all exceptionally good at their jobs and we are all just a big team. It is a bigger picture that makes up this side. We have brilliant players, great physios, great back room team. There are loads of components. It is the small things that make the big things happen. There is no one thing, but if everyone does their job we will be prepared”
With Cork in the final, Limerick face a team that they know well. Indeed last year in the semi final Limerick were ahead with two minutes to go and conceded two goals in that time to miss out. Will Limerick have learned?
Mickey Ned feels that they have, “We looked back at the game from last year and hopefully we can learn from that. Cork are the favourites for the All Ireland now and we just hope that they will have one eye on the All Ireland. Cork are an exceptoinal team. They anihalated Kerry and nobody gives us a chance and in fairness they shouldn’t. We are a Division four team and they are in Division one. They have featured in the last four or five u/21 football finals. We have not. That is a conveyor belt of talent that we just cannot compare to. That is the reality. However, it is 15 against 15 on the day and if we want it badly enough then you cannot be asking for more.”
The Kerry native has been involved in more Munster finals as a player and coach than Limerick as a county have been. With Cork as such favourites, is there any chance of an upset? “Limerick have a good record against Cork traditionally. They don’t fear Cork, but they respect them. This team has been evolving over four or five years. They are on the edge of greatness and they do not fear that either”
With wins over Tipperary and Clare in the opening rounds Limerick showed a depth of squad that will be a huge boost on Sunday. Take for example the reintroduction of Stephen Kelly, at full forward, a man who has been missing sincing breaking his arm in the All Ireland League Rugby final with Shannon.
“We set down at the beginning of the year and set this game as our target. We wanted to be in the final. We have players who were playing rugby, playing soccer and playing basketball as well as those who were playing with their colleges and hurling. We have them all back now and the league is past tense. The game this weekend is the big one and that is all that matters. Competition for places has been a great bonus for us. You are only as strong as your weakiest link and that is something they we have strengthened this year by far” added O’Sullivan.
So with players such as Lavin, Galvin, Kelly and O’Riordan playing their third Munster final, something that most hurlers in this “hurling” county cannot boast of, does the Kerryman feel a little annoyed that his charges are not given the respect they deserve within their own county borders?
“We have to earn respect. We have to earn it by performances on the big stage. We have not done that yet and until we do we have to take a back seat in terms of recognition. However, that can all change on Sunday”
If it does all change on Sunday and Limerick manage to bring back the cup over the border, where on the list of career achievements will this one stand for Mickey Ned and his players?
“It would be the pinnacle. It has not been achieved in this century, it was not achieved in the last century and when it was achieved 113 years ago it was achieved by a club team. So, these lads have the chance to do something that has never been achieved. For the players to do something that has never been achieved is a rarity in sport”
The Game
On to the game itself then and Limerick will be looking to make a mark on this one early. All good things that Limerick have done in recent championships has come from the axis of players around midfield. John Galvin and Jim O’ Donovan need to get on the ball and release the overlapping Stephen Lucey and Stephen Lavin. In the Clare game this worked a treat with Lavin chipping in for a goal, while Lucey also added a point.
The full back line this season has been a revelation. Johnny Mc Carthy is without argument one of the best full backs in the country. So good in fact that when he comes out of position to man mark a danger man he is as comfortable roaming the green grass as he is at the edge of the parallelogram.
The half forward line this season has been workman like to a fault. Padraig Browne provides real guile as well as a great football brain. The converted wing back also covers this half back line should the counter attack be on. In the centre forwards position, Munster rugby’s loss is Limerick footballs gain. In the multi-tasking role that I have here, I have had the privilege to see Cormac Joyce Power play both rugby and football. The Ahane club man is a huge man for his young age and coupled with that he has two feet with cannons in both. Cormac really epitomises this team. He is from a hurling club, played rugby, yet can turn it on when needed in the green of Limerick. CJP and Padraig Browne are joined in the half forward line by captain Seanie Buckley. Seanie is a real worker. Some of the work done by Seanie is not seen by most but there is a reason this man is thought so highly of in the squad. Defending from the front in football is as important as scores sometimes and Seanie is the best at that.
The full forward line for Sunday sees Stephen Kelly return. I would be surprised if Kelly even starts at 14, more than likely he will come out on the field for one or two of his trademark runs. This season has been a frustrating one for Stephen, but if Cork can be gotten at by anyone it will be the flying man from Newcastlewest.
Top of the left and top of the right are two of the real stars of this team for me. Ger Collins and Ian Ryan will be around for years to come. Ger, the Milford man would turn on a six pence and like Joyce Power, has two great feet. Ian Ryan is the free taker and his unusual style never seems to leave us down. Both will be hugely influential on Sunday.
The winning and the losing of this game will be in the midfield area. Talking to the players this week there seems to be a real focus on this one. Cork are not the team that people nationwide think they are. They are only 15 men like we are. When it comes down to it, it is all about want. After 113 years of waiting and numerous defeats in finals in recent times, the time has come for a Limerick win.
