HAMMY Dawson (47) has been attending Limerick hurling matches since he was in short pants. However, he says, having secured his golden ticket to this year’s All Ireland Final, Sunday’s clash at Croke Park with Cork will be the Shannonsider’s best performance yet.
Having witnessed “a lot of bad days” on the terraces down the years, Dawson says that, finally Limerick has a “dream team” of hurlers that can deliver back-to-back All Ireland titles.
As expected, Limerick City and County is awash in green and white flags, bunting, jerseys, teddy bears and painted cars, in support of the current hurling champions.
Soaking up the atmosphere ahead of Sunday’s All Ireland Final, Dawson has his mind made up: “Limerick will win.”
“I’m going up on Saturday, I have a ticket. I’ve seen all the bad days, oh I can remember going to games when there was 30 or 40 supporters, but this team are different, they attract a crowd, they’re magical.”
“Having followed them for years all over the country in bad times, just makes the current Limerick team’s success sweeter – this team has made up for all the disappointments we’ve had all down the years, following this team is like a dream come true.”
Despite Cork’s powerful performances to get to Croker on Sunday, Dawson is adamant Limerick will leave the Leesiders second best on Sunday, and that “Limerick You’re a Lady will be heard all over the place”.
Becoming emotional, he says: “It means everything to me to go to Croke Park for a final. In 2018, I didn’t leave the stadium until they ran me out of the grounds that night, I just wanted to sit down there and take it all in.”
“Just to be up there, and to feel victory was unreal, because I’d never experienced it before, despite supporting the team all these years. And the win last year – even though we couldn’t be there – gave us a huge lift, especially with the COVID situation.”
“Unfortunately, not everyone is going to have a ticket this year, but all I will say to the supporters that are in Croke Park and at home, is to BE HEARD!”
“Get behind the team and chant LIMERICK, LIMERICK, LIMERICK! We need to drown out the Cork supporters so we need to be loud, we need to be vocal., we need to be heard.”
