RISING TREATY STARLETS CIAN ON SENIOR WIN
CIAN LYNCH spoke in May about Limerick’s need to reap the harvest of the county’s recent underage success.
Lynch, 22, who scored Limerick’s first goal in Sunday’s epic All-ireland SHC semi-final win over Cork, was part of the Shannonsiders’ 2015 All-ireland title success at under-21 level.
Also included were
Pat Casey, Darragh O’donovan, Gearoid Hegarty, Diarmuid Byrnes, Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash, Sean Finn and Richie English, who all played their part last Sunday.
Now the senior boss, John Kiely was under-21 manager that day. Two years later, Limerick were celebrating another triumph at that age level. A few weeks back, against Kilkenny in the All-ireland quarter-final, Kiely had 14 players who faced the Cats in last September’s under-21 decider.
However, Lynch was quick to add a note of caution, referencing what happened almost 20 years earlier.
Limerick’s All-ireland three in a row at under-21 level in the early 2000s yielded only one senior All-ireland final appearance – the 2007 loss to Kilkenny.
“It’s not always as straight as that,” acknowledged
Lynch. “Back in the 2000’s, we’d good under-21s but never really pushed on to winning at senior level.
“The big aim is to try and win something but it doesn’t happen overnight, either.
“You’ve to keep that constant flow and belief that you are as good as other teams out there.
“We’ve 100 per cent belief in ourselves and the management team. That’s what it’s about – enjoying your hurling.”
Lynch and Limerick are clearly enjoying their hurling, and the rest of the country has revelled in their journey.
The final awaits, if not yet the indentity of their final opponents.
In keeping with a determination in the Limerick camp to keep a lid on things, Lynch is refusing to get carried away with their success.
“It’s only another game at the end of the day,” Lynch said.
“No need to blow something up that doesn’t need to be blown up out of proportion. “2007 was the last time Limerick were there but that’s a sideshow, that’s for people outside the camp to worry about.
“We’ll get back on the horse this week and drive things on, please God.”