TO WATCH TREATY v DUBS IN 2007

couple of the older players left with him and

Mickey Ned had to start blooding new younger players that time,” Galvin explained.

“I suppose we had done well to get to Division One but we just… we probably weren’t ready for it at the time. Even though we had a lot of close games that year, we weren’t ready for it.” And yet, with the way the table wound up, had they beaten Dublin they would

have done enough to earn a spot in the revamped Division Two the following year, while Caffrey’s Dubs would have been landed in Division Three.

“One thing I do remember is Pa Ranahan, who

played for a long time afterwards,” Galvin recalled. “He got through on goal at one stage there and Cluxton saved it and the only thing I do remember about the game that if Pa Ranahan had stuck that goal we probably would have won it.”

As it was, Tomas Quinn kicked a 45 in injury time to give Dublin a one-point win.

Limerick matured under O’sullivan’s guidance and, again, came so close to that elusive Munster title in 2009 and ‘10, losing finals narrowly to Cork and Kerry respectively, but a power shift in Gaelic football was kicking in at that stage and Galvin largely puts it down to the GAA scrapping the League structure that pertained up until 2007.

“The biggest blow to the League ever,” he admitted.

Last weekend, Limerick could only manage 0-4 against Ulster champions Derry and they will do very well to stay in Division Two this year.

Dublin, while unconvincing against Kildare last Saturday, are hotly fancied to make a swift return to the top flight.

“There’s no doubt the Limerick team will be under a lot of pressure,” said Galvin.

“But you have to take every opportunity when it comes and it’s not very often any Limerick team is going to get to play Dublin so all they do is go and give it their best.”