HE WHO DIARS WINS.. FIVE LIAM MACCARTHYS IN A ROW THAT IS
BY KARL O’KANE
LIMERICK star Diarmaid Byrnes is “not afraid at all” of the magnitude of the drive for five.
The Treaty star says a first ever All-ireland five-in-a-row is “the elephant in the room” outside their camp.
But he maintains that within John Kiely’s (inset) squad “no one is climbing the walls” over the prospect of hurling immortality.
“We haven’t really addressed it much,” said the 2022 Hurler of the Year. “Obviously it’s there but I think we’re well experienced now with the backroom team, management and players to take it week on week. It doesn’t be long flying by. It’s important to enjoy the year ahead. Enjoy the challenge. Enjoy being with each other.
“There’s no extra meetings going on. There’s no one climbing walls. It’s just take it week on week because you just don’t know what might happen next week, who might pull up in training.”
Four time All-ireland winner and All Star Byrnes continued: “I’m personally not dwelling on it.
“The magnitude of it? It is out there. It’s the elephant in the room and it’s going to be a discussion point for family, friends, media. This is not me avoiding the question – I’m not afraid of it at all – it is what it is.
“You dwell on it too much, you forget to enjoy it and then you’re taking a giant step into August when we’re really only facing into the first of February.
“So why not take week on week, session on session and just enjoy it?
“Training is hard at the moment but very enjoyable, as you know John brought in a good few new lads and they are adding some great enjoyment to the dressing room and challenging us in training.”