The good feeling around Limerick is dangerous

THERE are times this week you have to remind yourself, as a Limerick man, that this is not an All-Ireland final tomorrow. It has that vibe to it, in a good and a bad way. It is good because we are a county that, for too long and too often, have been on the outside with our noses pressed against the window at the business end of the summer. It is bad because there is a danger that the giddiness penetrates the dressing room of a Limerick team which must realise it has a long way to go yet. I have great time for this Limerick team, but because of their age profile I am also slow to place my trust. I see them more as a coming team than a finished article, but the way they have ridden the learning curve has been impressive. However, the one time I really fancied them this summer was against Clare and we all know what happened then. The one constant that had nagged me is that there has been a huge overreaction from the public to every success. I was delighted to see them beat Kilkenny but, equally, I was shocked by how far off the pace Brian Cody’s team had fallen. It was encouraging, though, to see the maturity the Limerick players possessed in not being spooked by Kilkenny’s late goal. They showed character and they now have a game-changing bench — not least in Shane Dowling — but they face one hell of a task. Cork have mixed the magnificent with the mediocre, usually in the one match, this summer. One good half will not be enough to beat Limerick, which is why I predict we will enjoy that All-Ireland final feeling for real next month.