It took a grasp on

KILKENNY DEFEAT A TOUGH ONE TO SWALLOW ADMITS HANNON

LAST year’s All- Ireland semi- final defeat to Kilkenny took the best part of a year to get over, Limerick captain Declan Hannon admits.

Defending champions at the time, Limerick were strongly fancied to reach another final but were swamped in the opening quarter, falling nine points behind.

Though they worked their way back into the game, they ultimately suffered a one- point loss.

Hannon had to retire with an injury at half- time and the result rankled for some time after wards as Limerick squandered the chance of their first two- in- a- row.

“It definitely carried into this year anyway, it was very tough to take,” he said. “Typical Kilkenny, they just came out and absolutely bossed us in the first 20 minutes of that game last year. That was the winning and losing of it really.

“It’s hard to get over any semi- final loss, any big game like that is tough to get over. I suppose the only way to do it is to get back into the Championship fold and put it behind you by trying to put in more good performances in Championship games.”

The conclusion of the game was mired i n controversy as Limerick clearly should have been awarded a 65, from which they would likely have forced extra- time.

A wide was signalled instead despite Cillian Buckley def l ecting Darragh O’donovan’s sideline ball over the endline.

However, that decision didn’t have an huge influence on Hannon’s mood.

He said: “It was more the first 20, 25 minutes of the game that we were massively, massively disappointed with. That sideline at the end, that happens in games – mistakes are made from of f i cial s, mistakes are made from players.”

It wasn’t Hannon’s first All- Ireland semi- final disappointment having lost out at that stage of the Championship in 2013 and 2014.

He has spoken previously about how the defeat to Clare seven years a g o w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y dif ficult after his wayward shooting contributed to the outcome.

L i m e r i c k , l i k e

Hannon, are a far more consistent outfit now as they bid for two titles in three seasons for the first time since 1936.

He added: “It was always a dream to get to where we are at the minute. Thankfully in

2018 it became a reality and then it was, ‘ We’ve done it once, why can’t you go and do i t again?’.

“In 2019 we got close enough but just didn’t get there.

“But that showed we were up there with the best and coming into 2020 we wanted to push on again and try to get back to the All- Ireland final.

“I t hi nk we have t aken g re at confidence that we are up there with the best of the teams.”

Now 28, Hannon brings his knowledge to bear to ensure that their younger players don’t enter a slump after an experience like his in 2013.

He said: “I always try to tell the boys that if there’s a bad game, ‘ Don’t take any notice of it, move on’ because the worst thing is to go into your shell. I am there if they want anything.”