It’s about time they kicked on.
Limerick have won two of the last three Munster and All-Ireland under-21 hurling Championships. The Treaty county’s minor hurlers have been competitive in recent times too, contesting three of the last four Munster minor finals.
Yet, at senior level, success and even Championship wins have been few and far between. Since 2015, the county’s senior team have only won two games – against Clare in the provincial first round in 2015 and against Westmeath in the first round of the qualifiers in 2016.
Last year they played two games and suffered two losses. Indeed, since that narrow 2014 All-Ireland semi-final loss to Kilkenny in the driving rain in Croke Park, the Limerick seniors haven’t recovered.
Only four of the starting team from that day are still involved.
The Limerick hurlers have been in the re-building, transition phase since then – that’s being kind to them – but in 2018 there can’t be excuses. 2018 has to be a big year for them because the last few years have not been good enough. Not for a hurling county of the Shannonsider’s stature.
And there’s no reason why they won’t kick on. There’s no reason why members of last year’s All-Ireland under-21 winning team won’t rip it up in winter training and in the early rounds of the league. There’s every reason to believe they will be guaranteed starters come the Championship and this will be a new-look Limerick team.
Aaron Gillane stands out the most as the man to make the difference. Aaron Gillane is that natural forward that they’ve been crying out for.
Well deserved! Limerick’s Aaron Gillane was named as the 2017 Bord Gáis Energy Player of the Year at the U-21 Team of the Year Awards. pic.twitter.com/93Q010WJe5
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) October 3, 2017
Limerick have been lacking a free-scoring forward.
A player who can score from anywhere on the pitch courtesy of a mere flick of the wrists. A player who has that deadly first touch to create space for themselves. A player who has the speed to get away from their marker. A player who has that snappy accurate strike to knock it over the bar with minimal fuss. A player who has the ability to do that on countless occasions in a game.
A player who can confuse defenders, a player who can sell a dummy.
.@LimerickCLG's Aaron Gillane was unstoppable on Saturday! Here's his Score of the Game #HurlingToTheCore pic.twitter.com/t5UR9ZUq7a
— BGEGAA (@BGEGAA) September 12, 2017
The Munster and All-Ireland under-21 hurler of the year Aaron Gillane has all of the above. Just look at the scores he’s racked up for Limerick’s under-21s in their campaign last year.
- 0-9 against Tipperary Munster under-21 first round 2017.
- 0-14 against Clare Munster under-21 semi-final 2017.
- 0-6 against Cork Munster under-21 final 2017.
- 0-8 against Galway All-Ireland under-21 final 2017.
- 0-7 against Kilkenny All-Ireland under-21 final 2017.
All the while he’s been ripping it up for Mary I in college’s hurling and his club Patrickswell in the Limerick club Championship.
His nonchalant, relaxed style in possession combined with his deceptive pace sparks comparisons with Tipperary’s John McGrath. If he can make the impact McGrath has made for the Premier county over the last two seasons, he’ll be headed in the right direction.
He’s not the only one capable. Kilmallock man Robbie Hanley can make the step up, as can Barry Nash and Colin Ryan.
Watch Limerick this year.
