THURLES SARSFIELDS WILL attempt to return to something approaching normality when they face Limerick kingpins Na Piarsaigh in next Sunday’s AIB Munster senior club hurling semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds (2pm).
The club was plunged into grief by the recent tragic passing of much-loved trainer Jackie Griffin, with the Na Piarsaigh game consequently pushed back a week.
With heavy hearts, Sars will travel to Limerick at the weekend, determined to put on a show to honour the memory of Griffin.
“Our thoughts are with the Griffin and Moloney families,” Sars coach Paddy McCormack told The42.
“Particularly with Jackie’s wife Trish and the three children.
“Jackie would want us to go out, prepare as best we can and play the game to best of our ability and that’s what we intend to do.”
Sars take on a team that has won the AIB Munster club championship in 2011 and 2013, while the Tipperary representatives were winners themselves three years ago.
And McCormack believes that the bond between players and management, that Griffin helped to create, can stand them in good stead on their travels.
“We were together two years, this group,” McCormack said.
“And we’ve had good success, winning two county finals and that’s always very successful in our club.
“Anything that happens after that is great, and we achieved those during Jackie’s time.
“He was an integral part of the whole thing, bringing his experience from the Army, and together with Jackie and the lads, we created a bond and a family unit that has stood to us well in key matches this year.
“There were tight calls at different times against Loughmore, Drom & Inch, Kilruane and particularly Nenagh in the county final but that bond created between management and players helped us.
“I’m sure that bond will continue next weekend.
“Hopefully we can produce a performance worthy of what we have created over the last few years.”
A boost for Sars was the return to training of Richie Ruth over the weekend.
It was feared that the experienced forward had dislocated his shoulder in the county final victory over Éire Óg Nenagh but the injury is not as bad as first feared.
“Richie returned to training this weekend,” McCormack confirmed.
“The injury could have been a lot worse than it was. We thought at one stage that he’d be out for the entire year but thankfully he’s not and has recommenced training.
“That’s a positive and while he might not be at full fitness for this game, he’s back hurling and that’s good for himself. Other than that, we’re not too bad. We were back training at the weekend after all that happened and all we can do is look forward to the game next Sunday.”
McCormack is cogniscant of the challenge that lies in front of Sars, as Na Piarsaigh boast a number of Limerick players in their ranks from various grades, including seniors David Breen, Shane Dowling and Kevin Downes.
“They’re a bit like ourselves,” McCormack noted. “They’ve won a couple of county finals in the last few years and competed in Munster three times, winning two and their first round this year.
“They have a 100 per cent record in the Munster club, with a host of county names and underage names from Limerick hurling.
“They’re a well-prepared and experienced team, and have the Sixmilebridge game behind them as well.
“They’re in this Munster final and deservedly so. They’ll be a hard nut to crack but we’ll give it our best, and hopefully we can play to the best of their ability.”
Sars may have to travel away from home for the fixture but McCormack isn’t reading too much into that.
“Between underage hurling, minor, U21 and senior, a lot of our players would have played there.
“While home draws are vital at this time of year, that won’t be an excuse.
“We’re going down there hoping to produce the best performance that we can, we won’t be blaming the pitch or anything else. Hopefully we can play to the best of our ability and see where that takes us.”
