LIMERICK BOSS TJ Ryan admits that the hype in the county spiraled out of control before last year’s All-Ireland semi-final and is determined to shield his players from that expectation before Sunday week’s clash against Kilkenny.
Limerick suffered huge disappointment when they were defeated last year by Clare as they never reached the heights of the 2013 Munster championship winning campaign.
After returning to the last four on the national stage this year, Ryan and his Limerick team are determined to make amends.
“We hadn’t won a title in a long time, it would be a natural thing,” believes Ryan. “The probable answer to that is, to some degree it did (get out of control). It’s definitely not at that level (this year).
“I think it’s natural enough for things like this to happen when the team is playing well and you get to an All-Ireland semi-final. It can be the public just as much as the press. It’s just one of those things you have to deal with, it’s part and parcel of it.
“I think maybe Limerick were slight favourites of the four and that definitely would have added to it and maybe the fact that Kilkenny and Tipp were out of it.
“From the players point of view, they just want to go and hurl. They’ve done it really well all year and they want to try and keep that vein going.”
Limerick report a clean bill of health before Sunday’s game and were boosted by the return to training last night of captain Donal O’Grady after he had battled injury.
“We’re training later on tonight. Donal O’Grady will be training. He will be fit, all going well.”
