CIAN LYNCH DOESN’T look too far ahead, preferring to stay in the moment and take things as they come.
It’s an approach that serves him well, both on and off the hurling field.
Next month, he starts the final year of his Arts degree in Mary Immaculate College. This weekend, he’ll be a central figure for Limerick in their All-Ireland U21 semi-final against Galway in Thurles.
Both represent significant milestones in the life of a 21-year-old, but he’s taking it all in his stride.
“Time flies,” he says. “Jeez, it only feels like yesterday when we were coming out of the Leaving Cert. The Leaving Cert results are tomorrow, it’s scary. It just flies by.
“I’m doing Arts – religion and geography. Doing as little as possible, just getting by!” he laughs.
“I suppose I’ll try and do secondary teaching (next year), but I don’t know. As I said I don’t look too far ahead either. I’ll try and get over the aul exams and we’ll see what happens.”
Already the veteran of three senior campaigns with Limerick, Lynch has developed a good understanding of how to get the best out of himself on the big day. He has a refreshing attitude to the game.
“There are times when you’d forget that you’re meant to enjoy it. You can get too serious before games, you’re letting it all build up. Even when you go out for a match the whole world is on your shoulders and that’s all self-inflicted.
“It’s just pressure and you’re forgetting that you’re playing hurling because you love it. Your forget that’s the reason you’re playing it.
“I try do everything as best I can, foodwise and all that craic. You go out and try express yourself because hurling is all instinct. We forget and think we have to be robots at times.
“You get worked up, there’s huge things at stake at senior and U21 level, lads put so much into it. That’s the other side. That’s where the pressure comes from. You’re training or meeting with the team nearly seven days a week between analysis and all that craic.
“You’re putting pressure on yourself. Sports psychologists are very important, to be able to say, ‘Look, the hay’s in the barn.’ It’s about going out, opening up and being free. If things don’t go your way, they don’t go your way.”
It’s no surprise then that the Patrickswell youngster enjoys the freedom the U21 hurling grade brings.
“It’s more open hurling. You can go out and you play with lads your own age and lads you grew up with. A lot of people can take hurling too seriously at times and forget that you actually have to go out and enjoy it and that you’re actually playing a sport that you’re supposed to love.”
The hope is that this group of Limerick players will push on and deliver success at senior level in time. They’ve delivered two Munster crowns at this age-group in three years, and a number of Pat Donnelly’s U21s have already played senior championship hurling.
“It’s hard, it’s not automatic that lads push on,” says Lynch. “There’s a lot more to life than the actual hurling, lads get jobs and they might have to move away for college or whatever.
“It’s a lot of expectation. Things didn’t go our way this year at senior (this year). We just have to keep the head down. U21 is the most important thing in our minds at the moment and that’s what we have to look to. Saturday is the only thing we should be thinking about ahead of this week.
“You have to look at the next hurdle, for us it’s Galway. They’re looking at the same thing. (We’re) keeping the heads down and not getting carried away.”
He finishes off by summarising his approach to life and hurling.
“Live in the now and enjoy what we have.”
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