LIMERICK HURLING STAR William O’Donoghue remains a fan of the split season, but feels the players operating at the top end of both the county and club game are getting squeezed.
O’Donoghue’s club Na Piarsaigh recently lost the Limerick senior hurling final to Kilmallock and have been regulars at that stage of the championship, contesting the last five deciders in the county.
Na Piarsaigh’s success has seen them regularly progress to the Munster club championship, prolonging seasons for a player who has been a key figure in Limerick’s all-conquering side on the county stage.
The 31-year-old claimed his sixth All-Ireland senior medal in Limerick colours in July, and picked up his third All-Star award last Friday as recognition of his individual displays.
“I think the split season works in the sense, let’s say when you are in with Limerick, to give 100% to that. But what I do think is the split season has also given the players very little reprieve. It is nonstop.
“Even the way Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock county final winner) now can’t go on the (Limerick) team holiday. Sometimes it’s like the players who are most successful get punished as the year goes on because they all run into one another.
“So while the split season is great and it does give you a bit more flexibility to concentrate on what you’re doing, it’s probably allowing for more demands on players. People say like, will you enjoy your week off, and it’s kind of like it’s just accepted that alright if you play GAA and happen to be – it’s obviously a good complaint – but it’s the norm to get a week or two off a year.”
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William O'Donoghue in action for Na Piarsaigh against Kilmallock's Michael Houlihan. Bryan Keane
Bryan Keane
O’Donoghue is keen to stress the attention the Limerick management pay to the schedule their players face and identifies it as a key factor behind their squad’s longevity.
The core of their team remains intact from the Liam MacCarthy Cup breakthrough they enjoyed under John Kiely in 2018.
“We’re very lucky in the Limerick setup that they’re very conscious if we need to be looked after. The (Limerick) lads are very lenient with time and making sure we’re fresh when we come back.
“There’s never a sense that we’re being flogged, our best interests and our longevity, and that’s all taken into account. It’s not just short term flogging for a short-term gain. It’s all a part of a bigger picture. That longevity, it’s enjoyable enough to stay there, but you can also do it injury-free as well.”
William O'Donoghue tackled by John Fleming in the All-Ireland final. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The Limerick group have taken huge satisfaction from this year’s achievements, as he returned to the All-Ireland summit after a two-year absence.
“It’s huge satisfaction because whether anyone wants to admit it or not you do start questioning if you will get back there?” said O’Donoghue.
“When you’re winning, you think that’ll be the case forever. So to get back there, achieve what we wanted, (and) win the three major trophies this year.
“Even in the league, I know we lost the first game, but going unbeaten for the rest of the league, there was huge satisfaction. I think we were probably very aggressive in what we wanted to achieve. Everyone was slightly more on edge in that you’ve gone two years without winning, this needs to go well, there’s no time for finding form.”
The team have enjoyed their collective celebrations, with a number of weddings, including O’Donoghue and his wife Gemma, taking place since the All-Ireland final. They leave on Friday for their team holiday to Nashville and the Dominican Republic.
Limerick's Peter Casey, Diarmaid Byrnes, Mike Casey, William O'Donoghue and Sean Finn celebrate after the All-Ireland final win. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
“It feels like we’re still training, we see each other nearly every week at this stage. We’d David Reidy’s stag (last weekend)
“Tom (Morrissey) got married last week, which was another great celebration. Obviously myself and Gemma had our wedding, and we had Gearoid and Niamh’s in Portugal, which an awful lot of squad went over and made a bit of a holiday out of that.
“So it’s amazing to get to celebrate with everyone in their own occasions, but also it’s bringing so many of the past players and the current panels together, that it’s just very enjoyable.
“But come January I’ll be glad to see the back of the celebrating. You would be buzzing to be going back. Like I said, been fortunate enough that we got to spend a good bit of time together celebrating different occasions in the last few weeks, but it is a great time when we all get back in and get stuck into it for another year.”
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The Gaelic Writers’ Association awards, sponsored by Clayton Hotels recognise the extraordinary contribution of current players and managers and Will O’Donoghue is the 2026 GWA Hurling Personality of the Year.
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William O'Donoghue: 'Sometimes it's like the players who are most successful get punished'
LIMERICK HURLING STAR William O’Donoghue remains a fan of the split season, but feels the players operating at the top end of both the county and club game are getting squeezed.
O’Donoghue’s club Na Piarsaigh recently lost the Limerick senior hurling final to Kilmallock and have been regulars at that stage of the championship, contesting the last five deciders in the county.
Na Piarsaigh’s success has seen them regularly progress to the Munster club championship, prolonging seasons for a player who has been a key figure in Limerick’s all-conquering side on the county stage.
The 31-year-old claimed his sixth All-Ireland senior medal in Limerick colours in July, and picked up his third All-Star award last Friday as recognition of his individual displays.
“I think the split season works in the sense, let’s say when you are in with Limerick, to give 100% to that. But what I do think is the split season has also given the players very little reprieve. It is nonstop.
“Even the way Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock county final winner) now can’t go on the (Limerick) team holiday. Sometimes it’s like the players who are most successful get punished as the year goes on because they all run into one another.
“So while the split season is great and it does give you a bit more flexibility to concentrate on what you’re doing, it’s probably allowing for more demands on players. People say like, will you enjoy your week off, and it’s kind of like it’s just accepted that alright if you play GAA and happen to be – it’s obviously a good complaint – but it’s the norm to get a week or two off a year.”
O’Donoghue is keen to stress the attention the Limerick management pay to the schedule their players face and identifies it as a key factor behind their squad’s longevity.
The core of their team remains intact from the Liam MacCarthy Cup breakthrough they enjoyed under John Kiely in 2018.
“We’re very lucky in the Limerick setup that they’re very conscious if we need to be looked after. The (Limerick) lads are very lenient with time and making sure we’re fresh when we come back.
“There’s never a sense that we’re being flogged, our best interests and our longevity, and that’s all taken into account. It’s not just short term flogging for a short-term gain. It’s all a part of a bigger picture. That longevity, it’s enjoyable enough to stay there, but you can also do it injury-free as well.”
The Limerick group have taken huge satisfaction from this year’s achievements, as he returned to the All-Ireland summit after a two-year absence.
“It’s huge satisfaction because whether anyone wants to admit it or not you do start questioning if you will get back there?” said O’Donoghue.
“When you’re winning, you think that’ll be the case forever. So to get back there, achieve what we wanted, (and) win the three major trophies this year.
“Even in the league, I know we lost the first game, but going unbeaten for the rest of the league, there was huge satisfaction. I think we were probably very aggressive in what we wanted to achieve. Everyone was slightly more on edge in that you’ve gone two years without winning, this needs to go well, there’s no time for finding form.”
The team have enjoyed their collective celebrations, with a number of weddings, including O’Donoghue and his wife Gemma, taking place since the All-Ireland final. They leave on Friday for their team holiday to Nashville and the Dominican Republic.
“It feels like we’re still training, we see each other nearly every week at this stage. We’d David Reidy’s stag (last weekend)
“Tom (Morrissey) got married last week, which was another great celebration. Obviously myself and Gemma had our wedding, and we had Gearoid and Niamh’s in Portugal, which an awful lot of squad went over and made a bit of a holiday out of that.
“So it’s amazing to get to celebrate with everyone in their own occasions, but also it’s bringing so many of the past players and the current panels together, that it’s just very enjoyable.
“But come January I’ll be glad to see the back of the celebrating. You would be buzzing to be going back. Like I said, been fortunate enough that we got to spend a good bit of time together celebrating different occasions in the last few weeks, but it is a great time when we all get back in and get stuck into it for another year.”
****
The Gaelic Writers’ Association awards, sponsored by Clayton Hotels recognise the extraordinary contribution of current players and managers and Will O’Donoghue is the 2026 GWA Hurling Personality of the Year.
****
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Hurling Limerick Split Season William O'Donoghue