Limerick captain Declan Hannon pictured ahead of the All Ireland SHC Final.
By Cian O'Connell
As the All Ireland hurling final edges closer, Declan Hannon is asked about the spring and what it meant to Limerick.
Earning promotion to Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League scratched an irritating itch, while two dramatic knockout ties against Clare and Tipperary aided the development of John Kiely's evolving team.
The nature of Limerick's come from behind win at Pearse Stadium when toppling Galway was a clear sign that the green and white outfit were moving briskly in the right direction.
"It was, we are such a young group of players, a young panel that the more competitive games we could get the better," Hannon says. "I suppose getting promotion from 1B and getting into the League quarter-finals and semi-finals it stood us in good stead coming into the Championship."
Hannon acknowledges that the nature of those last three League matches against Galway, Clare, and Tipperary aided Limerick. "It was very good preparation from the League," Hannon adds.
"The more competitive games you get the better. I suppose you can play all the challenge games you want, but nothing beats the real competitive edge that the promotion games from 1B or the knockout stages of the League brings.
"They were fantastic and for such a young group of players to get that experience, to get that exposure to the level of teams and where we had to be was great."
A thrilling hurling year continues to unfold with Hannon accepting that the pace of the game is increasing too. "Even the training has gone to a different level," Hannon says. "The physicality of teams, the speed and the skill levels have all gone up and up and up.
Limerick captain Declan Hannon shakes hands with President Michael D Higgins before the All Ireland SHC Semi-Final against Cork at Croke Park.
"They just seem to be continuing to rise. A lot of that could be down to the structure of the Championship this year, the more games the better you get. That probably played a part in this year's Championship."
The new structure has also benefitted teams according to Hannon. "Absolutely, the only thing you want to do after a bad game is to get out the next day to right the wrongs of the previous game," Hannon states.
"The structure this year has led to that happening. I suppose we have been consistent enough this year bar the Clare game in the round robin series. Other than that we have been fairly consistent, I think, and probably merit being in the All Ireland Final."
That Hannon is the Limerick captain adds another layer of satisfaction. "Yeah, I was obviously delighted to get the call from John earlier on in the year," Hannon admits.
"Very proud and my family were very proud, but the boys are great. There is loads of leaders and characters in that dressing room. They have made my job a lot easier."
Hannon is a link between the young and established players in the Limerick panel. "Possibly, I'm 25 then you have a group, who are around 22 years of age and there are a few 28 and one or two 30 year olds," Hannon remarks.
"That is it and it is gas because you wouldn't notice it in training or the dressing room. Everyone gets on so, so well. The age is just irrelevant. The young lads coming in have brought a new lease of life, a real confidence with them coming in from the underage ranks."
The emerging players progress has been helped with Hannon leading by example.
