Adam English looking forward to league decider
Limerick's Adam English pictured ahead of Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Final against Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Click here to listen to the interview with Limerick senior hurler Adam English.
By Cian O'Connell
Throughout the past decade, the Limerick hurling story has been sprinkled with silverware. So, when 2025 didn't go according to plan, Adam English acknowledges that a renewed focus was brought for the 2026 Allianz Hurling League campaign.
A TUS Gaelic Grounds Division 1A decider now beckons against Cork. This particular league matters deeply according to English. "100 per cent, we saw, even in the league last year, we were very hit and miss with our performances," English reflects.
"So, this year, we really focused on each game, I know it is a cliché when you say it, but every match was nearly like an All-Ireland final for the way we looked at it. We just wanted to perform to 100 per cent of our ability in every match.
"We cannot wait for it, we had a shaky start at the start of the league, and if you told us we'd be in a league final after the Waterford game, we'd have bitten your hand off. So, we're looking forward to it."
The response to that Waterford loss has been impressive. "It has, we bounced back very well, with Kilkenny and Tipp in the next games after Waterford, and we've won every game since," English replies.
"We're delighted with the response, but we won't get ahead of ourselves. On Sunday, it will take a huge performance to get over Cork, and we're looking forward to the challenge.
"We always love playing Cork, we know their supporters will always come with 100 per cent, and so do ours. It'll be a great battle on Sunday, and we're really looking forward to it."
A successful spell in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup concluded in February. The busy schedule didn't bother English as the respective managements co-operated. "Exactly, if you ask any player, all they want to do is to play matches," English says.
"We'd play matches every day, we don't want to be training really, if you look at it that way. The more matches we play, the better it is for us."
"John (Kiely) is unbelievable. John, Paul (Kinnerk), and Adrian (O'Brien), our S&C, they're unbelievable when it comes to that.
"They know exactly what they need to do for us to keep us at the best of our performances. It was very easy for us to play when we had the management's backing."
Limerick's Adam English in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
With UL, Mary I, and TUS Midwest featuring accomplished from the county throughout the years, Limerick hurlers have benefited from being exposed to Fitzgibbon fare. "You saw it this year, Darragh Langan started the first round of the Fitzgibbon, he was unlucky not to retain his position, but he started the Fitzgibbon final, and made his league debut against Galway the last night," English highlights.
"It was great for him. That is what happens when you play Fitzgibbon. If you flourish in Fitzgibbon, you'll then proceed into the senior championship."
As a gifted teenager, how did English find joining the Limerick panel? "I came in when I was 18," English recalls.
"Back in 2018, when I saw all of the lads winning the first All-Ireland, then coming in as a young lad, you were nearly starstruck.
"You've to forget that, too. You're coming in to try to get a place on this star studded Limerick team.
"So, you've to forget that, too, that you were looking up to these lads a couple of years ago. Now, you're best friends with some of them so that is pretty cool."
A solid foundation was established with the progressive Doon club. "2024 with Doon was a very successful year for us, obviously we were delighted with the win," English says.
"I got great confidence from that and brought it into the 2025 season. I think that is where my luck stemmed from, my club season, and I got to start for Limerick then in 2025.
"We've a very successful underage structure in Doon. We won an U16s county championship, unlucky with minor, and in the U21s we'd three or four in a row. We've a good structure underage."
As an intriguing Munster SHC edges closer, English is relishing all of the upcoming assignments. "If you go back to last year, and you don't have to go back too far, the times you played in the round robin and the Munster final, it was electric here," English says.
"It is what you dream of, to be playing here with a full house. So, we're really looking forward to it."
