By Cian O'Connell

A second All Ireland SHC final appearance in three years beckons for an accomplished collection of Limerick hurlers.

Declan Hannon captained Limerick to glory in 2018 and remains an influential figure for the green and white outfit.

On a memorable August afternoon Limerick collected the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Does that make a difference entering this weekend's eagerly anticipated decider against Waterford?

"I suppose it does," Hannon replies. "We're more experienced now - playing in these bigger games whereas in '18 it was for a lot of us our first time in semi-finals and All-Ireland finals in Croke Park.

"Again, it's going to be different again this time with no crowd there. In '18 the noise around Croke Park and even with the supporters driving into the stadium was amazing, it gave you a big boost.

"That's not going to be there this time and I'm sure it's massively disappointing for Waterford supporters as well as Limerick supporters.

"They're both magnificent to get behind teams. There'd be thousands and thousands travelling from Munster to Croke Park if it was possible.

"That's going to be different as well, really quiet in Croke Park for an All-Ireland final which is very strange."

Losing at the penultimate stage to Kilkenny impacted Limerick, who were keen to thunder back to prominence in 2020.

"It definitely carried into this year anyway, it was very tough to take," Hannon responds.

"Typical Kilkenny, they just came out and absolutely bossed us in the first 20 minutes of that game last year. That was the winning and losing of it really.

"It's hard to get over any semi-final (loss), any big game like that is tough to get over.

"I suppose the only way to do it is to get back into the Championship fold and try to put it behind you by trying to put in more good performances in Championship games."

With a quieter build-up, Limerick isn't as chaotic as it was two years ago.

"My father is the biggest man trying to hype it up, ringing every second day telling me how great it is," Hannon laughs.

"As I said, I’m working at home and not really seeing anyone so if there is hype going on I haven’t seen it other than a few more flags around the place and a bit of bunting going up, mixed in with the Christmas lights, which is great to see.

"It’s different, but we are absolutely delighted to be in this position.

"Whenever the match was going to be played, hype or no hype, we were hopeful to be in the latter stages of the competition. We are there this year and we are going to give it our all."

Hannon's own family in Adare have developed a little routine for Limerick's matches.

"My mother and father and my brother Joe, he’s at home, and I’ve another brother in Canada, they stay at home, the three of them," Hannon states.

"They get a takeaway from the Woodlands Hotel, they sit and watch it and roar and bawl at the television like every other household in Limerick and around the country I’d say.

"They miss going to the games, of course, especially an All-Ireland final, it’s a big occasion and such a big family occasion.

"It’s disappointing they can’t be there but, again, the virus is there and you just have to respect the boundaries."

Since Limerick's Munster triumph in 2013, the Treaty endured disappointing days before John Kiely's arrival coincided with the emergence of a gifted crop.

"It was always a dream to get to where we are at the minute," Hannon acknowledges.

"Thankfully in 2018 it became a reality and then it was, 'Well, right, we've done it once, why can't you go and do it again?'

"In 2019, we got close enough, but just didn't get there. But again, that showed that we were up there with the best and coming into 2020 we wanted to push on again and try to get back to the All-Ireland final.

"I think we've taken great confidence over the last number of years that we are up there with the best of the teams and well able to compete."

Hannon continues to occupy a central role in the Limerick journey.