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Hurling

hurling

Paul Browne happy to be involved in Limerick's journey

Graeme Mulcahy and Paul Browne celebrate after Limerick secured promotion from Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League beating Galway at Pearse Stadium in March.

Graeme Mulcahy and Paul Browne celebrate after Limerick secured promotion from Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League beating Galway at Pearse Stadium in March.

By Cian O'Connell

Paul Browne knew he was in trouble. When the diagnosis arrived a cruciate ligament knee injury ensured Browne's hurling year was over, but the Limerick stalwart quickly wanted to play his own part.

Browne was going to stay involved in whatever capacity for the rest of the year because Limerick were beginning to acquire belief and momentum. With Limerick embarking on a gripping Championship adventure the timing could have been better.

"I felt sorry for myself for a day or two you know, but I suppose I'd a choice to make and I decided I'd better just not be sulking or feeling sorry for myself because I'd no place been around the boys if that was the case," Browne says.

Remaining part of the group, though, was important for Browne. "I wanted to stay around with the lads so I suppose I haven't missed a training or a match or anything," Browne adds.

"I've been part of everything and the lads have been very good in including me - texts after surgery, texts after it happened, inviting me up for coffees, teas, making sure the mood is good, asking me how I am at training. "When they should be worrying about anything, but me, they're still worried about me which is a sign of a great bunch of lads. We've a good group, they're nice fellas and just nice friends to have over the last couple of weeks."

Browne simply sensed something was stirring in Limerick. "After I met up with them the first day after the surgery, I just said, 'If ye think I'm hanging around, I am'," Browne states. "I am hanging on because I kind of knew what was coming. You just get a feeling. It's like a million different pieces of a jigsaw falling into place.

"You just know the feeling that things are different and they were and I knew that. I didn't want to miss out on it. I'm missing out on playing, but I'll get over that. I just want everything to go well on the 19th."

Tony Kelly, Clare, and Paul Browne, Limerick, in Munster SHC action last year.

Tony Kelly, Clare, and Paul Browne, Limerick, in Munster SHC action last year.

This is Browne's 10th campaign on the inter-county beat with Limerick and the summer has confirmed the potential of a talented crop of Treaty hurlers. "I'm trying not to be generic or throw out cliches, but it's actually really hard to explain," Browne remarks about why he remains so optimistic about this bunch of players.

"It's just like we went away last year bitterly disappointed with our performance against Kilkenny. Things didn't go our way. We didn't perform well, we didn't do what we'd been doing in training. What we'd been training for, the gameplan, we didn't follow it. I suppose over the winter everyone looked after themselves great because when fellas came back in the gym in October, November there, they were in great shape. It was like you got different fellas back in the gym, the increases in performance in strength in some fellas was incredible."

While Browne won't be able to dash on to the Croke Park pitch on Sunday he wanted to be part of the Limerick set-up. "It might not come around again," Browne remarks. "Who knows? I don't know what's going to happen next year or the year after with myself or with the panel or whatever. I suppose I just wanted to make, I just felt things were going really well and I just wanted to make sure that I was still part of it.

"So I'm trying to help as best I can. It's amazing what you pick up when you're not togged. You'd be watching other fellas and pick up on different things. A fella might be having a down day at training, you can have a word or a drill mightn't go in, you could step in and say something. John and the team have been very accommodating to me as regards helping out and trying to utilise me as much as they can.

"I suppose it's an extra pair of eyes for training and matches and people to watch out for. Just trying to help out as best I can and whatever way I can, if I can only contribute 1% more, that's enough for me."

Is Browne surprised by how quickly Limerick's youngsters have adapted? "Yes and no," Browne responds. "Yes in the sense that they’re all performing so well, and there hasn’t been a blip with any of them really. No in the sense that you know exactly what kind of characters they are. They’re just bred for hard work.

"They’re huge men, physically and they’re fantastic hurlers. They’re just bred for hard work and they suit our game down to the ground. The game-plan is tailored towards them.

"They’re exactly what you’re looking for in a bunch of inter county hurlers in the modern era. It’s no surprise they’ve adapted so quickly."

Paul Browne has been involved at senior inter-county level with Limerick for 10 years.

Paul Browne has been involved at senior inter-county level with Limerick for 10 years.

Earning a Quarter-Final triumph over Kilkenny injected Limerick's campaign with hope and momentum, how important was it to defeat the striped team. "It was for the public and stuff," Browne comments. "But I remember talking to a couple of the young fellas and stuff, they had no fear of Kilkenny. I’m not just throwing that line out, they don’t have a fear like.

"It was more the older lads might have been thinking that, but the younger lads weren’t thinking that whatsoever and they showed that on the pitch. Credit to Kilkenny that day. There’s no end of them. There’s no end to them at all. You could stay bating them all day and they’ll still keep coming and coming and coming.

"They’re an incredible bunch of men. We just managed to get the breaks, and Tom Morrissey that day, the point after the goal was huge for us. And that’s the kind of fellas we have on the panel, that’s what those young fellas are well able to do.

"He caught the game by the scruff of the neck, it’s what you dream of doing. He did it. He dragged us though. The point at the end as well, when it looked like he was running in slow motion, he was still getting away from fellas and put it over the bar. They’re the kind of characters you have, and they’re good lads to have around you."

GAA Officer in LIT Browne knows Galway's Joe Canning and Paul Killeen, who suffered a cruciate injury last year too. "Joe would be the main one I would have known through college," Browne admits. "Cyril Donnellan and one or two more that would have gone through before. But other than that.

"Paul Killeen as well actually. Paul Killeen is a great fella. He gave me a text after the injury. He knows exactly what I’m going through. But yeah, Paul is a lovely fella, nice lad, great leader.

"I’d say he’s only biding his time to get a shot at starting again. He was obviously starting when he got hurt and stuff, so he’s coming back really strong this year so it gives me good hope."