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Hurling

hurling

Valuable lessons learned in Limerick's Academy

Seán Finn, has teamed up with Warriors For Humanity, Self Help Africa and the GPA for the launch of the Plant For The Planet Games. The historic games will feature 50 male and female inter-county Gaelic Games players from all four codes with their aim to highlight the impact of climate change and raise sufficient funds to plant one million trees in Africa.

Donations to the Plant For The Planet Games can be made at www.idonate.ie/event/planttheplanet.

Seán Finn, has teamed up with Warriors For Humanity, Self Help Africa and the GPA for the launch of the Plant For The Planet Games. The historic games will feature 50 male and female inter-county Gaelic Games players from all four codes with their aim to highlight the impact of climate change and raise sufficient funds to plant one million trees in Africa.

Donations to the Plant For The Planet Games can be made at www.idonate.ie/event/planttheplanet.

By Cian O’Connell

Seán Finn is fully aware that a glorious Limerick hurling story continues to unfold. Four All-Ireland SHC titles have been won since 2018 under John Kiely’s shrewd stewardship.

Consistency has been attained with Limerick remaining eager to accumulate silverware. These are exciting times, but how relevant is the Limerick Academy structure implemented by the green and white county in recent decades?

“Hugely,” Finn replies instantly. “We were one of the first groups to come through it. Luckily, we have had great people involved from U14 up to 21 and now senior.

“The habits, how you should carry yourself, how to be professional to become the best player you possibly can. We've learned all those things at a young age.

“Then you look at your attitude to training, inside in the gym, which at the time you wouldn't have taken much notice of, but they're habits you take on and they're good habits. The academy nurtures those habits and that's the beauty of it.”

Valuable lessons learned at a young age ensures players are afforded significant chances to flourish. “We're lucky in Limerick that we have great people involved,” Finn says. “That allows players to become the best player they can, both on and off the field as well.

“I think a lot of emphasis has been on getting good lads and making sure they're succeeding off the field too, I know at a senior level, John places a huge emphasis on that too, but there are plenty of opportunities for young lads to go into academies and succeed in years to come in playing for Limerick.

“Also the set-ups that clubs have across Limerick is extraordinary. I've just noticed how much clubs have invested in their underage academy which is great.”

Seán Finn celebrates following Limerick's All-Ireland SHC Final win over Kilkenny in July at Croke Park.

Seán Finn celebrates following Limerick's All-Ireland SHC Final win over Kilkenny in July at Croke Park.

Since July Finn has been busy with his club Bruff, who face Newcastle West in a keenly contested Limerick Premier Intermediate semi-final this weekend.

“The Premier Intermediate division in Limerick is very close,” he says. “We were very disappointed with how last year went, but even this year all eight teams in the competition are beating each other on different days.

“The top four go through to two semi-finals, we came second. So it is just a competition where all the teams are very close to one another, on the same level. In that sense it is a great competition, but a really tough one to win.

“They beat us in the group game a number of weeks back on a poor evening. Any team could beat each other on any given day. It is just whoever performs on the day who will come out on top.

“As conditions worsen, it brings teams closer. It will be interesting, exciting. Newcastle West have done great work underage. They have been really good at hurling at senior level and football. Trying to balance both the last few months and they have done that well. It will be a challenge for us.”

Inter-county fare is still a couple of months away, but Finn acknowledges the fact that so many counties in Munster will have new management teams adds another layer of intrigue ahead of the 2023 campaign.

“It will be interesting, it is exciting, though,” Finn responds. “Kilkenny have a new management team too, they will all come with new and different ideas, looking for ways they can improve their season, and how they can take us down to a certain extent.

“It is exciting, it will come around quickly enough. To be honest I've enjoyed the break so far, but I'm also looking forward to December and January when we do get back training. It is a challenge for us too.”