When Declan Hannon won his first Munster medal in 2013, it bridged a 17-year gap since Limerick’s last provincial success.
On the day he raised the trophy for a record-equalling fifth time in a row, the Treaty captain said this victory was just as sweet as the first.
“Absolutely. It was amazing. Looking down there, I don’t know what song they were playing at the end, the place was gone wrong is how we would describe it in Limerick. Unreal,” said Hannon.
“I was saying I hope the supporters aren’t getting tired of it because we certainly are not. We’re looking forward to the All-Ireland semi-final now.”
Those years when Limerick lacked success ensure that winning feeling hasn’t lost its freshness.
“It only came into our heads in the dressing room there a few minutes ago about the five-in-a-row in Munster, which is a mad achievement really. You see how tough it is to get into the top three in Munster.
“Every game this year we’ve had to fight tooth and nail and if you don’t, you’d be out of the Championship. I don’t think people realise that.
“At the start of the year, getting into the top three is a priority and we got the bonus the last day when we heard we were in the Munster final.
“When you get there you want to do everything to win it because it’s not too long ago Limerick were struggling to win a game. We remember those days as well.”
The Covid years have also helped to grow the appetite for hurling regardless of Limerick’s streak of silverware.
“A lot of supporters over the last number of years have missed out with Covid in 2020 and in 2021 there was only half capacity (for the All-Ireland final) so I’d say they were foaming at the mouth to get into the Gaelic Grounds.
“Tickets were so scarce it was pandemonium around the city for the last number of days.
“It reminded me of 2013 when Limerick won their first Munster Championship in a long time. Dodge (Donal O’Grady), who’s a selector with us now, collected the cup. A similar scene with green and white on the pitch.
“Limerick are just craving success and luckily we have been on the right side of the results the last number of years.
“There has been nothing in a lot of the games but we’re enjoying it. We’re having the time of our lives.”
Clare’s proposal to play the match in Limerick’s backyard, rather than travel to Cork, wasn’t a motivating factor.
“It makes no difference to us,” said Hannon. “If they said it was on up above in Belfast, we would have gone up to Belfast and played it.”
The four-week break until the semi-finals is much needed after a gruelling Munster campaign in which no more than two points separated Limerick and their opponents in any game.
“The breather, I’m definitely looking forward to it, put it that way.
“We have the experience of the last number of years of going in this way so we’ll use that to our advantage as well.”
