Colin Ryan says Limerick will “relish playing Kilkenny” in All-Ireland final after 2019 defeat

The Pallasgreen man was at the launch of the 2022 Poc Fada Championnship where he will be the defending champion.

Limerick’s incredible cycle could come full circle in this year’s All-Ireland final as John Kiely’s men bid for a historic three-in-a-row.

Last year a maiden repeat was achieved for the county but a threepiece can separate this side as one of the best to ever do it.

However, standing in their way is the last team to beat them in the championship, Kilkenny.

August 2019 signalled Limerick’s previous championship loss as Cody’s side secured a 1-21 to 2-17 win to dethrone the champions.

That game was Colin Ryan’s last involvement with the senior side as the reigning Poc Fada champion outlined how his former teammates will be full focused on making up for that defeat when they meet later this month.

Talking to GAA.ie, Ryan said,

“I know the group of players and what they’re about, they’re just ruthless in everything they do. They’ll relish playing Kilkenny so I think they’ll get the job done. Knowing those boys, I played with them for years, they’re just dogged. You saw it against Galway, they just never go away. They’re always there or there abouts. It’ll be interesting, it should be a great final.

“They beat us in ’19. I think the boys probably would want that one back. I think they’d really relish that. And especially Kilkenny, they have so many All-Irelands, it would be a nice one to get over and get that one into the pocket.

“They’re the kingpins of hurling for years and Brian Cody at the helm. It would be a special one for the group of players that are there, definitely.”

That defeat to Kilkenny will have stung a Limerick side who were then in possession of All-Ireland, Munster and League honours.

Entering the contest, against a Kilkenny side who hadn’t tasted All-Ireland success since 2015, Limerick were heavy favourites but an early blitz from the Cats was enough to keep the Shannonsiders at bay as they could not find parity.

For much of the squad including the likes of Cian Lynch, Sean Finn, Barry Nash, Peter Casey and Ryan himself, the performance was similar to that of 2014 when a heavily fancied Limerick were upset by Kilkenny in the Minor All-Ireland final.

That game seemed to spur the current crop as the following year, Limerick claimed a first U21 All-Ireland title in thirteen years, under the tutelage of John Kiely as the Pallasgreen native recalls.

“We came in as, I won’t say red-hot favourites, but we were favourites. We had some big names. We just never got going. We got caught for two goals and never really recovered. I think there was four points in it at the end.

“There was a bit of heartbreak there in ’14 which drove us on to the 21s. The breakthrough was 2015.

“We played Clare in the Munster final in ‘15 and to get a win…that’s what drove it on. I don’t think Clare were beaten in a number of years down there so to get over the line there I think fellas really felt there’s something special here.”

Ryan’s biggest day in the Limerick jersey was the faithful August afternoon in 2018 as the 45-year wait between All-Ireland honours was eventually ended.

He didn’t make the matchday squad but the strength of the panel was the driving force of the year as each alluded to the intensity of training and quality of in house games.

Ryan remembers Kiely’s maiden year in charge in 2017 where Limerick fell to successive losses before it all clicked into place the following summer.

“It’s crazy, like. It’s mad. We lost to Clare and we lost to Kilkenny, you’re saying, ‘Jesus, how are you going to pick yourself up?’ But in fairness to the group of players there, they’re unbelievable. In 2018, then like, we beat Tipp and just got on a roll.

“2018 was magical. The big one was down in Cork, Kyle Hayes got the point for the draw, I think that was another thing there for the players, that we could go far in this and thankfully we did.”

Since leaving the panel, Limerick have gone on to win a pair of All-Ireland titles whilst completing a four in a row of Munster championships.

He claimed the Poc Fada Championship last year and has his sights on retaining the crown this August.

Yet, the Pallasgreen native hasn’t ruled out a return to the intercounty scene as he focuses on the club campiagn for the time being.

“Please God. I’ll keep going with the club anyway, Pallasgreen. That’s the aim at the moment anyway. Keep plugging away, keep going, keep trying my best. That’s all you can do.”