“It’s massive” | Andrew La Touche Cosgrave focused on “job to do” as Monaleen prepare for first ever All-Ireland final

After flirting with relegation for the previous couple of years, Monaleen’s fate was sealed in 2021 as their five year stint in the top tier of Limerick hurling came to an end.

The 2016 Premier Intermediate champions were once more resigned to the grade with their junior team also suffering relegation to the bottom grade in Limerick circles.

The City side appointed former Tipperary player Eoin Brislane as manager for the 2022 season and his involvement has seen a huge overhaul in the club with the top team ensuring their return to Senior hurling at the first time of asking as they negotiated the notoriously difficult PIHC ranks with just one loss from nine games.

Not resting on their laurels, they added Munster honours with wins over Doora Barefiled and a fancied Roscrea side. Paired with Bray Emmets in the All-Ireland semi-final, they would get the upper hand that now has them sixty minutes from a maiden national title.

For the team, a place in the All-Ireland final didn’t enter the conscience at the season’s beginning and for Liam MacCarthy winner Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, even the thought of playing was little more than a dream as he battled back from injuries that derailed his recent hurling ambitions.

Speaking ahead of the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling final, the Monaleen man praised those who helped him back onto the field as he prepares for Croke Park with his club.

“Absolutely, I don’t think any of us would have thought it. For myself, such a good backroom team with physios and all the above to help me play ball but no I didn’t think about Croke Park anyways, definitely not.”

La Touche Cosgrave was a central figure in the 2016 team that won promotion to the senior championship with teammates Lorcan Lyons, Jamie Porter and Ed Doyle all winning underage provincial titles with Limerick.

This year’s Monaleen are no different with the younger players leading the charge with the likes of Bryan Canny, Ronan Lyons, Lochlann McHale and Joe Fitzgerald all integral to the county and provincial successes of 2022.

And in terms of leading by example for the fresh faces, La Touch Cosgrave said there was little as he described “a savage crop of young fellas.”

“100%. The young players, I don’t think we realise yet how important they are. As I said, I don’t think this will hit home until we are all done and dusted you know.

“They were in the U17s final, they were in the 19s final as well and could have won as easy as they lost it so definitely a savage crop of young fellas there.

“You’ve probably heard Eoin (Brislane) say it, they are all so intelligent and level-headed. There has been no one that stepped out of line in any regard, so there hasn’t been much talk to them. They are a mature bunch of young lads, it’s brilliant. We haven’t had to do anything, everyone has just been singing off the same hymn sheet.”

Facing Monaleen are Mayo senior and Connacht Intermediate champions Tooreen who claimed a third successive provincial title in December.

Yet, this will be their first appearance in the final as they look to break Mayo’s duck in All-Ireland intermediate finals. A seasoned outfit with experience, La Touch Cosgrave isn’t looking past their location as he expects a “massive battle” on Saturday evening.

“Tooreen, they’re the county senior champions in Mayo so that says something. They have about 15 lads on the Mayo senior hurling and more if they wanted I could say. And just because Mayo aren’t in the Liam MacCarthy doesn’t mean they aren’t doing the same training as the Limerick hurlers do. So they’re getting a lot of hurling and have a lot of hurling in them.

“We know we are facing a massive battle ahead.”

Saturday’s will be La Touche Cosgrave’s third taste of All-Ireland final day in Croke Park. Nine years ago, he was at centre back as Limerick failed to end a thirty-year wait for All-Ireland minor honours, falling to Kilkenny. However, four years later, he was a part of the panel that brought a 45-year famine to an end as John Kiely’s men claimed the All-Ireland senior hurling title.

He is hoping that those experiences can help in preparing for a national final with his club with the team focusing on “the job to do” despite its high-profile nature.

“They’re are a few learnings in terms of sticking to the process and don’t let the big day get to you. I’m not in Limerick at the moment but I’ve been told that Castletroy is done up and it’s great to see, it’s brilliant and you have to take that in.

“But at the end of the day we have a job to do and it’s only who is in the bus up that can do the job and that’s what we are prepared to do.”

Monaleen take on Tooreen in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Final on Saturday, January 11 at 7pm in Croke Park.

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The AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships feature some of #TheToughest players from communities all across Ireland. Now in its 32^ndyear supporting the GAA Club Championships, AIB is proud to once again celebrate the communities that play such a vital role in sustaining our national games. From players to coaches, volunteers to referees, to the passionate fans who will travel in their thousands to Croke Park this weekend, AIB thanks all those whose work often goes unseen.