LISTEN – Declan Hannon “it’s about recovery now for the next few days and get ready for the semi-final.”

Limerick captain Declan Hannon will lead the treaty county out at Croke Park on Sunday week following a 0-27 to 1-22 win over Kilkenny at Semple Stadium.

Hannon says that yesterday’s classic has taken a physical toll on the side and attention will quickly turn to recovering for their semi-final showdown with Cork.

“Any day you go out against Kilkenny they’re going to put you to the pin of your collar. We’re just wrecked now at the minute so it’s about recovery now for the next few days and get ready for the semi-final.”

John Kiely’s side took a while to settle into the game but had the better of the exchanges after they did and took a three-point-lead into the break.

“It probably took us 10-15 minutes to get up to the pace of the game. Once we got to the tempo we kind of dominated for the last 20-25 minutes of the half so we were in a good position at half time but against Kilkenny it’s never over until the final whistle.”

On the surface Limerick looked calm and composed at the back in the closing stages of the game, Hannon, however, says that his side were battling through the nerves.

“I don’t know if we felt too cool back there but yeah, we tried to stick to our process and that’s just part and parcel of our game plan, why deviate from it.”