OPINION: “No one is going to outwork us” Flanagan’s focus indicative of Limerick’s 2019 plan

“What’s one All Ireland when you’re 21?”

The Limerick hurlers had just returned from a team holiday that saw them venture to California before heading to Cancun as a celebration for their heroic All-ireland victory in last August last year.

The team would be forgiven for taking their eye off the prize after securing a first Liam MacCarthy title for the county in almost half a century.

Not for Seamus Flanagan however, who was speaking at the launch of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup days after his return from Mexico.

In his maiden year with the squad, the Feohanagh man started every competitive game for John Kiely developing hugely as a player. His words should come as no shock with this Limerick team cut from a different cloth than those of previous years.

“We want to make our own history. It was our first win in 45 years but that’s not going to be enough for us.”

Flanagan’s words are reminiscent of his manager, John Kiely who has blended his side into the most cohesive unit in Ireland with one focus on their mind, that being, “Take each game one at a time.”

One blip in Cusack Park aside, Limerick were full value for each of their victories last Summer.

En route to the title they defeated Tipperary, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Cork and Galway in what was described the most difficult championship of all time.

Yet, it seems that in 2019 the Limerick team will take on the one game at a time philosophy as John Kiley plans his assault on the All-Ireland once again. Prior to the Munster Senior League in early December, Kiely said the following,

“You wont hear the phrase defence of the All Ireland title coming from me for the rest of the year. We’re just going out to play the best we can on every occasion.”

“It’s a new season. What happened in 2018 is pretty much behind us and it’s a case of looking forward to 2019 and trying to make the best of that season for ourselves and achieve as much as we can for ourselves.”

Even in the midst of the All-ireland success, this Limerick team demonstrated their composure, with Tom Morrissey’s post match speech an indication of the focus in the squad.

Minutes removed from handling the sliotar as the referees whistle blew to signal Limerick as champions, Morrissey was a cool and collected as he spoke to RTE.

During the All-Star Ceremony where Limerick were rewarded for their stellar year with six All-Stars, Hurler of the Year in Cian Lynch and Young Hurler of the Year Kyle Hayes, the expressive aspect of the side was portrayed through Lynch’s incredible speech.

Limerick play a fast, heads up style of hurling with payers free to express themselves. However at the end of the day, each one of the players, starting XV and subs included, know their role to a tee and are determined to carry it out.

With the season soon approaching, Limerick will find themselves in the top tier of the League not having played in the premier division since the turn of the decade. Furthermore, come May they will enter the Championship as champions for the first time since 1974.

However, judging from Flanagan and Kiely’s recent comments, Limerick are primed and ready to defend their title.

“There’s a long career ahead and I’m looking to put back-to-back, if not more, together. You win one, you’re like that Clare team in 2013, you’re forgotten about again.

It took them so long to get back there whereas we want to be back there next year, but again, one game at a time. “

Seamus Flanagan, 9 January 2019.