Pa Ranahan: Limerick have the assets to continue exceptional year on Saturday

Fort Minor’s “Remember The Name” was a tune I would have listened to a lot before games. The lyrics that always struck a chord with me were “This is ten percent luck; Twenty percent skill; Fifteen percent concentrated power of will; Five percent pleasure; Fifty percent pain”.

I often attributed those last two lines to playing football with Limerick. There is more tough times than glory days. But when the good moments do come, you really appreciate them. The hard days make you savour it even more. And it’s well earned.

Saturday was one of the good days for all connected with Limerick Football. Billy Lee was spot on afterwards. When asked about the upcoming Championship clash with Waterford, he said they would start preparing for that again on Monday, but for now it was about enjoying the moment. League winners. And more importantly promotion to Division 3. Four years in Division 4 had come to an end.

It’s a tough slog down there. No glamour. Very little coverage in most media outlets. And every point has to be scrapped for. This group have had to endure some dog days in trying to make progress. So the feeling at the final whistle, and in the dressing room afterwards, when you realise that you have achieved what you set out to, is one of real satisfaction and relief. Whats seldom is wonderful. The five percent.

The game itself was a great watch from a Limerick point of view, apart from the last few minutes! On the front foot from the throw in. Looking dangerous in every attack. Cutting through with support runners. Defensively very solid, winning the turnover battle and then transitioning quickly at times. The conversion rate was higher than the previous week with nine different players scoring. Five clear cut goal opportunities created, and while only one resulted in a major (an area to improve on), Limerick came away with at least a point on each occasion.

The big players stood up when it counted, on both sides of the ball. And none moreso than the joint captains. Iain Corbett’s GPS figures would have made for interesting reading post game. He carried ball after ball right at the heart of the Sligo rearguard and set the tone for the day with the opening score.

And Donal O’Sullivan showed that last week was the exception to the rule, making some vital early saves and contributing two out of two placed ball attempts in the closing stages.

It was very much a group effort though. The panel depth has increased significantly in the last 12 months which is a huge thing. There is competition for places where there hadn’t been. And now with higher division football to look forward to, those players will be exposed to better opposition on a weekly basis, which can only be a good thing for their development.

That’s for 2021 though. There is still the small matter of a Munster Football Championship to look forward to, and a trip to Dungarvan this coming Saturday evening. Limerick have made this trip twice already this year, coming away with victories albeit very hard fought ones on both occasions.

Trying to beat any team three times in the same playing season is a difficult task though, and The Deise will be waiting in the longest of long grass for this one.

While Limerick have put all their efforts into the league in recent weeks, Benji Whelan’s men have been preparing for this game. Getting the match against Antrim last weekend will have helped them sharpen up considerably for Championship.

Their set up in recent years has been to get huge numbers behind the ball so Limerick will have to be patient on the ball, avoiding contact but then striking when gaps appear.

There should be a serious bounce around training in Mick Neville this week. Where once this week might have been the first week back for pre-season, and the dread as you drove through those gates wondering what torture lay ahead, all involved are now looking to put the final pieces in place for a Munster Championship game.

The year has been an exceptional one so far. But laurels can be rested on when the season is over. A serious battle awaits in Fraher Field on Saturday. If the attitude is right, hopefully that “fifty percent pain” can wait for another week at least!