Pa Ranahan: “the bricks continue to be laid” in Limerick football

Our eldest, Lucy, started primary school recently in a Gaelcholáiste. I’m far from being fluent in our native language but am trying to pick up a few bits as I go. A phrase that I came across recently and one that applies to the Limerick Footballers over the last 2 weeks is “An rud is annamh is iontach!” It’s been 6 years since a Limerick Football team started a league campaign with back to back wins. Schedules etc have played their part obviously but no matter the reason, winning breeds confidence.

“Ní neart go cur le chéile“

There have been lots of positive signs so far. Defensively Limerick have been really solid. Donal O’Sullivan has only had 1 save to make to date, channeling his inner David De Gea when making a spectacular save with his foot in Ruislip. Forwards might not like to hear it but defence wins games, especially when it comes to keeping goals conceded to a minimum. Learnings from the 2018 London game were also evident. When the game was in the melting pot near the end Limerick ensured there would be no repeat of the late heartbreak and prevented any goalscoring opportunities.

Variety is the spice of life and on Limericks own kickouts there has been a few tweaks. Where previously they were maybe too reliant on the short option only, the longer option vs London was used to great effect and allowed them to stretch the pitch and get early ball to the forwards, who thrived on the space and made hay. Tommie Childs has proven to be an asset in this regard and will hopefully build on his early season form, aswell as Colm McSweeney who has shown the benefits of having a full season of training under his belt. A case of “mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí“.

Winning the game in London was huge. Limerick were maybe 5/6 points better but when you’re not used to winning sometimes it’s just about getting over the line. We’ve all been there. I mentioned in the league preview how there would be occasions in games when the opposition are on top and you just have to dig in. Limerick wern’t long waiting for this to happen as they went 3 points down midway through the 1st half but they started making better decisions on the ball and talked and thought their way though a difficult spell. The confidence from that win carried through to the 1st half vs Waterford where they played some excellent football.

As with the kickout, there has also been a greater variety in Limericks attacking play. Where before the running game was the go to option, the ball is also now being played quickly into the forward line, both low – for the likes of Seamus O’Carroll and Sean McSweeney – and more direct, for Pat Begley, who is making great use of the offensive mark. (As an aside Iain Corbett claimed both defensive & offensive marks vs London. You won’t see that too often!) This is a welcome change and keeps opposition defences guessing. The spread of scores in the forwards, with all 6 starting forwards getting on the scoresheet vs Waterford, is proof of this.”Níl saoi gan locht“

There are work ons obviously. Outside of the starting 6 forwards, only 1 score has come from the rest of the team, including the lads who have come in during the game. It’s something that can definitely be improved on if the will is there to get up and support. And it’s not about just swinging a leg at it when up there. The right option still needs to be taken. But there is nothing that lifts a team more than when you see a corner or half back getting on the end of a move and raising a white flag or hitting the net.

The right options are being taken more but there is still room for improvement in the use of the ball once inside the opposition 45. When there has been chances to really turn the screw in both games, balls have been turned over in the scoring zone, mostly because of taking too many plays, something any decent backline will take advantage of. Obviously this is where turnovers are most likely but it needs quicker hands and quicker thinking in those areas. If that comes the 11/12 scores a game become 15/16 scores and that is a winning target most days out.

The tests have become gradually tougher and that will continue this week with the trip to Joule Park in Aughrim. Confidence has to be high in the group now and lads should be buzzing in training this week. It’s a big game in the context of where Limerick want to be come the latter stages of the league but once they stick with the formula and the processes that have delivered positive performances in the last 2 week’s then they should travel with some degree of expectation. The bricks continue to be laid and people have started to take notice again. Tús maith leath na hoibre!