“We love it!” | Declan Hannon on hard work, tough battles and taking inspiration from other sports

Mazda Brand Ambassador at Lucey Motors Charleville, Declan Hannon will lead Limerick into the All-Ireland final on Sunday afternoon.

The 2021 Hurling Championship will forever be remembered for Limerick’s dominance as they put all before them to the sword.

Tipperary, for a half, were the only team to lay a glove on the Shannonsiders with Liam Sheedy’s men leading by ten points at the half in the Munster final.

What followed was one of the greatest displays in any half of hurling as Limerick had evaporated that lead for one of their own inside fifteen minutes.

The followed a comfortable win over Cork in the semi-final while they were comprehensive against Waterford and the Rebels in the All-Ireland series.

Their average margin of victory was just under ten points a game with sixteen points separating them and Cork in the All-Ireland final as they broke all sorts of records.

2022, hasn’t been as smooth sailing with Clare pushing Kiely’s men to extra-time in the Munster final, while Galway were level late into the All-Ireland semi-final.

Nonetheless, Limerick’s experience pulled them through on both occasions with Declan Hannon highlighting the importance of such tests en route to the decider.

“It was good for us to get through a game like that (Munster Final) to keep pushing for the extra time and as a group to get through it.”

“We’ve definitely gained experience over the last number of years being involved in the latter stages of the Championship. It probably does stand to us a small bit especially the last day in the semi-final, with the game being level and us ending up winning by the three points for the finish.”

Six years into their journey under John Kiely, that has yielded unprecedented success, Hannon says the side is confident in the work done off the field as he described the hard work being put in as “great fun.”

“We love it like, that’s probably half the reason why we come back year in year out and try and work really really hard as a group it’s just that we’ve great fun going training as well we work hard but I think that has to be a part of the game as well that you enjoy it, it takes up so much time that if you’re not having a bit of fun I don’t think it’s the right thing for you to be doing.”

“It’s what you train for to be involved in these games and those tight games, you can take confidence from the training that the lads have put us through and Cairbre our strength and conditioning coach has done a fantastic job since January and you can take confidence looking back and knowing you have the work done and you can keep going.”

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This will be a fourth All-Ireland final leading Limerick out onto the field for the Adare man and the experience of being there before is crucial, such is the razzmatazz associated with the occasion.

Nevertheless, the team will be focused on what they can control on the field according to the captain.

“As players if the match was on wherever it’s on and however many people are allowed to go, that doesn’t have to affect us a whole pile, we’ve a job to do inside the white lines.”

Hannon and some of his teammates were keen observers at the JP McManus Pro Am in the Adare Manor last weekend.

The Adare native spoke about taking inspiration from other athletes in dealing with the high pressure environment on the pitch.

“In golf in particular they have to get over a bad shot fairly quickly, they can’t be thinking of it for two or three holes the whole time or the competition will be over for them if that’s the case. I suppose it would be nice to talk to professional athletes and how they deal with pressure or getting ready for a big game or a big championship.”

Limerick have shown a superb ability to move on from any mistakes in the past and if they can continue in that vein on Sunday, it is hard to look past Hannon climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand.

Limerick face Kilkenny in the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday 17 July at 3.30pm in Croke Park.

Best of luck to Limerick GAA in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the Captain Declan Hannon our Mazda Brand Ambassador from Lucey Motors Charleville