Within minutes of capturing the National Football League Division Four title in Croke Park, thoughts had already turned to the provincial semi-final on June 6 when they face Waterford or Clare in the Gaelic Grounds.
“It can go to the head or we can get back down to the ground and realise that we haven’t gone beyond the first round of the championship and that is the bottom line,” said Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan after the 1-16 to 1-14 win over Waterford on Saturday.
“These lads are long enough on the road to know that one swallow doesn’t make an autumn! Basically we need to knuckle down and come back next week to training,” explained the manager.
“Hopefully they can build on this and keep their feet on the ground. This is just another step towards the first round of the Munster championship. That’s the bottom line and it will be a ding-dong battle whoever comes out,” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan of the Munster Championship.
“This is great for the football people of Limerick who have been toiling for over a hundred years and have kept the flag flying,” he said of the NFL title.
“It’s great for all the clubs who gave us the players and co-operation and the County Board, who have given us great support when things haven’t gone well and they never treated us like second class citizens - they have always given us 100 per cent support. We have 11 people in management and they have worked so hard,” outlined the Kerryman who is in his fifth season at the helm on Shannonside.
Limerick laboured in the opening minutes of the league decider until a fortuitous goal from Milford’s Ger Collins.
“We were fortunate, but you make your own luck and for long enough we weren’t getting any. The harder your try, the luckier you get - you take these things and you build on them,” said the manager.
Limerick trailed entering the final 10 minutes, but three late points secured a first national football title for the Shannonsiders since 1896.
“They (Waterford) dominated the breaks and that’s the area that was worrying me.
“I think the important thing is that we have a bench that can give us impetus in the last 10 minutes. Last year in the Munster final we didn’t have a bench, but today we emptied the bench and I felt we had the pace and fresh legs and lads had emptied the tank prior to that,” said Mickey Ned in the dressing room.
This week attention turns to the County Senior Football Championship.
On Thursday night (7.30pm), champions Drom-Broadford face Monaleen in Bruff while Claughaun travel to Askeaton to face St. Kieran’s. On Sunday (7.30pm) St. Patrick’s return to the senior grade when they play Ballysteen in Clarina.
Last evening the County Intermediate Football Championship kicked off with last season’s beaten finalists Na Piarsaigh getting off to a winning start with a 1-11 to 2-4 win over Athea.
Elsewhere in Group One Mungret lost to Hospital-Herbertstown, 0-10 to 0-7, while Mountcollins were 1-13 to 1-7 winners over Cappamore. In Group Two Bruff beat Galtee Gaels 1-7 to 1-2 while Oola defeated Gerald Griffins 2-10 to 0-9.
JEROME O’CONNELL
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