AHEAD of Limerick’s opening NHL clash with Waterford tonight, Donal O’Grady sat down with the Limerick Post for a chat about the league, young players and the coming season as a whole.
Limerick have had an excellent pre-season tournament and obviously now the serious stuff starts, 1B, what is the mood in the camp like?
The mood in the camp is good. It was great to win the Waterford Crystal. If we lost, I suppose people wouldn’t read too much into it, but we won it and its great for the team as a whole. We were without a lot of lads between injury, college involvement and Kilmallock, so it was a real lift to all. It gave others an opportunity. I think it has opened everyone’s eyes to the potential that’s there in the younger lads coming in and the competition for places and we’re very happy so far.
Just before you start into the league, have you sat down and done goal setting?
I wouldn’t say the Waterford Crystal was a goal to win. TJ and the management team have said, “try to win every match”. There is the old adage about winning being a habit. In our case its very important we have a consistent season like last year and we think its very important we keep consistency and try and add on a bit and that comes from the performance. It was very positive.
You have played Waterford already this season, will this weekend be any different?
I would say different definitely. You are talking about a bigger pitch, a faster ball. It’s going to be a tough game. It can be won, in our case, but its going to be tough.
How does a player view the league?
Very important in our case. We need to be in 1A. It isn’t a true reflection of how the season pans out however. We want to be in 1A. It’s important for confidence, game time, moral and overall mood to the squad. It’s definitely a priority.
You just mentioned the younger lads in the squad. What is it like for an “elder statesman” to have these lads come in?
It’s great. I was surprised actually by the lads that came in and how they fitted in so quickly. When I came in first of all I was looking around, thinking should I be here number 1 and number 2 could I get onto the league panel or something like that. It was a big surprise from two minors, Tom Morrissey and Cian Lynch to see them perform and that they are not just interested in making the panel they.
Competition is great and now we have that right?
To be honest I don’t think anyone could pick a team to go out and play Clare. It’s great. It’s brilliant. There is a great atmosphere in the camp. The lads are very single minded. All they want to do is win their place and then win for Limerick. That is a massive mental place to be at the start of a career.
What was it like for you on your first time in a Limerick senior dressing room and what has changed now.
It was great, but so much has changed. The physical training and endurance work is explained more now. There is a reason for everything we do, back in my time at the start, we weren’t told why.
A nutritionist has put us on different diets. It’s crazy stuff. We’re much more professional. There is such a high standard in most counties now, that you have to be. The hurling has to improve as well, as the margins are so high. You cannot be giving away a free ball. Realistically 85% of the lads that were here last year are here again. We have some unfinished business.
