Limerick’s Iain Corbett and Donal O’Sullivan have seen plenty of ups and downs in their time as players in the inter-county scene.
Corbett has been heralded as one of the top players in Munster for several seasons now, while O’Sullivan continues to be one of the most consistent net minders in the game.
Both act as joint captains in Billy Lee’s panel and their leadership is evident each time they take to the field.
It has been a long process that has led Limerick to this Saturday’s Munster Football Final and O’Sullivan says that green shoots have been coming through for some time,
“Being honest, every now and again you’d see it in training that we are going in the right direction. You’d kind of take a step back and see three or four years ago something that we wouldn’t have been able to have done well.
“Whether it be in our defensive set or trying to create space and make an easy score or just being tactically aware in a match. Little moments like that are a pointer that we’re starting to go in the right direction.
“To be fair to Billy and the lads, every six months to a year they’ve added something to the backroom team. From a dietician and with regards to the impact that Adrian (O’Brien) has had on us, video analysis. Everything has kind of gone up a notch and has led us to better performances.”
Corbett has been in superb form for the last few years with trademark runs from centre back igniting Limerick attacks time and again.
The Newcastle West clubman has been a key figure in Limerick’s rise to Division 2 of the Allianz Football League and to Saturday’s Munster decider. He has revelled in how far Limerick football has come in recent seasons,
“I take great pride in always representing my county ever since it started. It’s an honour to represent your family and your club playing for Limerick but I suppose the last 24 months or so there has been a bit more national attention on Limerick football which is great.”
The joint captains are fully aware of the task that awaits them in Killarney. Limerick’s record against Kerry is well established and despite some close encounters in recent years, the Treaty county remain in the Kingdom’s shadow.
The odds are that Kerry will continue to keep their record going on Saturday but Corbett says that Limerick’s focus won’t waver from their own preparation:,
“There is a massive step up to the top five teams in Ireland compared to the rest.
“We’ll be as prepared as we can be. We’ll do our analysis, our video work but what we’ll do mainly is focus on ourselves.”
Limerick goalkeeper O’Sullivan added,
“It’s different because championship brings a bit more bite, a bit more expectation, it’s going to be a larger crowd down in Killarney. It’s all things we have to be mentally prepared for going into the challenge on Saturday.”
Hear from the duo and the rest of the squad and management on our YouTube channel!
Limerick take on Kerry in the Munster Senior Football Championship final on Saturday 27 May at 4pm.
The post WATCH | “We are going in the right direction” | Limerick stalwarts Corbett and O’Sullivan on the county’s growth appeared first on Sporting Limerick.
