Former Clare talisman, Colin Ryan has fond memories of playing against Limerick. However, with inter-county teams regrouping for the year ahead, the 37-year-old schoolteacher believes the Shannonsiders are being written off too soon.
Despite the loss against Cork in the Munster final and hopes of Limerick claiming Liam McCarthy being dashed by the Dubs back in June, Ryan insists dancing on Limerick’s grave is premature.
The Newmarket man pointed to the strength of young places emerging across Munster, such as Shane O’ Brien and Adam English, whom he describes as “only getting better and better every year.”
Nevertheless, he acknowledges how hard it is for younger players to break into teams like Limerick. He emphasised how irreplaceable the likes of Gearóid Hegarty and Cian Lynch are to the team. When asked how long Limerick might have to wait before lifting the Liam McCarthy, Ryan dismissed suggestions of a prolonged drought similar to the county’s 45-year wait before their 2018 breakthrough.
“I think the standard of hurling has come up right across Munster,” he admits. “I wouldn’t say it’ll be 40 years for any team to win an All-Ireland, but at the same time, getting out of Munster is the biggest thing.”
Of course, 2013’s top scorer knows what it’s like to be discounted. Having pulled off a famous All-Ireland final replay win against Cork, the road to Croker wasn’t smooth sailing. Despite being branded underdogs by many, the former Clare ace insists it suited the panel at the time, not being expected to win and therefore not feeling the pressure.
Clare’s underdog status is restored once again as they look to overturn the disappointment of 2025 where they failed to progress from Munster. Ryan’s relief of Tony Kelly and Shane O’ Donnell’s decision to stay another year will mirror that of other Clare fans. As for UL alumni Mark Rodgers and David Fitzgerald, he insists it’ll be a big year for them to step up.
Something he does feel, however, is while disappointing, being relegated from the league provides them chances to field new players. “They do need to find an extra couple of players that are going to stand up and be counted,” he says.
Whatever happens, everyone will be looking forward to the Limerick vs Clare showdown next summer.