William O'Donoghue says outside noise did not impact Limerick last season

Michael Bolton

Limerick hurler William O'Donoghue says talk about the five-in-a-row did not impact the side last year as their run of All-Ireland titles ended.

As Limerick chased history, they were defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final by Cork, the first time the Treaty county had not been in the All-Ireland final since 2019.

O'Donoghue has been crucial to Limerick's success over the years, with five Liam MacCarthy titles to his name.

Speaking ahead of the Munster championship, O'Donoghue says talk of the historical five-in-a-row was never discussed in the squad.

"No, it definitely wasn’t discussed in our group anyway. I think that is something for you guys to write and talk about, it is opinion pieces.

"That is all it is, really, a source of a topic of conversation. It is a perfectly fine and healthy conversation, but it is not something the players are going to be engaging in. I don’t think it really affects us at all.

"You’ve a lot of time for reflection. It’s a tough enough few weeks or months, but at the same time, that’s not what’s fuelling you to go training in December or January.

"If you’re just hanging onto the disappointment of last year, it wouldn’t motivate you very much. We should have our own reasons for hunger and desire, not just because we didn’t win a semi-final last year. I don’t think that hunger went anywhere.

"We’re very eager to put good performances together in April."

The National League campaign was mixed for Limerick as they finished in fifth with two wins, two losses, and a draw.

With O'Donoghue among some of the players out through injury, there was plenty of rotation in the squad, with Limerick's strength in depth there for all to see.

Now fully recovered for Tipperary next Sunday, O'Donoghue is looking forward to the always competitive Munster championship, as he stressed how important it is to take it one game at a time.

"I’ve never had a soft tissue injury before, and picked up two little nicks in the hamstring. It feels great now, yeah. Back to full training, feeling positive and showing no ill-effects of it in the hamstrings, all’s good now. So hopefully that’s the end of it.

"When you come back and have won an All-Ireland, if anything, you are probably more on edge because you are more heightened. I don’t think it changed much.

"When you come back in December, you have enough to be worrying about to get through the training session rather than worrying about the season before."

Having had so much success, this Limerick team has been able to not let standards drop at any stage through the years.

With younger players making their breakthrough and the county's depth there for all to see, competition couldn't be greater in the squad.

For O'Donoghue, his focus and motivation are very much on the present.

"To be completely honest, just to contribute to the group. You can say what does that mean., I guess it means to contribute as a person to my teammates as a friend. At training, to get the most out of myself as a person and my teammates.

"It is very special to be part of the group, and when you take a step back, it is not just about winning accolades and games and the hurling side of it, it is a lot broader.

"If we hadn’t won one of those All-Ireland’s would that have meant I would be more motivated or less motivated? No, it wouldn’t. It is very much here and now.

"Winning the 2021 All-Ireland is something that isn’t really relevant here and now."