One category of spectator that can find it hard to appreciate All-Ireland finals is members of teams beaten in the semi-finals. Limerick hurlers have been in that category for the past two years and if Séamus Hickey had no real sense of lost opportunity a year ago, having been taken off shortly into his team's defeat by Clare, this time might have been different.
He wasn't injured and Limerick played really well against Kilkenny before losing by two but having set out to enjoy the occasion first had to cope with his county's unexpected defeat – also by Kilkenny – in the minor final. Then, all intentions of relaxation "and taking it all in" blew up when the senior final erupted into life.
“It’s always hard watching the senior final,” according to Hickey. “Last year was even doubly hard almost because you knew that you didn’t even represent yourself in the semi-final. You knew you didn’t even have a chance. I was looking forward to an operation on my knee so it was doubly hard.
“But this year now, I went there and I sat down and thought I’d be able to relax and enjoy it but no. No, they had to serve up what they served up. I was barely on the seat, I pucking every ball – because especially when you’ve hurled colleges with some of the lads.
Excitement of game
"When Paddy Stapleton came up for the point at the end, I don't know what came over me but I punched the air. Bizarre! You see when you've hurled with these lads – and I've hurled with so many Kilkenny lads as well, like Kieran Joyce – you'd actually have an attachment to these guys and you'd love to see them do well. Then the excitement of the game takes over as well."
Hickey was speaking at the presentation in Croke Park of the GAA/GPA Player of the Month awards, sponsored by Opel. He won the hurling award for August in recognition of his exceptional display on Kilkenny’s TJ Reid in Limerick’s narrow All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Kilkenny.
The football award was won by Kerry's David Moran after two stand-out performances in Kerry's centrefield in the replayed All-Ireland football semi-final win over Mayo.
Having played so well at corner back this season, Hickey was asked had he run a critical eye over the free-scoring final last Sunday, which ended with Kilkenny and Tipperary level, 3-22 to 1-28. But instead of sympathising with his fellow members of the defenders’ union, he applauded their efforts.
“I actually thought that the score count, the fact that they kept it to 54 was incredible because when you look at Tipperary, TJ (Reid) had been isolated inside and they were raining ball down on top of him – I didn’t they they’d do it again – James Barry was under ferocious pressure and Cathal Barrett had a super game.
“When you look through the 15 performances on each team, can you really pick out three or four who didn’t perform? From that perspective of the defenders not doing their jobs, I would say absolutely not. The ball was just worked into incredible places. Séamus Callanan had JJ Delaney on his arm for four out of his seven scores, so was the defender not doing his job?
“I wouldn’t say so – just the conversion rate was phenomenal. For the teams to shoot a combined 10 wides [and] the ability to take scores and where they were taken from, I admired it.”
Pushed for a verdict on the replay, he leaned towards the Tipperary team that he and Limerick beat in the Munster semi-final, as opposed to Kilkenny the side that beat them in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Confidence is brilliant
“I think that Tipp are going to take an awful lot from that game, a lot of heart from it. They didn’t doubt themselves when a lot of people did and it’s really stacking up now, their confidence is brilliant. I think they can get better from last Sunday and I believe they will.
“They have room for improvement. I fully expect Kilkenny to produce the exact same performance; they are the most consistent team in the championship bar none. I just see more room for improvement in Tipp and I believe they will take more confidence in that game than Kilkenny.”
