Limerick senior hurling star Cathal O'Neill backs return of Munster League

LIMERICK senior hurling star Cathal O'Neill is happy to see the re-introduction of the pre-season competitions. O'Neill feels the Munster senior hurling league gives players a goal to work towards in January.

“Even looking forward to the Munster League after Christmas, it's something to look forward to instead of just training every night,” said Cathal O'Neill at the launch of the Munster senior hurling league.

“Training kind of has us focussed in, you're focussing on the weekend to try and perform, so it's nice. Obviously, the Fitzgibbon and stuff, makes it a bit awkward for those players, but other than that, it's something to really look forward to”.

O'Neill and a number of players are likely to be in action this Saturday against Clare at 2pm in Tulla GAA club. There will be a fixture clash on Wednesday January 7 when Limerick take on Cork and the Fitzgibbon Cup gets underway. Thirteen members of the Limerick senior hurling panel will be in action for their colleges in the Fitzgibbon Cup.

“Yeah, I’ve my last year of Fitzgibbon this year. That’s on the 7th of January, so that's obviously creating a small bit of friction there with the Munster Senior League, but I'm sure John will have a plan around that.

"There're numerous players in the same boat, so he'll have a plan for that. So, kind of just looking forward to getting into the games after Christmas,” added O'Neill.

The 2024 young hurler of the year nominee finds it diffiuclt to sum up 2025 with the Shannonsiders. John Kiely' side suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Cork in the Munster on penalties and were then surprised by Dublin in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.

“Look, we're all bitterly disappointed with how last year ended. But that's sport.We just have to turn the chapter now and go again this year and try to be bigger, better and stronger this year. And hopefully we're laying the foundations in December and January to do so.

“Yeah, it was a funny old year, I suppose. Just obviously, as I said, bitterly disappointing how it ended in Dublin. But that's sport. It's not going to go your year every year.It's not going to go your day every day. It's just how it is. You just have to bounce back and come back stronger. You've no other choice.”

There has plenty change of the Limerick senior hurling for the 2026 season with Declan Hannon retiring. Seamus Flanagan, Jason Gillane, Micheál Houlihan, Fergal O'Connor and Cian Scully have all been released from the panel.

“Yeah, I suppose it's natural to have that cycle, to have the new players coming and some other players stepping away.
It's great to have fresh blood inside and they're all pushing us now to do better, so it's great,” added the UL student.

“The last few years, we have been losing bodies as it was, and new fellas are always being introduced.So, it's kind of just that cyclical nature of sport and of life that everything's going to evolve .The environment is really good in there at the moment."