Limerick's 'mister consistency' Tom Morrissey aims to keep winning while he can

"IF YOU'RE not enjoying it, you won’t get the best out of yourself." That is the view of Limerick half forward Tom Morrissey as he spoke ahead of Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Final against Kilkenny.

Morrissey has been arguably Limerick's most consistent player since they made their All-Ireland breakthrough in 2018 and the Ahane club man is just trying to enjoy the good times for as long as they last.

"Training and playing would be an awful lot harder if you weren’t enjoying it. I have no doubt that as a result of the slagging and messing, our hurling has benefitted hugely. When you’re enjoying what you do, you’ll be the best version of yourself."

The two-time All-Star is just a month short of his 27th birthday and has amassed a medal haul that would be the envy of many a player when they called time on their career but Morrissey is hungry for more.

The hurling league has been undervalued by many in recent years but Limerick's star performer in 2023 thus far is a big advocate for the competition.

"At the end of the day it is a national title and there aren’t that many competitions that we play with Limerick. You have your pre-season competition, your league, the Munster Championship and your All-Ireland.

"There is only an opportunity to get four medals a year. My view would be to get as much as you can while you can. It’s never changed so whatever competition you are in, you want to win it. We are competitors by nature when you play sport at a high level. If you are picked to play, you are going out to win.

"Where I am now, at this stage of my career, there is still a huge buzz and hunger there to make sure you keep the spot on the team and drive on to another level and a higher level and to keep improving. That’s what you’re striving for."

Limerick look to have strengthened their panel significantly ahead for the 2023 season with the return of both Cian Lynch and Peter Casey, as well as some of the U20 side that lost out in the All-Ireland Final last year. It is something that Morrissey believes is key to the future, as well as the present.

"We have fairly healthy competition for places in the squad at the moment. A lot of lads have got their opportunity and put their hands up that have come through with the U20s last year and lads that have played Fitzgibbon Cup.

"We have Cian and Peter Casey back, who weren’t available for selection last year as well. There is new faces in, like i was at 18/19 and are all looking to get started and places.

"That’s the challenge and competition in any team environment. It’s definitely not a chance to relax. You are definitely trying to push on and improve because if you don’t improve, you’re going to be passed out.

"When you’re dealing with top level sport, complacency is the rot when it comes to improving."

The Ahane sharpshooter is looking forward to the challenge that Kilkenny will bring at Pairc Uí Chaoimh and what challenges will come in Munster, and Limerick hope, in the All-Ireland series.

"We are looking at the other teams and the challenges that they have tried to bring to us in the past and we are looking forward to the challenge they are going to bring to us on any given day and how we are going to react and adapt to it.

"While they (other teams) may get excitement about playing us, we just get excitement about the challenge any team is going to bring and trying to overcome that challenge."

Morrissey has scored 0-22 in the league in Limerick's run to the final. As mentioned earlier, he has been on the form players in their rise to the top of the hurling tree - form that he is hoping to bring into Sunday and beyond.

"I am happy. I have managed to get a good bit of game time under my belt so far this year. I am feeling good and enjoying my hurling. Hopefully, it will continue into Sunday and into the summer."