Hannon hopeful of return to fitness should Limerick reach All-Ireland final

LIMERICK captain Declan Hannon hasn't ruled out a return for the All-Ireland final if John Kiely's men manage to navigate their upcoming semi-final on Saturday, July 8.

Hannon has been ruled out of the last four clash at Croke Park due to a knee injury but is hopeful that he could make the decider if the rehab of the issue goes well in the mean time.

"I just got a bit of a knock in the second half of the Munster final," Hannon said at the launch of eir's new Poc Tapa Challenge this afternoon.

"Doing rehab on that now at the minute and trying to get back and perform on the pitch as soon as possible. That's where we are at the minute. Kind of day by day and week by week now.

"You would try and play with one leg if you could. It (All-Ireland semi-final) will probably come a bit too soon. It's the way it is. We have had plenty of injuries down through the years, Seanie Finn earlier in the year.

"We are all used to these kind of things. Just have to get on with it. You would be hopeful. I couldn't answer at the moment. Our full focus is on the semi-final. I will do whatever I can to support the boys in the next few weeks and enjoy it as well. Have a bit of fun and relieve a bit o the tension that might be there as well."

"This is literally the reason that you have a panel. A couple of injuries might come up. A couple of suspensions. These are all things that we have dealt with over the last few years.

"It's good to have that experience as well. Very happy with the panel of players that we have. You would have every confidence in them going out onto the pitch the next day."

Hannon added the he felt that winning the Munster final against Clare a few weeks ago was extremely satisfying, especially given that the win happened at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

"The crowds around in the city were unbelievable all day. I just think having it in Limerick was a nice touch for us and winning the game.

"Seeing the thousands of fans in green and white on the pitch after the game. It reminded me so much of 2013 when we beat Cork in the Munster final. It was a very tough campaign in Munster as well. To get the win in the Munster final and to get a couple of extra weeks off before the All-Ireland semi-final was a massive bonus.

"It felt fantastic. It was a sweet one. There was obviously people from the outside saying that we weren't going so well and things like that but within the group we have standards that we set for ourselves.

"We probably didn't hit them throughout the Munster campaign. That's definitely one thing that we can really go after ahead of the semi-final. The very satisfying part of it was winning the Munster Championship and maybe not playing the way that we would like to play. We will take a lot of confidence from that as well."

The Limerick captain also added that he felt that current group of players on the Treaty panel are probably the best that he has seen in his time.

He paid tribute to the likes of Adam English, Cathal O'Neill and Colin Coughlan for the impact that they have made since joining the senior set up. English made his debut in the Munster final win and it was a poignant occasion for the Doon man, having lost a family member the day before.

"Delighted for Adam," said Hannon. "He is the most influential blood sub there was ever in the GAA. He came on for Darragh (O'Donovan) for a minute or two, scored a point and straight off again.

"He was very good. His uncle had passed away the day before so it was obviously a very tough day for him and his family. He did fantastic, as did Cathal (O'Neill) and Colin (Coughlan) as well. Thankfully, we have a nice panel at the minute and it's needed."

Playing at Croke Park holds no fears for Limerick and Hannon said that heading to Dublin for games is a sign that the team is doing well but warned that teams get exposed at the venue when they are not 100% right.

"We love coming up here. Usually when you are in Croke Park, you are in the latter stages and it's where you want to be. Being here today with eir, it brings back some fantastic memories over the last number of years.

"At the same time, we don't have to look back too far either when we came away from here disappointed. It is one aspect that keeps our feet on the ground in that if we are in any way off, you will be beaten up here. We will be doing everything that we can to make sure that doesn't happen."

Hannon also played his impending absence down, saying that his 'teammates do a lot of the work and he is in their way a lot of the time.' 

"Whoever goes in there the next day they will have no bother at all. Again, that's why you have a panel. You are playing together so often that you can be phoned in at any stage.

"The last day, the subs that came in did a really good job. You see David Reidy starting the last day and was brilliant. Graeme Mulcahy started the last day and did a really god job as well. I have full faith and every confidence in whoever goes in there."