Declan Hannon ready and prepared for Cork semi-final test

THE body and mind are set and ready for Limerick hurling captain Declan Hannon as he prepares for his eighth All-Ireland semi-final, the first of which was back in 2013 when the Shannonsiders lost out to rivals Clare, 1-22 to 0-18.

Speaking at Eir HSQ ahead of Sunday's semi-final clash, Adare centre-back Hannon reflected on his development as a player from 2013 to this year’s imminent All-Ireland semi-final with Cork this Sunday at Croke Park.

Hannon said: “I suppose I'm a different player and it was a different time as well. In 2013 we won the Munster Championship and it was the first time that Limerick had won anything significant in a long, long time. There were obviously great celebrations and mentally maybe I wasn't ready for the All-Ireland semi-final, the occasion and everything like that.

“Obviously I had never experienced it before and it went really badly for myself. But I suppose whenever you finish playing you'll look back at those days as maybe a thing that stood to you in the long run.”

After sitting on the sidelines during last year’s All-Ireland championship run due to injury, the Limerick captain is now back fully fit and excited by Sunday's big semi-final showdown with ‘the Rebels’.

“Injury probably makes you appreciate being able to train and to be able to play matches a bit more, I think.

“When you look back and you miss important games, I suppose it just makes you want to get out on that pitch whenever you can, for trainings in particular and if you are doing enough in training you will get the opportunity to play in games then. It just makes you appreciate things a bit more.”

Hannon admitted that this year’s prospects hold a totally different meaning to him as being directly involved with the squad allows him to impact these hugely important games. After going through a difficult period of injury time last year, the stylish defender is thankful to be on the other side of it.

“It was difficult. Everyone wants to be involved in these games and it’s what you train for for six months really to get ready for it. In Limerick, it’s always been about the panel of players. It could be just sitting on the sideline and doing what you could to help out the group of players when they were training or getting ready for the games.

“Different feelings and emotions, I suppose, but at the end of the day as long as Limerick are successful that’s the main thing.” This mentality has allowed Limerick to become the ‘’team of a generation’ as they gear up to face a Cork side who will have their tails up after winning four championship games on the trot.

One of the most important results Cork will be holding onto after the Munster Championship was their nail-biting triumph over the current All-Ireland champions at SuperValu Páirc Úi Chaoimh in May.

Hannon knows the difficulties Cork could cause to his Limerick side on Sunday evening in Croke Park. Speaking about the Rebels, Hannon said: “I’ve always rated Cork as one of the top, top teams in the country. Every time we play them it's such a fast-paced game. Their skill levels are through the roof. Their workrate and intensity is savage.

“I think there was only a point in it last year. If Cork maybe came through we were gone. So there's very little between any of the teams to be honest in the latter stages of the championship. I'm looking forward to another belter of a game. It will be great to be involved in it.”

Croke Park seems to be Limerick's fortress where they find an extra gear but Hannon admits that the Limerick side aim for consistency throughout all their games.

“We have been quite consistent in our performances and then bringing that level of performance to Croke Park as well, that’s what we will be trying to do.”