Graeme Mulcahy adjusting to life away from inter-county hurling

LAST June, Graeme Mulcahy collected his seventh Munster senior hurling championship medal. Since then, Mulcahy has announced his retirement from the Limerick senior hurling squad. It has been a different experience for the Kilmallock clubman watching his former teammates in action.

“It's completely different, I'm only gone from the group a couple of months. You quickly find out that you don't know what's going on in there at all. Nickie (Quaid) being a prime example of that, he's one of my best friends and I had no idea that he was going to be back for the Tipp game.”

The five-time All-Ireland winner was surprised to see Quaid return from his cruciate injury so quickly.

“In one hand, being back from a cruciate injury after probably the bones of four or four half months (since he picked up the injury). You have to put time in on the field, on that hand, I certainly was surprised.

“Obviously, knowing Nickie and the commitment he has to Limerick hurling, he just always wants to get the most out of himself. He wants to make these years count as well, I wasn't surprised given th nature of the guy.”

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This year has been a different dynamic for Mulcahy becoming a supporter of Limerick.

“I'm looking forward to my first Limerick game in the bones of 20 years as a supporter. You're definitely a bit agitated, it's a new experience for me. I sat down at home back in Kilmallock and watched both the Cork and Clare game and then onto Limerick's game with Tipp.

“I suppose, it was probably four hours of really exciting action and by the end of it my heart was just pumping out of my chest. I probably got a taste of what it's like to be a Limerick supporter over the last seven or eight years. The Munster championship is just something special.”

Last year, Waterford manager Peter Queally was in charge of Kilmallock. Queally guided Kilmallock to the Limerick senior hurling championship semi-final where they were narrowly defeated by Na Piarsaigh.

A higher level of professionalism is something which Queally brought to Kilmallock, according to Mulcahy.

“Peter was very good, he definitely brought the level of professionalism to the senior set-up in Kilmallock to a new level. He'd be working on an inter-county level for a number of years and he brought in his own guys with him. He definitely brought the club to a new level and he's obviously hit the ground running with Waterford. Even though he was an outsider coming in, he was very passionate with us.”

This weekend Queally will be trying to come up with a plan to stop Shane O'Brien who he managed last year at club level.

“He has good insight into the character that Shane is over the last year. He'll know him well, it'll be interesting. Shane is developing, year on year, he's developed in the last number of months since Peter has been involved with him. I've no doubt he'll go out Saturday and keep up the good form that he is in.”

Mulcahy describes the Waterford manager as a ‘straight talker’.

“He's a ‘call as it is’ guy, he had no problems last year calling out guys if they were in the wrong or giving guys a bit of encouragement when they did good things for the team. I think the day is gone for that arm around the shoulder, you call guys out and you hope that then the players take that on board. I think that's what works best really.”

Limerick are aiming to record their first win of the championship this weekend against Waterford. The former Limerick hurler said it's great to see the players who have served their apprenticeships with the county get their opportunity in the starting XV.

“It's great to see it, you've the likes of Colin Coughlan pushing through, he's been very good inside the group over the last few years. I've witnessed that and any A vs B games he has really excellent. You've Adam English breaking through now, he's a ball of energy around the middle, Shane O'Brien is a phenomenal talent, if Limerick can keep him fit, he could be the real difference for Limerick this year,” said Mulcahy.

“You've the likes Barry Murphy who made his championship debut at corner forward. It's great to see him have a new lease of life at corner back. I think it freshens things up and it keeps guys on their toes. Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, Limerick will be in a very strong position