Limerick native Maurice O’Brien enjoyed inter-county success with Dublin

THIS Saturday will provide a unique set of circumstances for former Limerick and former Dublin hurler Maurice O'Brien when the counties clash in Croke Park. Asked by Leader Sport where his loyalties lie, Garryspillane native O’Brien didn’t hesitate, he’s firmly in Limerick’s corner this weekend.

“My hat is firmly back in green again, I left Dublin ten years ago. I gave the most of twelve or thirteen years up there, it was a great period of my life,” said Maurice O'Brien.

“I'm back in Limerick ten years now considering the journey we have been on with this Limerick senior team I'm definitely probably back in the green camp with a number of years. You're always where you're from, I'm looking forward to the game this weekend.”

O'Brien still keeps in regular contact with some of his ex inter-county teammates in Dublin. The south Limerick man played for the Shannonsiders from 2003 until 2008 and then he made the switch to Dublin from 2009 until 2013 where he won a National League title and a Leinster championship under Anthony Daly.

“I still visit Dublin regularly, I would meet a few of them regularly enough. It definitely will give me that opportunity, I see a number of them are involved with the backroom team in Dublin which will bring a new dynamic. I'd say we will probably see more of that as years develops.”

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O'Brien looks back on his inter-county career with the ‘Boys in Blue’ with fond memories.

“I look back on it very fondly, an opportunity I didn't see coming at the time. Things didn't quite work out for me with Limerick. I relocated to Dublin on a full-time basis, I gave five years as part of the team there with Anthony Daly and I really enjoyed it.

“It was a really successful period in Dublin hurling, it was great to be part of it. Some great memories from it, obviously things didn't work out in Limerick, you give your whole life wanting to play hurling at that level to get a second opportunity at it, I was never going to turn that down,” added O'Brien.

Chris Crummey and Danny Sutcliffe are the only survivors from the Dublin team O'Brien was part of.

“They're the only two left now, both in the twilight of their careers now. Danny came on the scene and broke straight into the team. Chris was yet to break into the team when I was there, you could see the potential was huge.

“The two of them have probably been the mainstays of that team over the last ten or twelve years at this stage. It's great to see the two lads still there and playing vital roles.”

There are plenty of links between Limerick and Dublin.

Last January, South Liberties clubman Brian Ryan and Adare's Charlie McCarthy were part of the Na Fianna side that won the All-Ireland senior hurling club title. St Senan's Eoin Roche was the coach of the Dublin club side. Eoghan McNamara, who made the switch from Doon to south Dublin club Faughs in 2023, was part of the Dublin hurling squad earlier this year.

“There always has been plenty of links, I was following the couple of guys to see how they were getting on. A lot of them would reach out to me, about what clubs to go to. Those links are there and they are strong, even myself I joined Faughs.

“A relation of mine Eamonn Rea was the chairman of Faughs for years. There's a lot of Limerick country people living in Dublin and they look after their own when you go up there.”

O'Brien expects Limerick to get past Dublin in the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-final on Saturday in Croke Park.

“It's a game Limerick are expected to win, obviously you're into knock-out hurling now and anything can happen. Dublin have the potential to score goals, they seem to let teams get that start on them. Dublin have a quite solid running game whether they'll be able to implement that against Dublin I'm not quite sure.

“It's a potential banana skin for Limerick if they are not at hundred per cent. It's a good opportunity to get into Croke Park again this time earlier in the season. It gives the younger guns a game out in Croke Park especially the likes of Shane O'Brien and Aidan O'Connor before you get to an All-Ireland semi-final if you get there.”

The former Limerick U21 selector sees John Kiely freshening up the starting XV up this weekend.

“I think you're probably going to see a change or two, it's an opportunity to freshen the team up. I'd expect two changes, whether they'll come or not is another thing. There a big call made to leave Shane O'Brien out in the Munster final whether he comes back in or not.

“Cathal O'Neill has to get into this team wherever it is, I just think he's too good of a player to leave there until the 50th minute. I just find it hard at this stage that he can't break onto this team given everything he brings to the game.”