Star defender Dan Morrissey ready to go again for Limerick senior hurlers in 2026

LIMERICK senior hurling star Dan Morrissey has labelled Declan Hannon as ‘one of Limerick's hurling greats.’ Hannon has called time on his fifteen-year inter-county hurling career with the Shannonsiders.During his time as captain, Declan Hannon led Limerick to five All-Ireland senior hurling championship wins and he also captained his county to six Munster hurling titles in-a-row.

“The wrist he had, ability to pick out forwards and ability to strike points on the run came so naturally to him. To play 15 years at inter-county senior level, there are very few lads that have had that length of a career,” Dan Morrissey told Leader Sport.

Morrissey has described Hannon as a ‘down-to-earth’ teammate.

“I think what he’ll be remembered for is just being so down to earth. Despite all he won, there was never a more down-to-earth person. He’ll be remembered as a Limerick great.”

The Limerick defender said Hannon delivered on the potential that he showed up through the ranks with Limerick.

“He was one of those guys that was talked about since he was probably U-10 or U-12,” recalled Morrissey.

“And you'd hear so much about guys at that age and they just never go on to fulfil their potential. But he just carried it on the whole way through, through Harty Cups, Fitzgibbon Cups, called into the Limerick senior squad straight after his Leaving Cert.

“I remember down in Thurles, in 2011, he had just done the Leaving Cert and was involved for the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin and he was one of the best lads on the pitch,” added Morrissey.

Morrissey said it will a change not having Hannon in the dressing room next year.

“He's been such an inspiration and a leader over the years. He's the most successful captain of all time. To captain your county to four Liam MacCarthys, it would have been five if he wasn't injured that year, he was just such a great person to have around. It's definitely going to be a change next year.”

READ NEXT: Limerick senior hurling squad set for change in 2026

Hannon, Graeme Mulcahy and Richie English are some of the players that have retired over the last twelve months.
2024 All Star Morrissey still feels there is a plenty of young talent coming through in Limerick.

“Obviously Graeme and Dec are huge losses, but there have been a good few young lads introduced in the last few years too, you've Adam English, you've ‘The Bull’ O'Brien, Cathal O'Neill,” said Morrissey. Every year there's one or two new lads coming to the fore. It's like everything, no team goes on forever.”

In 2025, John Kiely's side exited the championship with a shock defeat to Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final last June.

“It's ultimately disappointing, you want to win Munster and All-Ireland titles and are two main titles you target every single year. The way the Munster final finished on penalties is a tough way to lose, the nature of the Dublin defeat was very hard to swallow,” said the Ahane clubman.

Morrissey found it difficult watching the All-Ireland semi-finals and final this year.

“Four weeks between the Dublin match up to the All-Ireland final just watching the semi-finals, knowing that you still believed we were good enough to be there. Hopefully that hunger just drives us on next year, Munster is so going to be so tough again. Dublin have obviously made huge strides, Kilkenny, Galway, I do think there is six, seven, eight teams that are in with a realistic chance of winning the All-Ireland next year.”

John Kiely will continue as Limerick senior hurling manager next year which will see him manage the Shannonsiders for a tenth year. Paul Kinnerk, Liam Cronin, Alan Cunningham, Ger Barry, and John Flavin will continue their roles as part of the Limerick senior hurling backroom team.

“I think it's John and Paul's tenth year which is phenomenal, you don't see too many managers having that length of a career. There was probably a few changes to the backroom team this time last year and there was a bit of a change to the playing squad as well. I think keeping that consistency in the backroom team is huge, and finding that balance between adding some freshness and having the experience on the squad as well. I'm sure we'll get back on the pitch in the next month or so and enjoy the last few weeks off the season before we get back at it again.”