Coach Jamie Wall has unique insight into Limerick's big Munster SHC clash with Cork on Saturday

THIS Saturday, Limerick face great rivals Cork, in round three of the Munster senior hurling championship, in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a 7pm throw-in.

A win for Limerick will see them advance to the All-Ireland series, while Cork need a win to keep their championship hopes alive.

Jamie Wall is a man who has been involved in coaching Mary Immaculate College Fitzgibbon Cup sides as well as Kilmallock and also Cork underage hurling teams.

Indeed Wall has coached or managed 16 players between the Limerick and Cork sides this weekend. Richie English, Declan Hannon, Cian Lynch, Darragh O’Donovan, Aaron Gillane, David Reidy, Shane O’Brien, Graeme Mulcahy, Aaron Costelloe, Oisin O’Reilly, Micheal Houlihan, Jason Gillane, Luke Meade, Tim O’Mahony and Eoin Downey are the players he has coached or managed.

“To be honest with you, I’ve worked with far more of the Limerick players. There obviously guys that you couldn’t but be very fond of from the experiences I have from working with them,” Jamie Wall told Leader Sport this week.
One player that stands out from his coaching experiences is Limerick's Cian Lynch.

“When we have them [in Mary Immaculate College] they’re very raw, with probably the exception of Cian who was a superstar from the start. We get guys who are still learning the game and it's a natural progression really.

“It’s no surprise particularly to see how much the Limerick guys have improved because they’re working with such a great set-up in terms of managers and players. It’s very enjoyable to watch guys develop but I wouldn’t say it’s massively surprising, we know the levels that they can reach.

“I probably learned nothing from Cian on how to coach the game of hurling, some of the stuff he was operating at. I don’t think I’d be able to teach anyone the way he goes about the game.

“I certainly learned a lot about people and working with guys on a human level. He is such a brilliant guy and to be honest I was coaching him but I always felt as a person I learned a lot from him.’’

Wall has been part of three Fitzgibbon Cups with Mary I and this year he guided the Limerick college to success. The Cork man has been impressed by Limerick’s form.

“It’d be foolish to expect anything other than a Limerick win. Cork are obviously coming on the back of two losses but with that said with the exception of the All-Ireland final a couple of years ago [in 2021], Cork and Limerick games in Munster have always been very tight.

“The most important thing for Cork is that they can show progress. I’m sure inside in the dressing room it’s very much do-or-die.’’