Sheehan highlights the importance of Limerick staying at the top table
LIMERICK football star Cian Sheehan says that the panel of players are in a 'good place' as they head into this Saturday evening's Munster SFC semi-final showdown with Clare at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
The Newcastle West man has been one of the form players for Limerick over the last few years - his performances last year earning him national recognition with an All-Star nomination.
Sheehan admitted that what was tried in the league clearly didn't work and that Limerick have gone back to basics since relegation was confirmed.
His form hasn't dipped despite the fact that he has been moved around between wing forward, midfield and wing back. Sheehan is happy to play the versatile role.
"I have played a lot of positions. When things are not going so well, you are kind of caught in between doing what's best for the team and doing what's best for yourself.
"The best thing we can do (learning from the league) is draw a line in the sand with it. After we were relegated, we had the weekend off to try and forget about everything.
"We have put together a few ideas of what the key learnings from the league were and what we can do ahead of the next game."
Sheehan also highlighted the importance of Saturday's clash with Clare given the new landscape of the football championship.
Just 16 teams now qualify for the All-Ireland series; the four provincial winners, losing finalists, the next seven highest ranked teams (based on final positions in the league) and the 2022 Tailteann Cup winners, Westmeath.
The other 17 teams then compete in the Tailteann Cup. Sheehan wants Limerick to continue playing at the top table.
"For us, it's our only way into the All-Ireland series,” Sheehan told reporters at the Munster SFC launch. For that, on it's own, highlights how massive a game this is.
"I personally think (the Tailteann Cup) is a great competition. In the past, smaller teams like ourselves, hadn't the opportunity to bridge the gap to the bigger teams.
"They were playing more games at a higher standard and that only made the gap bigger. With the Tailteann Cup, you now have the opportunity to build on what might have been a disappointing start to the year and come out the better side of it.
"To play in it, however, would be a step backwards. Last year we were in the All-Ireland series and we got promoted from Division 3 to Division 2 in the league.
"The flip side in this year so far is that we got demoted from Division 2 to Division 3. We have taken a step back in that sense but the season isn't over yet. We have an opportunity to right some of those wrongs. I'm looking forward to having a go at that."
It hasn't been the easiest of season's for the Limerick footballers with the disruption of a change of manager towards the end of the league.
Ray Dempsey left as manager after just a few months in charge and Sheehan admitted that everything that happened wasn't helpful.
"Lots of things went on. There was a big change with Billy and his staff leaving. Things aren't always going to work out smoothly.
"I think we are doing our very best now to right a lot of things that we did wrong. There was a lot of games in the league that I think we left behind us. A couple of small tweaks could really improve our form and results hopefully."
Mark Fitzgerald has taken over since Dempsey's departure, one of four members of the management team to stay on after the Mayo man resigned. Sheehan says that things have ticked over nicely since the Kerryman took over.
"Mark was well known to us. He was our head coach so it was fairly seamless. He knows the players very well and he is a great man."