William O'Donoghue glad of home comforts in Munster Championship campaign
Paired with Darragh O’Donovan for three consecutive All-Ireland finals, he took the number six jersey practically owned by the then injured Declan Hannon for the 2023 All-Ireland final
TAKING over the position of Limerick’s most successful ever captain should be a daunting task.
However, you feel it takes quite a lot to shake William O’Donoghue.
Paired with Darragh O’Donovan for three consecutive All-Ireland finals, he took the number six jersey practically owned by the then injured Declan Hannon for the 2023 All-Ireland final. Now that the Adare legend has retired, the shirt is firmly the property of the Na Piarsaigh man.
In typical fashion, he deflects from the key role he has played at the heart of the Limerick defence as they prepare for yet another final, this time the Munster SHC decider against Cork.
“I’ve Kyle on one side and Diarmaid on the other so it’s grand in the middle,” he laughed when put forward for media duties last week.
As is the case with this Limerick side, it’s not about the 15 who take to the field at any given time. A consistent feature of talking to players and management is how those in reserve are driving standards, keeping everyone on their toes.
“It’s nice to be flanked by the two lads and everyone else like Colin (Coughlan) that has been coming in. Matthew (Fitzgerald) there in training and Darragh Langan is back fit again so there’s good cohesion amongst that line, there’s good competition.
“It’s probably cliche but an awful lot of our work is done up top. If the lads are working up top it probably makes it a bit easier for us.”
Limerick come into the provincial final boosting the best ever scoring difference since the round robin series was introduced for the 2018 Championship.
This was underscored by big victories over Waterford (nine points) and Tipperary (17) on consecutive Sundays at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
This home form was welcome having won just three of the seven home games in league and championship in 2025.
“That was something that was big for us this year,” O’Donoghue revealed.
“To target all our home games because last year we didn’t give our home fans what they deserved, we probably didn’t perform at home on several occasions.
“We lost here to Clare in the Championship, we lost to Clare in the league, we lost to Wexford here in the league, we didn’t represent ourselves to a good enough standard for our supporters because they mean an awful lot to us.
“We have an incredible connection with them over the last couple of years and even prior to that when things wouldn’t have been going too great they were fantastic to support us.
"Putting in good performances at home was a massive target for us this year."
Those supporters will have to make themselves heard in the red cauldron of SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, an occasion that O’Donoghue and Limerick are relishing.
“It’s huge. It’s obviously very competitive. You’ve got four games and the margin for error is quite small.
"I think the big thing is momentum so when it goes against you, it probably heaps pressure for the following week.
“That tag line of eight finals in a row makes it seem like it’s been an easy ride but it’s been anything but.
"I remember 2023 on the last day it was a win just to get third and we ended up in a Munster final.
“Stuff needs to fall into place as well. We have been very fortunate that we’ve got eight experiences like that and get to participate in that occasion eight times.
“Regardless of who we are playing, we’re playing in the Munster final, I think it’s a huge occasion. It’s where we want to be at the start of the year, it’s where every team wants to be.
“Every player wants to play in a Munster final. Regardless where it’s on or who we’re playing I think it’s we would have had the same target on the occasion.
“It’s going to be a sell out, it’ll be fantastic. I’m looking forward to seeing all the Limerick fans down there.
"We lost down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the better team won on the day, it’s as simple as that.
"We played them a couple of weeks before and managed to win - so can you read into any particular one? Probably not.
"I won’t be analysing it for myself, the lads will be telling me what to think and do and hopefully I’ll be able to execute.”