“Hopefully That’s The End Of It” - William O'Donoghue Gives Injury Update As Limerick Set Sights On Munster

Limerick star William O’Donoghue says losing last year’s All-Ireland semi-final to Cork isn’t their main source of hunger or desire ahead of this year’s championship.

The Treaty’s five-in-a-row bid was stopped in its tracks at the last four stage last year but the Na Piarsaigh dynamo says a commitment to the group is more of a motivator.

“Of course it does (the hunger builds). You’ve a lot of time for reflection,” O’Donoghue said, as Centra announced the extension of their sponsorship of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.

“It’s a tough enough few weeks or months, but at the same time that’s not what’s fuelling you to go training in December or January. If you’re just hanging onto the disappointment of last year, it wouldn’t motivate you very much."

“We should have our own reasons for hunger and desire, not just because we didn’t win a semi-final last year. I don’t think that hunger went anywhere. We’re very eager to put good performances together in April.

O’Donoghue was only able to play bits and pieces of Limerick’s league campaign having picked up two minor issues with his hamstring. He says he never suffered from soft tissue injuries before but his recovery is going to plan.

“I’ve never had a soft tissue injury before and picked up two little nicks in the hamstring. It feels great now yeah. Back to full training, feeling positive and showing no ill-effects of it in the hamstrings, all’s good now. So hopefully that’s the end of it,” he said.

He missed their last league game against Wexford because of it and it was after that loss when manager John Kiely said they had loads of work to do ahead of the championship, having also lost to Kilkenny and Clare while drawing with Cork.

O’Donoghue says it’s an enjoyable time of the year, looking ahead to their Munster championship opener against Tipperary on Easter Sunday.

“We did have a lot of hard work to do, and we still do. But we’re getting more fellas back on the training pitch which is positive as well so it’s been a very enjoyable few weeks.

“It comes around very quick. It’s January and next thing, suddenly it’s a week or two weeks out from championship. It’s exciting. Once you get to this point, it’s like the start of a new year. So looking forward to the next chapter starting in ten days time."

O’Donoghue lined out centre back for Limerick in their loss to Kilkenny in the league, but he indicates it was more than likely down to other injuries in the squad.

If you’re playing anywhere around the middle, there’s not too much change. We did have a lot of injuries in that league game against Kilkenny when I played six, so I don’t know was I just plugging a hole or was I being looked at back there.