Limerick forward Aaron Gillane: We are used to winning
The Limerick class of 2018 have little interest in who or what went before them.
A 45-year gap to the county’s most recent championship win over Kilkenny was just that for corner-forward Aaron Gillane. Of more relevance to him was the county’s All-Ireland U21 final win over the stripey men last September, a game which he finished as top scorer with seven points.
Seven players who featured on Sunday won U21 medals 10 months ago.
They’d beaten Kilkenny at underage and so weren’t going to allow tradition or history get in the way of replicating that result at senior level.
Coming up along, we have been used to winning. The senior team over the previous years has nothing to do with us. This is our team, it is no one else’s team,” Gillane remarked. “It is up to us if we want to win or lose. We’re going all out for it.
The difference between Limerick new and old was at its most pronounced in the minutes following Richie Hogan’s goal.
Trailing 1-21 to 0-22, Tom Morrissey, U21-winning captain last year, fielded Nickie Quaid’s restart and quickly cut Kilkenny’s deficit in half.
Peter Casey, still U21, brought them level before Gillane picked out Shane Dowling with a superb crossfield ball and the Treaty were back in front. Within two minutes of Hogan’s strike, Limerick nullified its impact.
“Tom Morrissey got the puck-out and stuck it straight over the bar after the goal. It showed great character,” Gillane continued.
In previous years, you might have freaked out over them getting the goal, you might have panicked.
“We stuck to our processes and thankfully, it came good there at the end. We were looking forward to this game. Over the last few years, they have been the dominant team. We weren’t afraid of them. We were relishing the challenge.”
Gillane was responsible for two of Limerick’s four goal chances which were not converted — a stat they’ll have to improve against Cork later this month.
“The first one was with the boot, which is tricky enough. It could go anywhere. Fair play to the goalkeeper, he made a serious save. He is one of the best in the country. The second one .... it is drilled into us to keep it low.
“The ball skidded up but thankfully, we got a point out of it.”
