Shane O'Brien's emergence makes Limerick a strong contender in 2025

Michael Bolton

Although Limerick were unable to secure a fifth Liam MacCarthy Cup in a row, the emergence of players like Shane O’Brien highlights why they will be strong contenders again in 2025.

A player highly rated long before his championship debut, the Limerick management team demonstrated their faith in O’Brien by starting him in the Munster final.

The 19-year-old justified their confidence with a performance to remember as Limerick claimed another Munster title.

Reflecting on that moment, O’Brien says it was special to see his family in the crowd on such an important day.

“The atmosphere you’d get off the crowd… As I walked past the new stand in Semple Stadium, I locked eyes with a few family members, and it was just such a cool moment.

“Out of the 40,000 that were there, whatever way I kind of locked eyes on them. It’s brilliant for them as well because the parents would have brought me to training sessions from when I was six upwards, and now for them to see me playing in those big matches and occasions is brilliant for them.”

O’Brien is grateful for the faith shown in him by management and says the opportunities he’s been given have boosted his confidence.

However, he is fully aware of the hard work needed to remain in the matchday 26.

“They gave me the chance in the Waterford game. Seeing they have the confidence to put you in the heat of battle—the Waterford game was pretty much knockout.

“It was brilliant to get the confidence from them to put you in. Once you got the nod for the Munster final, you really realise they have the belief in you.

“Obviously, there’s a quality squad in there, and making the 26 is going to be my first goal—cementing myself in that 26—and then from there on, hopefully pushing on and getting a few more minutes under the belt this year.”

For Limerick, last summer was unfamiliar territory, as they were defeated in the All-Ireland semi-finals by Cork, who had also beaten them earlier in the Munster championship.

Highly fancied to win their fifth All-Ireland title in a row, missing out on the biggest day of the year was a new experience for many in the squad. O’Brien believes this will serve as motivation for the season ahead.

“We were going so well after winning the Munster Championship, and we just got beaten by a better Cork side. The lads have no complaints about our performance—it was just disappointment from us with how we performed ourselves.

“We’ve always known that if you’re not at the top of your game, then you’re going to be beaten. Clare, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway—it doesn’t matter who it is. Tipperary, Waterford—they’re going to beat you if you’re not up to it. You just have to be at the top of your game every day.

“There have been so many battles that the lads have had throughout the last five years, coming out by a point or two, where if they weren’t at the top of their game, they would have been beaten too, and there would have been no talk about a Drive for Five or any of that kind of stuff.”