A place in the 2017 Munster Hurling Senior Championship Final is up for grabs when Clare face Limerick in Thurles on Sunday; ahead of the game, Clare's Pat O'Connor and Limerick's James Ryan talk to GAA.ie about the local derby set for Semple Stadium (throw-in 4pm). Tickets for Clare vs Limerick are priced at €5 for juveniles, with pre-purchase prices available if bought before matchday for adults - Pre-Purchase Adult Covered Stand: €30, Pre-Purchase Adult Uncovereed Stand: €25 and Pre-Purchase Adult Terrrace: €20 Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.gaa.ie/tickets and are available at selected SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide, log on to http://www.gaa.ie/tickets/where-to-buy/ to find a SuperValu and Centra store close to you!
By Cian O'Connell
James Ryan simply wanted to 'recover and refresh' last autumn.
An admirable contributor for Limerick, Ryan won a Limerick SHC title alongside current manager John Kiely with Garryspillane in 2005.
The vastly experienced former dual star didn't really know what would happen in 2017, but he opted to briefly take a step away from the inter-county stage.
It was exactly what Ryan, who made his Limerick debut in 2008, needed. "I think in the last couple of years in Limerick anyway since 2011 on, the training has been so intense and there's been so many nights consistently every week that it's tough going,' Ryan remarked at the launch of the Munster Championships.
"I didn't know was it a break I needed just to refresh or whether I just had enough or whether I was good enough to come back really I suppose. I just took a break to recover and refresh. At the level we're playing at, you don't exactly take a break away from training. I was doing a bit myself, but I was just taking a break away from the collective training all the time and the travelling."
Kiely was installed as Limerick manager and conversations quickly started. Ryan informed Kiely about why he wanted to stay out of the set-up for a while.
"Unfortunately John is in a position, he can't be favouring me just because he played with me and we're the same club," Ryan states.
"I just said I was considering taking a break. He done like any manager would do, said that's okay. He just asked me why and I said mentally I needed a break, I was burnt out. I wans't really performing well either. He said maybe we'd have a word around Christmas and see how I was feeling. It was my own decision but I think the break did me the world of good.
"I just was burnt out out from the whole thing mentally rather than physically. With the eight or 10 week break, I just decided I'd like to go back at it refreshed. It was the best thing I ever did, take the break. If I never took the break, I think I'd be in a way different mindset now."
A rejuvenated Ryan captains Limerick in this year's Munster Championship. Ryan is a player the exciting new crop of hurlers in the county respected hugely.
James Ryan following the 2016 All Ireland SHC Qualifier Round Two defeat against Clare at Semple Stadium.
"I'd just built up a good relationship with a couple of the Under 21's that had come on to the panel, just chatting to them as the year went on," Ryan explains.
"It was gas, when you come back from a break like that, no matter how many years you're playing with a team, you feel like a bit of an outcast coming in. I just kept my head down for a couple of weeks and chatted away and got involved in a couple of matches and got into the routine of it.
"Then they approached me and asked me would I like to be captain? I was never captain before and it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down really I suppose. I was delighted to be asked. It's a great honour for me, my family, my club, but it definitely took me by surprise."
During his decade with Limerick Ryan has encountered plenty of thrills and spills. The panel has altered dramatically in recent years, but Ryan just accepts that the turnover is inevitable.
"I think every player that is near retirement knows you go through that process.
"Within the space of a year the whole dressing room can change. Fellas leave and the dressing room definitely changes.
"Such is the nature of inter-county that's going to happen. You still have great friendships with all these lads.
"Time is eventually going to move me on and everyone on. It's definitely a different dressing room, a lot of Under 21's are after coming in. That's just part of transition."
The stakes are piled high at Semple Stadium on Sunday, a win over neighbours Clare would put them into a Munster decider and the last six in the All Ireland Championship.
"Traditionally Limerick's best route is going by the Munster Final road," Ryan acknowledges.
"When we get a win behind us, we seem to get a bit of momentum behind us and we seem to improve our play. That's the way we'd be hoping to go and we'd like to be in a Munster Final. It's just a nice place to be and that's the aim."
