Hurling was never massive in the villages of Kildimo or Pallaskenry.
The times they are a changing though in the club that only amalgamated as one in 2015.
Two of their own were a part of Limerick’s historic win on the third Sunday in August and ever since, the only talk in Kildimo and in Pallaskenry has been hurling talk.
Now the kids are walking around the place with hurleys in their hands and with inspirations in their midst.
Having the two lads involved, Barry O’Connell on the panel and Kyle Hayes as the hero, has made the win extra special for the small club west of Limerick city.
Because now the club’s players can say that they trained with these lads up along. The club coaches, secretaries, physios and parents can say that they know them well. The youngsters have heroes to look up to.
And that’s what an All-Ireland win is all about.
It’s five weeks since Kyle Hayes changed the face of Limerick hurling forever, though it hasn’t changed him one bit.
“It’s still the same old me anyway,” he jokes.
His club, his place has changed though.
“We were never a massive hurling club but now we’re getting there bit by bit. It means a lot to them. It’s a small rural club so everyone would be close. It’s kind of like a family down there.”
“You’re meeting men in their 50s just after the match or the week of it and they’re nearly breaking down crying to you. It shows you how much it means to everyone in Limerick. It’s such a major thing and something I want more often,” he said.
And even though he won’t admit it, his giant displays in the green and white have had a huge part to play in hurling’s growth in his parish.
The fact that he was donning the blue and white of Kildimo-Pallaskenry just four days after he stood tall on All-Ireland final day shows how important the club is to him.
He says he was stuck to the ground that day, but sluggishness has to be excused on that occasion given the celebrations that brought the county to a standstill in the days previous. And the club are motoring along nicely now.
“The Thursday now was fairly poor from myself, but after that it was grand, everyone calmed down some bit anyway after it.”
“We’ve played three games and we have two more left in our group stage. If we win one of them we’ll be going into the semi-final,” he added.
And now he’s back in college and normality is being restored to his life.
“I’m back in UL now. I’m only in for one semester and going away on Co-Op then after that.”
He’s studying business, and he agrees that the more laid-back college lifestyle is ideal for inter-county players – so he’ll be staying there for as long as he can.
“I have 16 or 17 hours in College so I have that advantage over the lads with full-time jobs. I’ll try to stay in College anyway as long as I can,” he laughed.
The All-Star awards night is on the horizon now, though he admits he hasn’t looked at a tuxedo for the black-tie event yet.
“No, I actually haven’t. I must look into it now and we’ll go in shopping together some day. Sure there’s 15 of us going to it, someone will organise it anyway. I won’t be the one doing it anyway!
Really he’s just looking forward to getting back hurling again.
There’s Fitzgibbon hurling with UL around the corner, and before he knows it he’ll be back in with Limerick.
That’s a man with his feet on the ground.
Kyle Hayes of Limerick, was on hand to help launch the new PwC All Stars App and pick up his All-Ireland final man-of-the-match award.
The event took place at PwC on Spencer Dock in Dublin.
