“Like a gladiator going into the Colosseum, he wants a packed stadium” – Byrnes revelling in the white heat

“Like a gladiator going into the Colosseum, he wants a packed stadium, he wants it to be as intense as possible. That’s the kind of individual I am.”

Diarmaid Byrnes was told that, a week and a half out, Limerick and Clare’s Munster final is already looking like a sell-out and he was delighted to hear it.

The Patrickswell man is relaxed, he’s as cool as a pint of water on a hot day and that’s why, when it comes to match-day, the bigger the occasion the better it is. He’s not the type of player who’ll be blocking it out in a bid to perform, he’s the type of lad who’ll get a kick out of it as he takes it all in.

Cusack Park was like a cauldron when the same teams met two weeks ago and, whether the supporters were shouting at him or shouting for him – it didn’t matter – because whatever it was, it’s the type of thing that puts a fire in the belly. And when you’ve ice in the mind like Byrnes has, it makes for some combination.

“It’s not that I thrive off it, or need it, but I train four or five nights a week pre-season for these days,” says the PWC Hurler of the month for April.

“So why not let it be the best occasion that it can be? Like a gladiator going into the Colosseum, he wants a packed stadium, he wants it to be as intense as possible. That’s the kind of individual I am.

“Below in Ennis the last day, the music was playing before the match, and the crowd were roaring. You can’t hear it exactly, but Clare supporters are probably giving abuse, but sure it is what it is. It all feeds into the atmosphere.”

Diarmaid Byrnes with a brilliant point from distance for @LimerickCLG. pic.twitter.com/SrvDt4RcDl

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 15, 2022

The barnstorming wing back has had some season. He’s scored 0-24 (0-19 frees) in the championship, the majority of them coming from afar, and while many argue he’s been the player of the year so far, he assures us that he won’t be ‘resting on his laurels.’

“I was fortunate that they all went over the last day – sometimes that can lead to your ego taking over – but that definitely won’t be happening with me. I’ll focus on my little routines before training, on match-days, for frees.

“I’d always be a relaxed person anyway. I wouldn’t get too hyped up, whether it’s before or after the game. I think it’s important to enjoy the moment too so living in the present is what I try to do, try to not think too far ahead.

“If it’s a free, it’s just another free. It isn’t a free to draw the game, it’s just another free and that’s how I settle on it.”

Byrnes and his team-mates had no game last weekend and, as it’s the same again this weekend, he’ll be chilling out when he can. It’s hardly any surprise to anyone who’s seen him puck points from different post-codes that golf is one of his favourite hobbies. Imagine that lad with the driver.

“It’s important to relax, chill out and head away if you can. I love golf. A couple of friends of mine are mad into it and we’d grab an auld buggy or something like that. There’s a good few courses in Limerick, so that would be a go-to anyway.”

As an AIB bank employee in the heart of the city, Byrnes has plenty of people to talk hurling with. And he doesn’t mind it one bit.

“It’s all good. It’s all inquisitive. ‘How’s this lad?’ How are you? How’s training going?, How’s that.”

“But it’s all good, they’re all Limerick supporters, and I’m right in the heart of the city. You could meet anyone. You could see them coming a mile away with the Limerick tops on!

“The main thing is that they’re enjoying it. You can see the positive impact that we’ve had on Limerick in the last couple of years. We feed off that. You can see the positive vibes, and how much they’re looking forward to a game.”

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10