He didn’t lick it from a stone
Cian Lynch may only have been a few months old when his uncle Ciaran Carey lobbed over that famous point in 1996, but it’s something deeply ingrained in the teenager’s psyche.
Last year’s Limerick minor captain is set to make his senior debut in the Munster championship this Sunday at corner forward after an impressive league campaign.
Earlier this week at the launch of this year’s Bord Gais Energy U21 All-Ireland championships we chatted about this Sunday’s neighbourly showdown, the demands of juggling life as an U21 and senior, and keeping hurling in the family.
Is there more on the line than just the result when Clare and Limerick meet?
‘Yeah, it’s a bit of a love-hate relationship there. You’re just across the Shannon and there’s great respect there for the two teams, but when it comes to on the pitch and the white lines there’s no getting out of it once you’re in there.’
Is Limerick’s league form a concern ahead of Sunday?
‘Ah it was early. We tried out a lot of players. It’s the league. We’ll keep the head down now and keep our eyes on championship.’
Where are both sides ahead of Sunday?
‘Clare have a massive tradition and they have brilliant outstanding players but we’re all training hard and championship is totally different to what sides would shown earlier on in the year.’
What is expected of Limerick this season
‘We put pressure on ourselves to perform, and whether it’s good enough on the day you get the rewards and if it’s not you have to go back and assess wheat you did right and wrong. pressure is normal and whatever happens Sunday happens.’
What’s it like preparing for a first ever senior championship game?
‘I’m not sure if I’ll be playing much of a role (he’s since been named to start corner forward) but Clare are up there up at the top. They have players there and I know they are missing Colm Galvin but most of their players would fit into every other side across the country and it means we have to come in with our A-game.’
Has it been hard watching Clare enjoy success at senior and U21?
‘It has but you have to respect what they have done you know. They have put in the hard work and they’ve reaped the rewards. They set the bar for all the other teams in Munster and all the other teams across Ireland at U21 and people look up to Clare and see if they can follow suit and hopefully Limerick can kick on.’
Does it annoy you that anytime you’re mentioned your uncle Ciaran Carey’s name is in the same breath?
‘It kinda of is, it’s always back to Ciaran the whole time. Growing up and watching the uncles playing and you grow up wanting to be like them. Thankfully I got the chance to play minor, U21 and senior and make the breakthrough.’
‘It’s a dream come true having watched them play with the Limerick jersey and now to do it myself.’
‘He’s involved with the club (Patrickswell) as well so maybe there’s a bit of a love-hate not even getting to training sometimes but he’s very good in fairness.’
Is there pressure on underage players in Limerick?
‘The last few years the senior and the minor teams have been doing well and the 21’s are in between so it pays dividends to each other. If the seniors are doing well then it should rub off on the 21’s and then if the seniors get a good start in Munster it will rub off on us.’
How do you deal with the expectation of the Limerick supporters?
There’s always pressure, pressure is good. No-one ever says they don’t have nerves. If you don’t have nerves you shouldn’t be playing. It’s a good thing and it gets you over the line. That adrenaline rushing through you and the pressure is brilliant. Pressure is there, we all get it.
Has Anthony Daly had any word with any of the U21 panel?
Not with the 21’s as he’s with the minors and the development squads. He’s being received very well and there seems to be a good buzz around with him.
How do you find life as a player with senior and U21 squads?
‘It’s hard enough because you’re trying to please everyone but the 21s have been great and leaving us with the seniors for the moment. After this weekend we’ll go back to the 21s and then get ready for that game.’
‘You have to have the right mindset and to be able to bring your game for the seniors and then when you go back to the 21s be focused on that as well and bring the same level of performance.’
‘If you’re on a senior panel then you should be standing out at 21s and be the role model and the leader on the team.’
‘It’s not hard,it’s great that you can say that you juggle the two of them.’
Is it unusual to be able to talk to other players like this (at a launch) without the tension of a match day?
‘Last year I was watching the likes of Shane O’Donnell and Conor McDonald playing senior and I was only a minor and I thought I’d never be talking to guys like these. We’re all in the same boat and we’re young fellas. I was trying to get something out of Shane but he’s saying nothing, he’s keeping it all to himself, giving us no hints.’
‘It’s good to be able to talk to guys and not have lumps taken out of each other on the pitch for a change.’
Have you come across sledging in hurling?
‘Not really. This day and age with hurling and not that I’ve seen so far at least since I was in at senior.’
‘Referees and everyone are perfect and people don’t get away with what they used to anymore. The game is more for the player now so I think it’s OK the way it is.’
‘I don’t think it would be great for the game if it went too technical and it’s hurling at the end of the day and you get the odd belt but that’s all part of it. You might need that little belt to drive you on. ‘
