After Limerick clinched their first All-Ireland win in 45 years last month rumours began to circulate of outside influences who had helped the Treaty men get over the line.
One such rumour was that Munster and Ireland legend Keith Earls had been to meet the team.
Not much else was known about the meeting, was this was before the season, before the final, or an ongoing situation throughout the entirety of their magnificent run?
Now, the 70 time capped international has revealed the extent to which he was involved with this Limerick side during their All-Ireland winning season.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader, Earls highlighted that it was indeed a once off meeting at the beginning of the season where he conducted a question and answers session with them.
Earls commented:
“I just went in for a Q&A. The lads were asking me questions, it wasn’t like I was going through drills or motivated them.”
“They were all winners before I went in, between minor and U-21s and they are a team we can look up to now, the way they went about their business.”
“I think it went with the season I had last year. When I started my career it probably started quick and then slumped off a bit and now I suppose it is after taking off again in a second burst and (they) were probably wondering I was doing it.” He added.
Earls highlighted that he was never a big hurling fan, but since meeting the team, followed by the year they went on to have transformed his appreciation for the game, describing Limerick’s win as ‘incredible’.
“It (Limerick’s All-Ireland win) was incredible. I was never huge into hurling, but I enjoyed watching it. Going in to visit them for that Q&A at the start of the year got me deep into it. It was phenomenal for the county which was great.
“I think it was great for hurling in general, throughout the whole country.”
