What a difference a year makes.
Twelve months ago Limerick came into the championship somewhat under the radar as genuine All-Ireland title contenders.
For Tom Morrissey it was all about establishing himself in John Kiely’s plans. The Ahane man was coming off the back of captaining the U21’s to All-Ireland defeat to Kilkenny, denied the chance of successive titles.
His senior debut came in 2015, a replacement for his club mate and Limerick stalwart Niall Moran in the league, but over the course of the next three seasons he managed just four championship appearances in the infancy of his budding senior career.
Then came 2018. Barn storming performances on the half-forward line – including a four-point haul in the dramatic victory over Kilkenny at the quarter-final stage – saw the 22-year-old made vice-captain as the season wore on.
A first All-Star followed on from that famous win in Croke Park and now confidence is high of his place in a high-performing side. This year he has added a league title and stood in as captain in Declan Hannon’s absence.
"Each individual, if they feel they are improving, and continuing an upward trajectory of self-improvement, they will obviously be more confident when they go out playing," he told RTÉ Sport at the launched Littlewoods Ireland’s #StyleOfPlay campaign for the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
"I got game time under my belt in the league and managed to cement a starting place for Championship."
The confidence that coursed through the Treaty men was something of a work in progress. Sports psychologist Caroline Currid spent two years in the backroom team, while the role of Paul Kinnerk is something Morrissey says was crucial in helping the county bridge a 45-year wait for All-Ireland success.
The coach first came to prominence with the Clare U21s when they reeled off three successive All-Irelands, before achieving Liam MacCarthy success with the seniors in 2013. Now back in his native Limerick, Morrissey says his impact has been far reaching.
"A lot of us have flourished with him"
"Since he has come in, I have learned a huge amount. He’s a top guy, really technical and looks to get you involved with your own improvement. A lot of us have flourished with him."
Morrissey picked off 1-01 in the final and also troubled the scoreboard in the narrow win over Cork at the penultimate stage, but defensively he is not found wanting either and that happy medium has paid off from a Limerick perspective.
"I’ve found a role that suited the stronger aspects of my game and allowed me to flourish within our system," he says.
What are the key aspects to his role?
"For me, being around the middle third. Stay involved in the game as much as possible and it allows me to get tackles in and get contact as much as possible."
Last year Limerick won 70% of their own puckouts, compared to a figure of 52% for beaten finalists Galway, and the half-forward line is a vital component in maintaining possession.
Other teams have noticed the trend, but few have been unable to unsettle the Treaty men.
"There's less just booming the ball up the field. It is about playing percentages and trying to hold onto that ball until at least the second play anyway.
"It was blatantly obvious that Waterford were trying to set out to stop us getting a good starting point on puckouts"
"Teams have realised that between your puck-out and opposition puck-outs there's a lot of set-pieces there so you're going to need to have a good structure in place to get yourself that marginal advantage when you are in possession."
Has there been a noticeable shift in how teams have set up against the All-Ireland champions to combat their area of strength?
"It was happening during the course of last year as well. The most obvious one I came up against was Waterford in the League final. It was blatantly obvious that they were trying to set out to stop us getting a good starting point on puckouts.
"If you want to be good at any sport you have to be flexible and willing to adapt to situations in games. I think we did that well against Waterford."
With the Munster championship right around the corner, Morrissey says he is "raring to go", but the Treaty men will be in a watching brief for the opening weekend and won’t get their campaign underway until 19 May when Cork roll into the Gaelic Grounds with revenge on their way, followed by Waterford (away), Clare (home) and a trip to Semple Stadium in the final group game.
On top of that there is the small matter of his Masters in taxation. His exams begin tomorrow and his thesis is due in August, the same time Limerick hope to be in a position to repeat their All-Ireland success.
"It’ll be a busy summer, but I’m hoping it will be busy on the pitch as well."
