Limerick 2-29 Offaly 2-19: Was this the rebirth? Limerick hurling people have known too much trauma and disappointment in the past five years to allow themselves to be completely seduced by any single performance, but what happened in O'Connor Park on a balmy and memorable Saturday night was enough to leave them feeling thrilled - and hopeful again
During a second-half demonstration of sustained attack, it was as though the troubled Limerick team forgot all the crises and pressures of recent seasons and played their frustrations away. Offaly, so bold and direct at the beginning of this game, were caught up in the fury of it and simply could not cope. With so many Limerick hurlers in this sort of mood, not many teams could have coped.
So much of Limerick's potential was realised during that blistering half hour. Brian Begley was mammoth at full forward, confidently plucking ball out of the midlands sky and clipping five smart points as well as causing utter panic in the Offaly back division.
Andrew O'Shaughnessy, a man burdened with the tag of "brightest light of Limerick's golden generation", made most of that mischief, delivering a lethal, sure-footed performance reminiscent of his storied teenage career.
Barry Foley was sensational, first at midfield and then poaching alongside Begley at corner forward. And on the sideline, the new administration, facing into this crucial championship match under the most difficult of circumstances, made the brave calls.
They replaced Brian Geary when it looked like Gary Hanniffy was about to go on the rampage at centre forward 25 minutes in and also withdrew the heavyweight presence of Stephen Lucey to try and counter the athleticism of Offaly's young midfield pair.
It worked: Limerick had erased a 1-11 to 0-8 deficit by half-time, and during their supernova second half they overran the home team at half-back and midfield.
"Those were the decisions we had to make," said a clearly delighted Gary Kirby afterwards. "We always knew that these fellas could hurl but what they needed was confidence. And that was a super show tonight. 2-29? If Cork or Kilkenny put up that kind of score people would be talking about it. It was good to see the scores going over.
"We got good, fast ball into the forwards and we knew they could make it pay. The first 15 minutes didn't go so well and I suppose we were facing a situation similar to the Clare game, and we had to show our character and respond to it. This was a knockout game for us really. We had to win it and it is still in the balance but at least we have given ourselves a chance."
Perhaps the dark drama of the past couple of weeks brought the strong Limerick crowd to Tullamore, but in the opening five minutes they must have feared they were about to see the state of the county team sink into outright nightmare. Offaly raced out in front, the abrasive and impressive Joe Bergin bolting free with Paul Cleary's long ball to nail the first goal.
After points from Daniel Hoctor and Brendan Murphy, Limerick were 1-4 to 0-1 down after just seven minutes and the fear must have been then that the players were simply too demoralised to fight back. And when Bergin burst through again, this time from Murphy's clever lay-off, a goal looked inevitable, and that score would surely have convinced Limerick the gods were against them. But Brian Murray saved brilliantly, and a minute later, Barry Foley landed a free from 80 yards. It was something to work with.
The home team earned most of the admiration over the first half hour, Brian Whelahan's game glinting with the trademark touches, Brian Carroll in lively form and Hoctor looking impressive in the centre. It was typical Offaly hurling: easy to the point of nonchalant. And maybe they hardly anticipated the imminent Limerick revival.
There was a significant moment when Mark Foley won possession after a furious bout of play, and he was accurate with the subsequent free on 31 minutes. Five minutes later, Donie Ryan scored a great goal when Barry Foley's attempted point fell into Begley's vicinity. The teams sought the cool of the changing rooms at 1-12 each and it was obvious Limerick were heartened.
The counties traded points until the 45th minute, when Foley tore onto a long delivery from Willie Walshe and deftly flicked the hopping sliotar past Brian Mullins. Mike O'Brien, working like a demon, laid on a point for Begley, and after that the Limerick forward line caught fire.
John McIntyre carried out instant reconstruction all over the field but every exchange was like oxygen to Limerick and they finished in exhibition style, Niall Moran and Begley scoring as they pleased.
It was the ultimate response to the ignominy of recent weeks.
"After the Clare game, people were looking for someone to blame," said Mark Foley as the visiting fans invaded the field. "But, as players, we had to take responsibility for what happened. And I think we did that tonight."
At the end of normal time, Joe Bergin cracked a brilliant goal from a free some 25 yards out, a score that rounded off his early strike when Offaly were singing. But that late consolation just brought Offaly back to within 10 points of Limerick.
It was all Richie Bennis and the new guardians of Limerick hurling could have hoped for. And more. Limerick are a dangerous proposition now.
LIMERICK: B Murray; D Reale, TJ Ryan, S Hickey; W Walshe, B Geary, M Foley (0-3 frees); B Foley (1-7, 3 frees, 1 65), S Lucey; N Moran (0-5), D O'Grady, C Fitzgerald (0-2); D Ryan (1-0), B Begley (0-5), A O'Shaughnessy (0-6, 2 frees). Subs: P O'Dwyer for B Geary (25 mins); M O'Brien (0-1) for S Lucey (36 mins), P Tobin for C Fitzgerald (49 mins), E Foley for W Walshe (69 mins).
OFFALY: B Mullins; B Teehan, P Cleary (0-1 free), 18 B O'Meara; K Brady (0-1 65), R Hanniffy, G Oakley; D Hoctor (0-3), D Tanner (0-1); D Hayden, G Hanniffy (0-2); B Whelahan (0-1); B Carroll (0-7, 5 frees), J Bergin (2-1), B Murphy (0-2 frees). Subs: N Claffey for B Teehan (48 mins), D Murray for D Tanner (50 mins), M Cordial for P Cleary (51 mins), J Brady for D Hayden (56 mins).
Referee: M Haverty (Galway).
