Two time Hurler of the Year Lynch says Limerick are ready for Tipperary challenge

Limerick senior hurling captain Cian Lynch has revealed that his recent reception of the captaincy is a huge moment for him and his family, as he will take on Tipperary in his first championship match wearing the captain’s armband.

The Patrickswell clubman said it is an honour to captain the Limerick senior hurlers for the 2025 season. Lynch has replaced Declan Hannon as team captain.

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“It's a massive honour to represent your club at county level, it is a massive honour in itself, and to get the opportunity to be a captain of such a great group of lads is a massive honour for myself personally.

“There are so many leaders in the group, everyone kind of takes on that role in their own way. Obviously, Declan, over the last number of years, how he has led the team, I just hope I can follow in the same footsteps as he has.”

The two-time Hurler of the Year said it was disappointing not to win every game in the league but he believes the panel has gotten stronger.

“As a group, we've so many lads on different days putting their hands up. Competition is a huge thing now, there's a lot of competition for places.

“Obviously, disappointed that we didn't win every game, you obviously want to win every game and try to get to every final that you can. I suppose that wasn't the case, it's just trying to regroup and go again.”

Injuries played their part throughout Limerick's Allianz Hurling League campaign, while it effected the Shannonsiders league run. Lynch feels it offers players an opportunity.

“We've been unlucky but that's the nature of sport, you can't ever plan when an injury will come or who'll get injured. The strength of the group is next man up and trying to put your hand up trying to push things on.

“If someone is injured it's just trying to do everything right to get yourself back. We just have to keep going, keep pushing on, we know lads have picked up niggles.

“More lads will pick up more niggles and that's just the way sport is,” added Lynch. It's just about working hard pushing yourself and pushing lads around you just trying to enjoy every bit of it.

“The Munster championship is unreal, it's so competitive every team is going out to go and try win every game, try perform to the best that they can.

That's the beauty of the Munster Championship, there's nothing between any of the teams, all you can is try your best and try push things as hard as you.”

Despite coming up short in last year's All-Ireland semi-final to Cork at Croke Park, Lynch felt the better team won on the day.

“We've had plenty of games where we got over the line and I suppose last year we tasted defeat. You're so close but then again you're yet so far from a final.

“We know ourselves, they were the better team on the day. They were able to march on and we weren't, that's just the way sport goes, you win some and you lose some.

“You learn a lot more in a defeat at times than you do with a victory.”

Adrian O'Brien, Ger Barry, Liam Cronin and Paul Kilgannon have been some of the new additions to John Kiely's backroom team this year.

“Change is always a positive, we're obviously looking forward to working with this group. We're enjoying every bit of it.
“You never want to look too far ahead. It's just to work hard and enjoy every bit of it.”

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