Ó Ceallacháin:' We knew they wouldn't fold, we knew we'd be in it'
A most remarkable afternoon at Croke Park. Outsiders, written-off, looked on as a run-out for Limerick – Dublin didn't read the script.
Indeed, they failed to revert into their shell when captain Chris Crummey was dismissed after just fifteen minutes. Their two more recent quarter-finals were forgettable afternoons. Thumped by Clare in 2023, their radar was one of their main issues when they succumbed to Cork 12 months ago – but they have a new man in charge.
Niall Ó Ceallacháin doesn't read scripts, and if he does, he tears them to shreds. Na Fianna, All-Ireland Club Champions in the early spring, and now they've knocked out Limerick – a side fancied by so many to reach the final, once again.
'Very proud. It is a complicated game – but it was just character that won that game. So many things against us, absolutely written off by ye (the media) and everyone else. To go down a man in those conditions after 15 minutes, I would have to be just so proud of the lads', explained the Dublin Bainisteoir.
Short their launchpad, Crummey, it was not something anybody would plan for 'We obviously prepare for a lot of scenarios, but we just prepare from a set-up perspective, so we just know what we are at from that point of view. In the case of inter-county hurling, there is only a certain amount of preparation you can do.
'You need to physically be able to do it and stay at it for that period (of time), so for the boys to stay at it and have the lads in that shape. But most of it is deep in your stomach, to have that character and the will and hunger to do it – that it what we are proud of.'
Just before the two game-changing, and game-winning goals, the Treaty snuck ahead. 'I've no doubt that the expectation would have been that Limerick would settle into their stride and go three, four or five points up but that underestimates is the character that is in our dressing room. We knew the lads wouldn't falter, a lot happens in a game, we knew they wouldn't fold, we knew we'd be in it.'
Seán Brennan, the Cuala netminder, who has returned to the side, denied Aaron Gillane when the net seemed likely to ripple again, 'It is a huge moment, the lad striking the ball (Aaron Gillane), is a good a striker of the ball as there is. These are the big moments in big games, it could easily have went the other way. In any game at this level, there are big moments, Sean was brilliant.
A squad that is building, albeit seemed slowly during the Leinster Championship, have now arrived. They'd won the games they were expected to win, but now they've delivered something only they expected.
'The whole thing means a hell of a lot to them (the squad). They are a very well-connected group, they are very close is what I'd say, they have each other's backs, it means a lot to them and they look out for each other. In the chaos of what happens out there you need to know that the lads have your back – and they do."
'To answer honestly, it probably hasn't sunk in. I get it, Limerick for what they are, and what they've won, going down to 14, it is an incredible achievement. In our minds, there are four games here, there are two down and two to go," explained the Na Fianna clubman, coldly.
'We are out again in two weeks time, I don't mean to state the obvious, but we will park this in the morning. That's not to understate the day that is in it, I totally understand that but this will be long forgotten if we don't follow through in two weeks time.'
Dublin are now just 70 minutes short of a first All-Ireland Hurling final since 1961.
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