Limerick’s first season without a cup since 2017 “felt like a disaster”, according to William O’Donoghue.
The Na Piarsaigh man spoke last year of people’s tendency to “catastrophise” after a bad result, but he doesn’t sugarcoat what was a below par 2025 for Limerick, which ended with that surprise defeat to Dublin.
“We lost an All-Ireland quarter-final. It’s going to be a competitive game, you’ve got two teams who are planning on getting to an All-Ireland semi-final. We were disappointed, obviously.
“In terms of catastrophising, it felt like a catastrophe not to win any silverware. It’s nothing about the stage we went out at or the stage of the tournament we went out of. It did feel like a disaster last year coming away with no silverware.
“Did we win two or three championship matches? When you look at the year as a whole, it wasn’t good enough. It just certainly needs to be better this year.”
O’Donoghue was happy if not satisfied with Sunday’s win over Kilkenny, which followed their opening-round defeat to Waterford. “Clearly, it’s a competitive game and we just didn’t hit where we needed to hit and we lost the game,” he says of the loss in Azzurri Walsh Park. “I think that could happen any week if you’re not at the level you’re supposed to be at, and we weren’t at that level last week.
“We were probably at a better level this week. There was probably still a lot we didn’t execute or felt in the first half we were probably in control for large parts, but didn’t reflect it.
“Like, we were making silly turnovers and they were punishing us every time. So yeah, it was slightly better than last week, but still a long way to go.”
At this early juncture of the season, O’Donoghue won’t go making comparisons with 12 months ago other than to report the general fitness of the Limerick panel is better.
“I think we’re probably a bit healthier. We don’t have as many fellas who’ve knocks after the first two rounds. I think we had a considerable amount last year. Taking that, we’re dealing with a cleaner bill of health and that’s all I can compare it to.”
O’Donoghue wasn’t aware that Limerick have a bye in the opening round of the Munster SHC, which would suggest they have more reason than most to reach the Division 1A final.
They would be aiming to qualify for it regardless, insists the Na Piarsaigh man. “We’re definitely attacking the league. I presume most teams are like that. You’re going to be playing most of these teams in championship and I don’t think anyone wants to be losing games.”
The 31-year-old is currently filling the centre-back position he has held intermittingly in recent seasons. “Obviously, it’s only enjoyable when you’re winning,” he says of the role. “I didn’t enjoy last week. Is it enjoyable? Yeah. You need to be winning games. You need to be competitive. You need to be living by your values to be enjoying it. You’re not going to enjoy it if you’re not doing that.”
