Despite winning the man-of-the-match award, Hickey addressed the media crestfallen after his side were edged out by Kilkenny in last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.
“Two days later, and it’s less raw. I suppose the reason it hurt so much, for each and every one of us, was that we saw the finish line and that we had the noses in front. We had the momentum, and we were rocking and then we were rocked by them,” explained Hickey who was talking tonight to Newstalk’s Off The Ball.
Despite leading for long periods throughout the game, Limerick trailed Kilkenny by a single point after Richie Power’s late goal. Yet despite dominating possession in the closing minutes, the Treaty could not break the “13 man” Kilkenny defence.
“I thought we’d get a point and that we’d peg it back, but it was a real display of intelligent hurling by Kilkenny.
“On a dry day putting 13 bodies behind the ball is a waste of time, because you can be picked off from distance — but there wasn’t a chance of hitting the ball 65 yards at the end of that game.
“Considering our hurleys were soaked through, our jerseys were soaked through, our socks were soaked through, and they had an awful lot of blocks and hooks there in the last ten minutes as they had so many bodies behind there.
“We had a lot of ball in the last 10 minutes but we just couldn’t get it over the bar.”
Michael Fennelly lost his boot in the wet conditions. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Despite failing to get over the line, Limerick, and Hickey in particular, did contribute immensely to an enthralling battle between two teams who left their all on the pitch – although for Hickey the plaudits for his own personal performance has not at all eased the pain of the defeat.
“It’s as bad a dressing room as I’ve been in, and it wasn’t feeling sorry for ourselves, it was just that we could see the opportunity. We could see it floating by,” explained Hickey.
“Everything I’ve learnt about the physicality of the game has come from a black and amber jersey, unfortunately. So I suppose every standard that’s been set in hurling, in terms of physicality has been set by Kilkenny from 2004 and 2009.
“I’ll tell you exactly what I was thinking (in those final minutes), when these hits were coming in – you just couldn’t stop, you were just thinking I have to get another hit in here.”
'Everything I've learnt about physicality, I've learnt from a black and amber jersey' - Seamus Hickey
IT’S NOT AS raw now, explained Seamus Hickey – two days after his emotional post-match interview at the weekend.
Despite winning the man-of-the-match award, Hickey addressed the media crestfallen after his side were edged out by Kilkenny in last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.
“Two days later, and it’s less raw. I suppose the reason it hurt so much, for each and every one of us, was that we saw the finish line and that we had the noses in front. We had the momentum, and we were rocking and then we were rocked by them,” explained Hickey who was talking tonight to Newstalk’s Off The Ball.
Despite leading for long periods throughout the game, Limerick trailed Kilkenny by a single point after Richie Power’s late goal. Yet despite dominating possession in the closing minutes, the Treaty could not break the “13 man” Kilkenny defence.
“I thought we’d get a point and that we’d peg it back, but it was a real display of intelligent hurling by Kilkenny.
“Considering our hurleys were soaked through, our jerseys were soaked through, our socks were soaked through, and they had an awful lot of blocks and hooks there in the last ten minutes as they had so many bodies behind there.
“We had a lot of ball in the last 10 minutes but we just couldn’t get it over the bar.”
Despite failing to get over the line, Limerick, and Hickey in particular, did contribute immensely to an enthralling battle between two teams who left their all on the pitch – although for Hickey the plaudits for his own personal performance has not at all eased the pain of the defeat.
“Everything I’ve learnt about the physicality of the game has come from a black and amber jersey, unfortunately. So I suppose every standard that’s been set in hurling, in terms of physicality has been set by Kilkenny from 2004 and 2009.
“I’ll tell you exactly what I was thinking (in those final minutes), when these hits were coming in – you just couldn’t stop, you were just thinking I have to get another hit in here.”
John Gardiner column – Epic battle in rain leaves Limerick heartbroken as Kilkenny survive
Seamus Hickey’s emotional TV interview – ‘It’s raw now at the moment’
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2 days on Championship 2014 All-Ireland Senior HC World Cup 2014 GAA Kilkenny Limerick