11 months on from scoring his vital second-half goal in the 2018 All-Ireland Hurling final win over Galway, Limerick's Tom Morrissey is excited to be heading back to Croke Park.
The Treaty take on Kilkenny in the first of this year's semi-finals on Saturday evening. After ending their 45-year wait to lift the Liam MacCarty last year, Limerick find themselves as favorites, a tag they won't be used to when preparing to take on a Brian Cody side.
Morrissey though was calm as he spoke to Off the Ball's Valerie Wheeler this week.
"As a group inside in our own camp, there's been no talk of it. Even if it does seep in as players we're well used to coping with that expectation."
"The way that we've handled it so far this year; coming in winning the league and the Munster on the back of our All-Ireland success last year shows that this group is able for any hype that might surround us, we're well able to stay focused on the job we have to do."
"It's a bit different from this time last year - we were coming in under the radar, not much was being expected of us, completely different this year but we're not going to get into any of that talk, we know the challenge Kilkenny will bring to us and that will be a huge test and we're looking forward to it but hoping obviously to get over it."
The Morrisey household will be awash with both excitement and perhaps anxiety this week with both Tom and his brother Dan set to line out. His sense of togetherness is striking though as he smiles thinking about it.
"The family will be excited but we try and get all distractions with tickets and stuff like that out of the way and get the family sorted as early as possible so that we can have a clear head coming in and be fully focused."
"Championship week is championship week, you go to your training sessions, eat right and look after yourself."
"I have no special ritual or anything like that...I just like keeping myself busy, not occupying my mind on the match. Anything but the match is what I like to go through my head in the days leading up to a big game."
It's a testament to John Kiely, his backroom team and his players just how calm this group has remained. Comparing their season as reigning All-Ireland Champions to their predecessors Galway; they're miles apart.
They've not only handled being champions over the last year well, they've taken it in their stride; adding to their success; laying down a marker that they're going nowhere and have back-to-back All-Ireland's insight.
"I don't think you go into an All-Ireland semi-final lacking hunger anyway."
"When we completed the treble by winning that Munster title a few weeks ago it was huge for this group of players but I don't think hunger is a question coming into this game, we want to go on and achieve more."
"Time flies, I can't imagine that 12 months has nearly gone that we were in Croke Park at the same stage last year in the competition but to be in an All-Ireland semi-final, to be there again is definitely satisfying but we have still have to finish the job."
Much has been discussed of the three-week break Limerick has had to prepare for this game compared to Kilkenny's two since they beat Cork in the quarter-finals. Morrisey though isn't reading too much into this and is in no way naive of the opposition they face.
"We got a few days off after the Munster title to enjoy that so I think it'll stand to us to have got that little break and I don't think it'll affect our intensity levels, there will be no flatness there."
"You know exactly what you're going to get with Kilkenny though, they bring a huge intensity and a huge work-rate always, they've quality hurlers there as well. We just about got over the line in a thriller game with them last year and we're expecting nothing different this Saturday."
As Morrisey lamented to and as the phrase goes 'time flies when you're having fun.' Limerick are the embodiment of a team enjoying what they're doing, appreciating where they are, young lads living out their dream.
They've given performances this year in the National League and Munster Championship that are worthy of champions. Also, they've given these with excellent attitudes; the sense of joy in the camp is clear to see as well as he looks ahead to Saturday's clash.
"To be up in Croke Park...at the business end of the championship is the best feeling as a player that you can look forward to and to play in it is an unreal experience."
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