Martin Fogarty: Limerick's skill the key to their success

Ahead of the start of the new hurling season, Martin Fogarty says other counties must focus on matching the sublime skill levels of Limerick if they want to dethrone them.

Fogarty has just recently completed a five-year term as the GAA's National Hurling Development Manager and says the game is currently in a phenomenal place at the top level.

While a huge focus remains on Limerick’s physical conditioning, he reckons it’s the Shannonsiders proficiency under pressure that really sets them apart.

"You hear a lot of talk going around about their conditioning, but Limerick have a very talented batch of players, their skill levels are absolutely superb, and they didn’t come out of nowhere," Fogarty says.

"As a group they have everything you want in a team, skill, speed and power – and I feel other teams must focus on aspiring to get up to those skill levels. By that I mean working on the ability to put a ball into a lad’s hand from 70m out whilst on the run, slotting it over the bar from diagonal runs, they have those executed to a very high degree. They consistently perform those skills at the highest level and that’s why I’m looking forward to the league – and the championship.

"Remember, the best of teams are only ever one game from defeat and you never know when that defeat is coming and despite the perceived gap between Limerick and the rest I think there are plenty in pack who can hope to catch them."

With his term complete, Fogarty looks back on five years that saw well over 1,000 coaching sessions completed across every county. Like Paudie Butler before him in the region of 300,000 miles were clocked up on his car. With no indication of a replacement as of yet, Fogarty says the game is in a good place at the top level at