FOLLOWING his visit to the ancient Inca Empire, Tom Morrissey is ready to play his part in the hope that the Limerick empire strikes back in 2025.
The Limerick wing-forward, 28, and his girlfriend Elaine have just returned from a three-month trek around South America that took in seven different countries.
Morrissey was in awe at the wonders of Machu Picchu. Christ the Redeemer was another highlight as the trip drew to a close in Brazil.
Limerick have some redemption of their own to pursue after their dreams of a fifth All-Ireland SHC title on the bounce were dashed in 2024.
And having been pardoned from their pre-season preparations, Morrissey is keen to catch up.
After landing back in Ireland on Friday, he trained on Saturday along with the other players who were not selected for the clash with Cork.
The break has left the three-time All-Star feeling ‘refreshed and hungry to go again’ for his 11th season on the Limerick panel. Yet the foundations were being laid while he was still abroad.
Morrissey said: “As soon as Christmas hit, the new year, I started finding gyms over there and running the streets to make sure that I was in some bit of proper condition when I got home.
“I’m sure I’m still not where I want to be and there’s work to be done. And on the hurling side there’s definitely a bit of brushing up to be done.
“But at the same time, I’m confident that with a few weeks of practice and training with the lads, I’ll be up to speed in no time.”
Morrissey hopes to feature before the end of a National League campaign that started for Limerick with a feisty 1-16 apiece draw against Cork last weekend.
It was a first competitive outing for the Treaty since their long reign as All-Ireland champions was ended by the Rebels last summer.
Reflecting on the two-point loss at Croke Park Morrissey admitted: “It obviously hurt a lot in the immediate aftermath.
“But at the moment we’re probably about six months on from it. I’ve been out of the country for three of those months and I wasn’t really thinking too much about hurling in general for those three.
“Look, it’s in the past now. It was what it was.
“We’ll try and take learnings from it, both us and I’m sure the management as well, because obviously we don’t want that to happen again this year.”
The Division 1A campaign will resume for Limerick with Sunday’s visit of Tipperary to the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
The teams will meet again on April 20 when John Kiely’s side launch their bid for a SEVENTH consecutive Munster SHC title.
Morrissey continued: “We lost two games to Cork last year. You just can’t have any complaints really. It’s just that you weren’t good enough.
“I think it’s similar when you look back to 2019 and we lost to Kilkenny.
“We had lost two games in Munster that year and you can’t be giving out about not winning an All-Ireland when you’re losing two games or more in a season.
“There are definitely learnings and things you look back on when you reflect on the year as a whole, because you don’t just lose an All-Ireland semi-final on the day.
“I know some people think you do but there are probably things that could have been done maybe throughout the year, individually and as a team, that lead to you not performing to your absolute best.”
Asked if Limerick allowed their high standards to slip, Morrissey said: “There are definitely things that maybe could have been done better. I haven’t done a microscope job on it.
“Maybe John and the team have. But maybe there were bits and pieces.
“It’s not just on the day where you lose a game. It’s the culmination of the year where performances might have been inconsistent or not good enough and that comes to what you’re doing in training.
“Clearly we maybe weren’t good enough all through the year last year if you’re not going to be the best at the end of the year.”
*TOM MORRISSEY was speaking at the announcement of Solgar as official vitamin partner of the GAA/GPA.
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