Limerick's qualification for this year's All-Ireland hurling final has surprised many, but not former county under 21 star Eugene Mulcahy who always believed this team was capable of great things. Rated no higher than seventh in hurling's pecking order at the start of the year, Limerick have defied the odds this summer to reach their first All-Ireland hurling final since 1996. When Richie Bennis took up the managerial reins in June 2006, the Shannonsiders had just shipped one of their heaviest ever championship defeats against Clare in Ennis. Morale was at an all-time low, but Bennis' enthusiasm quickly rubbed off on the players and Limerick went on to give a very creditable performance against Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final. After a mixed National League campaign, Limerick have really caught fire in this year's championship. They've taken the prized scalps of Tipperary, Clare and Waterford, and now find themselves just 70 minutes away from a first Liam McCarthy Cup success in 34 years. One man who will be willing them on to victory over Kilkenny on September 2 is former county under 21 full back Eugene Mulcahy. Along with current captain Damien Reale, Kevin Tobin, Timmy Houlihan and Conor Fitzgerald, he featured in all three of Limerick's All-Ireland under 21 victories between 2000 and 2002, and is giving the Shannonsiders every chance. "Most of these lads have won All-Irelands at under 21 level, and what you're seeing this year is just a natural progression. They're coming of age," he says. "I played with Brian Geary, Donal O'Grady, Stephen Lucey, Brian Begley, Damien Reale and Andrew O'Shaughnessy to name but a few on those under 21 teams and I know just how good they are. I haven't been in the least bit surprised by how well Limerick have done this year. It's another step along the way for these lads." Mulcahy, who was part of the senior set-up in 2003 and 2004, believes the Munster semi-final victory over Tipperary, which was only achieved after three titanic battles, marked a turning point in Limerick's recent history. "All they needed to do was win one match and I knew they would take off," the Knockainey clubman remarks. "Before this year, there was a lot of negativity surrounding Limerick hurling and much of that had to do with the fact that we hadn't won a championship match since 2001. But after the first drawn match against Tipperary, the supporters really started to get behind the team and you could see how much it meant to them when Tipp were finally beaten in the third game. "There is a great set-up there at the moment with Richie Bennis and Gary Kirby, and the players are gaining in confidence all the time. They are taking on more and more responsibility and are really stepping up to the mark." Eugene feels Limerick have played a major role in making the 2007 hurling championship such a special one. "It's been the best championship in years, there have been some unbelievable twists and turns. Limerick have played their part, no doubt about that, they have been like a breath of fresh air. The three games against Tipp were incredible, and then you had the All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford as well. To score five goals against a team like Waterford was an amazing feat." Not for the first time this year, Limerick will be big outsiders against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Eugene believes it's a great position for them to be in, pointing out that they have revelled in the underdogs' role all season. "Limerick love proving the pundits wrong and it'll suit them to be underdogs again in the All-Ireland final. All the pundits were expecting it to be a Waterford-Kilkenny final before the semi-final, and I'm sure Limerick took huge satisfaction from ripping up the script." Mulcahy has no concerns about Limerick being overawed by the occasion, but feels they will need a good start if they are to topple the All-Ireland champions. "Limerick need a start like they had against Waterford if they are to beat this Kilkenny team. They can't let Kilkenny get a head start on them. They need to stay with Kilkenny and another five goals would be nice! "Limerick will match them physically and in terms of intensity, but they've got to stay with them. If you allow Kilkenny to get on top of you, they will murder you," he says. Eugene has represented Limerick at all levels of hurling as well as at minor and under 21 level in football. He was an inspirational figure at full back when the Shannonsiders dominated the under 21 grade in the early years of the millennium and was named man of the match when they defeated Galway in the 2002 decider. He made his senior hurling debut against Cork in the 2003 National League and while he has been out of the picture for a couple of years now, he still has ambitions to pull on the green jersey again. The 26-year-old has also represented Limerick IT in the Fitzgibbon Cup. Mulcahy plays senior hurling and junior football with the Knockainey club in South Limerick. Knockainey won county junior and intermediate hurling honours in 1991 and 2001 respectively, and reached the senior semi-final two years ago when they lost to Ahane. Last year wasn't so good - they only avoided relegation to the intermediate ranks by virtue of a play-off win over Dromin-Attaca. Eugene explains: "We've only played one championship game so far this year and we were beaten in that Claughaun, who were last year's intermediate winners. It means we must beat Doon in our next game to stay in the championship. "We have a good squad of players, including Patrick Kirby who was on the county panel last year. Having said that, William O'Brien has been a terrible loss to us. We lost William to Sudden Death Syndrome last year at the age of 28 and a lot of us are still trying to come to terms with that. He was a brilliant hurler and a great friend to all of us." Eugene is employed as a quantity surveyor with PJ Hegarty & Sons, and is currently working on the redevelopment of Thomond Park. The home of Munster rugby will have its capacity doubled from 13,500 to 27,000 when it is fully reopened next year. Headquartered in Inchicore, Dublin 12, PJ Hegarty & Sons is one of Ireland's largest construction companies, specialising in building and civil engineering works. In conclusion, Mulcahy says: "I want to wish Limerick the very best in the All-Ireland final. I've remained close friends with a good few of the lads and I've no doubt that they will give a good account of themselves." Tweet

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