'Next man up' key to Limerick success - Flanagan

'Next man up' is the Limerick philosophy and former Treaty star Seamus Flanagan feels that spread of potential match-winners will be crucial in Sunday's All-Ireland final against Galway.

Flanagan was a key figure in each of Limerick's Liam MacCarthy Cup triumphs that began with a 2018 victory over Galway and while his time in county colours drew to a close at the end of last season, he is well aware of what makes his former team-mates tick.

Although Limerick have not hit the same heights they were able to reach at the beginning of the decade, they have still collected every trophy available in 2026 and stand 70 minutes away from a clean sweep.

When the chips were down against Clare in the semi-final, they found a way as they stuck to the task and struck for home when Aidan O'Connor grabbed what proved to be the decisive goal.

"While they aren't playing their best hurling, they are a dangerous animal going in because we know what we can do," said Flanagan, who will be on punditry duty for BBC Sport NI this week.

"Look at the last day and Gearoid [Hegarty] pulling them out of the fire; Cian [Lynch], Aidan [O'Connor] and Adam [English] with that last play [goal]. It was very much a smash and grab against Clare, but you still look at it and you have a league title, a Munster title and come Sunday, you could have an All-Ireland title.

"It's another season where it hasn't been such a high standard, it can still be an immense season and one of the best they have had should they win."

When John Kiely's men made the breakthrough in 2018 to end a 45-year wait for top honours, it proved the opening act of their own dynasty, winning four-in-a-row between 2020 and 2023.

They were viewed as the young pretenders then, going in against a Galway side that won Liam MacCarthy the previous year and while there is an element of roles reversed this time, the fact the Tribesmen still boast members of their last title win, Flanagan believes it will make a big difference.

"In 2018, I wouldn't say we had baggage, but in Limerick it was the 45-year wait and all of that," he reflected.

"Whether it was Nickie [Quaid], Declan [Hannon] or Shane [Dowling] - none had climbed that hill, but Galway have the nice blend of players who have been there and done it, plus the young guns who are playing with reckless abandon where they don't fear anyone.

"I feel Galway are in a stronger position because you can have a Jason Rabbitte going to a Daithi Burke to ask what it's like to win an All-Ireland final and how you prepare for that."

Limerick have bags of experience and medals in their ranks, plus the brains trust of manager John Kiely and coach Paul Kinnerk, "two men who I'd want in my corner to plot and plan" according to Flanagan who is now embarking upon his own managerial career with Boherlahan/Dualla in Tipperary.

No stone will be left unturned in Limerick as they devise a plan for Galway, who have shown different looks in this year's championship, making some tweaks against Cork in the semi-final to take over in the second half.

While Flanagan feels that gives Galway a "wildcard", the intelligence on the Limerick sideline and on the field can help them make their own adjustments.

"Galway know exactly how Limerick is going to set up to a man, maybe until the last five minutes when they may rotate in Gearoid to the inside line, whereas Galway have this wildcard they can play as Limerick don't know what Galway will turn up.

"Will Cathal Mannion play as far back as he did against Cork, or will he push up to create a three in midfield as he did in the second half against Cork? Maybe he will play as a strict 11 on Will O'Donoghue and drag him left and right.

"Gavin Lee may pick up 'Hego' [Hegarty] and Limerick don't have the same threat inside that Cork have, so maybe they don't need Cathal Mannion back there covering, so it's so interesting as Micheal Donoghue is such a shrewd operator.

"Limerick will have to adapt, but that is their strong suit: that in-game management in Cian [Lynch], Will [O'Donoghue], Diarmaid [Byrnes], Kyle [Hayes] and across the board with people able to make on-field decisions, and John and Paul give them the liberty to do that."

It's not been vintage Limerick at times this year and there have been some concerns raised by Arron Gillan's recent dip in form, but Flanagan believes the four-time All-Star will be "champing at the bit" and expects "a big performance" from the Patrickswell man.

While Gillane hasn't hit the heights in recent games, Limerick has been able to call upon others including Hegarty, O'Connor, Lynch and Byrnes whose point-scoring ability from deep "is worth two to Limerick as he is such a crowd favourite".

"Galway are going to shut down some of the Limerick players, but there is someone else who will step up as they have so much quality across the board," Flanagan continued.

"For Galway, it's putting out as many fires as they can, but it's a harder task than it's made out to be.

"I've been impressed by Galway, but the way Limerick are building into it, not playing so well, they have got over the line, and it shows their resilience."