Shane Dowling believes there will have been "a bit of emotion" in the Limerick camp this weekend ahead of Sunday's crucial Munster Hurling Championship clash with Tipperary.
Earlier in the week, rumours quickly spread that Gearóid Hegarty had been dropped from the panel. Those turned out to be without foundation. The 2020 Hurler of the Year has been named to start on Sunday.
"What's going on is you probably have three to four really sad individuals that are stuck in a room with four walls and the blinds down," 2018 Limerick All-Ireland winner Dowling told the RTÉ GAA podcast.
"They're bored and thinking 'What can I do to get myself traction this week to pass some time?' Unfortunately, people have bought into what them losers have done. Social media, it is the devil on so many occasions.
"If you're John Kiely this week, you're probably delighted. When you're All-Ireland champions for three years in a row, and people are telling you you're brilliant and you can't be beaten, at times you need something.
"Limerick are very process driven, as are most other counties, but sometimes you need emotion. Limerick will certainly have a bit of emotion this week. It's great for John, and the players, to say 'We've seen everybody is against us. There is only one way to put this thing to bed'. That's what's going to happen.
"As far as I am aware, there is absolutely nothing going on at all, and it's just sad to see what happens."
29 April 2023; Cian Lynch of Limerick in action against Adam Hogan of Clare during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 2 match between Limerick and Clare at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Another reason for that emotion is Limerick's season being on the line. It's three weeks since Clare defeated the three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions, and they have just the opening round victory against Waterford under their belts.
Limerick go into the game against Tipperary knowing a loss and a win for Cork against Clare would eliminate them from the championship.
'Limerick are going to come with something different this Sunday'
"Knowing Paul Kinnerk like I know him, the Limerick players may have taken a week off but I'd say he hasn't taken a second off," said Dowling.
"That will be annoying him that there's a perception out there that teams know how to turn over Limerick. I think Limerick are going to come with something different this Sunday - I don't know what it is.
"What was really interesting in the league semi-final [against Tipperary] was that Limerick got no opportunities for a goal. The only goal they got was through Peter Casey and that came from a mishit shot out the field that dropped short.
"While Tipperary have leaked a load of goals in the championship, not so much in the league. If there's one thing Limerick will be going after this week, it's 'How can we do what other teams have done in getting those goals [against Tipperary]?'
"Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans will be saying, 'Right, we have now leaked enough goals, we need to stop this'. It will be interesting to what happens and who comes out on top in that side of it."
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