Willie Devitt Limerick Native, Dublin Publican And Former Intercounty Hurler Defeat in last year's All-Ireland final, and more specifically the manner of that defeat was arguably the greatest hammer blow which Limerick hurling has ever received. Few (Offalymen included) would disagree with the commonly held view that, over the course of the Championship, Limerick were the best team in the country in 1994. Those last five minutes at Croke Park were shattering for everybody associated with the Limerick camp and many's the team less well endowed in the resilience department would have been destroyed by that heartbreaking defeat. But not Limerick. Tom Ryan's men are victims, but not fatalities, of last year's All-Ireland final. And judging by their impressive performance against Tipperary in the Munster semi-final a couple of weeks ago, the Limerickmen are out to set the record straight. In a repeat of the 1994 Munster final they take on Clare at Semple Stadium on July 9th next. Willie Devitt believes Limerick can progress. Willie Devitt - a former no mean hurler himself - hails originally from Doon in County Limerick and is co-proprietor of two of Dublin's most popular watering holes. Since 1977 Willie has been the proprietor of Devitt's, formerly the Cusack Stand, at 78 Lower Camden Street and he also is a partner in the Two Sisters bar and lounge at Wainsfort Drive, Terenure. His business partner is Andrew Barrane. The Two Sisters is a popular establishment often frequented by rugby followers. Devitt's, consisting of two floors, can accommodate up to three hundred people and caters for functions, parties etc. During collage term, a lot of students from Kevin Street socialise at Devitt's. Altogether, between full-time and part-time employees, sixteen persons are employed at Devitt's and the Two Sisters. Happily, both businesses are going well, notes Willie who comes from a farming background in east Limerick. It was as a young man that Willie Devitt arrived in Dublin in 1962, and he then proceeded to serve his apprenticeship as a barman. "After I had served my time we bought the Brewery Bar in Newport Street in 1972. We bought Devitt's in 1977 and sold Brewery Bar in '79 when we bought the Clock in Thomas Street. We then sold the Clock when we bought the Two Sisters," he explains. Willie gets a great deal of help in the running of the family business from his son Liam. Living in Dublin for over thirty years now, Willie Devitt hails from Doon, on the north Tipperary border in east Limerick. He hurled with Doon CBS and also with the local GAA club there, winning a Limerick Under 21 Championship medal with Doon in 1962, Willie played with the commercial club on an on and off basis from 1964 up until late 1969, returning home every now and then to represent Doon. In 1964 the Limerickman collected a Dublin Intermediate Championship with Commercials. Willie Devitt played with the Faughs club in Dublin between 1970 and'73 in which year he picked up a very serious eye injury. During his three years with the Faughs, two Dublin Senior Championship and three Leagues were picked up. Between '68 and '70 the man from Doon also played for Dublin at Intermediate level. Leinster Intermediate Championship medals were garnered in both '68 and '70, the Dubs finally losing out in the All-Ireland finals of those years to London and Antrim respectively. The affable city-based publican went on to represent Dublin at Senior level up until 1973. Lining out mostly at centre half back, and sometimes at corner back with Dublin, Willie Devitt came up against some truly great players during the course of his career. "Two of the best were Kieran Purcell and Pat Delaney of Kilkenny, but there were many other great players around at the time too. The likes of Donal Flynn and Willie Moore of Limerick and Dan Quigley and Tony Doran of Wexford were all exceptional players," he reflects. The club scene in Dublin was very strong at the time, all fifteen of the Faughs team (which Willie Devitt represented) having played intercounty at some level. Goalkeeper Mick Mahoney, for example, won an All-Ireland Under 21 medal with Tipperary. Paddy Spellman played with Offaly and Leinster, full back Eamonn Long who played for Clar, e 'Ned' Rea was a Limerick stalwart and an All-Ireland medallist in 1973. Maurice Walsh played with Galway and Dublin, Sean Buckley played with Kilkenny and John Hearne played with Waterford. Liam White was a Tipperary Under 21, Paddy O'Neill also represented the Premier County and Tim Maher played for Laois. "Altogether, I think we only lost three matches in four years," recalls Willie. Due to the eye injury, Willie found himself eventually having to give up the game. He remained involved behind the scenes, however, and was a selector with the Faughs for a number of years. He has also been involved on the committee of the Dublin branch of the Limerick Supporters Club of which 'Ned' Rea is current chairman. Bearing in mind the heartache which was brought by the sting in the tail at Croke Park, was 1994 a good year or a bad one for Limerick hurling point of view? Willie Devitt chooses to look on the bright side. "I think they had a great year," he enthuses. "Nobody expected them to beat Cork in the first round last year but they put in an excellent performance and continued in the same vein throughout their Munster Championship campaign. They were an outstanding team over the course of the year and were undoubtedly the best team in the county. They seemed to be going really well for the first 65 minutes of the All-Ireland final but then unfortunately lost their concentration in the closing minutes. Without taking anything away from Offaly, I think they'd admit themselves that they got out of jail." Was there ever any fear that the long term consequences of defeat in the year's All-Ireland final could ultimately have led the break-up of the team? "I knew that it might set them back a bit, but there was never any danger of the team breaking up. I know Senator Rory Kiely very well and, from talking to him, I knew the determination was there to bounce back. The match against Tipperary was a crucial one but, even if they lost it, I still think the team would have stayed together. All the players on the panel love their hurling and have great pride in the county jersey." So how will Tom Ryan's men fare when they come face to face with Clare in the Munster final for the second year in succession? Willie Devitt is confident. "If they play as well as they did against Tipperary in the semi-final, then they should beat Clare. But they'll have to watch themselves because Clare are a good side; they've been in three Munster finals in a row now and also got to this year's National League final. In fact, if it wasn't Limerick they were playing I'd like to see Clare win. They deserve some reward for their endeavour." Willie attempts to put his finger on exactly where Sunday's battle will be won or lost. "A lot will depend on how the half forwards and half backs of each side perform. That could be the key area. Gary Kirby had a great game against Tipp but this time the rest of the Limerick forwards will have to do their bit. They can't be relying on Kirby to shoulder all the responsibility. In fairness though, Damien Quigley had a good goal disallowed against Tipperary when the referee didn't play the advantage." We asked the Dublin-based publican whether or not he thinks Limerick can now go on to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup. "As well as the winners of this weekend's Clare/Limerick game, the likes of Kilkenny, Offaly and Galway all come into the picture. But, providing that they maintain their form, Limerick are in there with a great chance. If they had Ger Hegarty back then we'd all be feeling a lot more confident." It seems that hurling still holds an important place in Willie Devitt's list pf priorities. Just as it should be! Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 7th July, 1995 Tweet

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