GRUESOME memories.

Some of the more softhearted Limerick supporters still have flashbacks, haunting images of tricoloured Offaly jerseys marauding all over the Croke Park sod. 1994. It should have been Limerick's year. A time to embrace the Liam McCarthy Cup take it across Sarsfield Bridge, and trample on the ghosts of old.

Defeat is never easy to accept, especially when you have worked your guts out in the quest for the holy grail and come within touching distance of achieving life's dream. Nothing to laugh about. Even Offaly players were wise enough to impose a form of self censorship. Nothing nice about gloating. No need to kick guys when they are down.

Some even suggested Limerick hurling would never recover.

Time heals. Two seasons on, Mike Galligan can even rescue a humorous side out of the carnage the tale of green draped fans who left the match five minutes before the end. "These lads were convinced we couldn't lose and went to a pub close to Croke Park for a victory drink. Watching television, they saw a player in an Offaly jersey go up the steps to collect the cup. And their reaction was God, you'd think Gary Kirby would at least have kept his own jersey on."

Those supporters enjoyed one victory drink before reality set in. The players are still waiting. "We still can't explain how we lost. A freak? Loss of concentration? Who knows?" asks Galligan. A harsh lesson, all the same.

And a lot has changed in those two years. Neighbours Clare have stolen their thunder. The Liam McCarthy Cup has spent the winter being feted in hostelries and clubs up and down the Burren. Across the Irish Sea. In American outposts as far away as Chicago. And, rubbing salt into wounds, hurling's cherished prize has even travelled across county boundaries in to Limerick.

Galligan is more philosophical than most about Clare's rise from the ashes. Working in Clare at the De Beers factory in Shannon and the butt end of constant slagging from Bannermen, the Limerick forward has developed a hard neck and a quick tongue.

"You have to give Clare credit. They had suffered two terrible Munster Final defeats to Tipperary in 1993 and ourselves in 1994. Not even Clare's own supporters held out too much hope at the start of the championship last year. Yet, they won the All Ireland and no one can take that from them."

The fight to take away Clare's crown begins in earnest tomorrow when Limerick attempt to become the first team to win a championship engagement against Cork in Cork for 72 years.

"A phenomenal record," says Galligan. But anyone expecting Limerick's hurlers to roll over and die easily will be left waiting. Limerick hurling is not dead.

Mike Galligan plays his club hurling when he can, in this day and age where the county invariably has first call with Claughan, a city club. He is a rare enough species in Limerick hurling. Only corner forward Damien Quigley of tomorrow's team is also a city slicker. Another, big Ger Hegarty is out injured.

STILL, the impact of the 1993 National League crown, then 1994's Munster Final win and the journey to Croke Park in quest of an even greater prize lives on, despite the disappointments. Galligan has even spotted young lads walking the streets of Limerick in so called GAA wastelands, places where rugby and soccer are known to hold sway with hurleys in their hands and a ball bouncing in front of them.

"Hurling in Limerick is, traditionally, a county thing Patrickswell, Ballybrown. Places three, four or more miles outside the city," says Galligan. But I have noticed more and more young fellas with hurleys around in recent years. It is great to see, gives you a lift."

Two years ago, Claughan was the only senior hurling club in the city. Incredible, really, in an urban area of Limerick's size, where rugby is treated with religious like zeal testified by the way Garryowen, Young Munster and Shannon have dominated the All Ireland League and junior soccer, if not the League of Ireland variety, has a large participation level.

Now, though, Old Christians and Na Piarsaigh have joined Claughan in the senior ranks and interest in the game is at a higher level than at any time since the glory days of the 70s.

"It is hard to imagine that just one senior club existed until recently in a city of 70 to 80,000, but that was the case, says Galligan. "It really is great to see the increased interest, mainly thanks to that Munster win and the work in the schools and clubs after it.

"However, I firmly believe hurling is its own downfall it is so hard to play. With soccer or rugby, it's easier. Just kick a ball, really. It is different with hurling, the skills involved. And you also have the added expense involved."

The clash of the ash may be exciting, but it still costs money to replace a stick. Whether it is in Croke Park or The Gaelic Grounds or in an under 12s match up the road.

Still, hurling's profile is on the up. Live televised matches. Sponsorship. And changes in the National League format, if only for a two year trial period. Galligan, for one, is a believer in the new way.

Two weeks ago, Limerick met Clare in a challenge match. They won. But a more important statistic is that a crowd of almost 6,000 watched the game. A challenge game. Imagine, that could just as easily have been a League match," he states. "I don't see any problem playing league and championship matches side by side. It happens in English soccer, and it doesn't seem to make any difference to the approach of players there.

"Nobody held back in that challenge match with Clare, though. Nobody said the championship is coming up, we better take it easy. So why couldn't it have been a League match? It would certainly give us better conditions than the winter and bigger crowds.

"The only possible obstacle could be the effect it has on clubs but, even as things stand, I haven't played a match for Claughan in over a month because of county commitments," says Galligan.

MIKE GALLIGAN is not a lover of the build up to big matches. Hates it with a passion. Would much prefer to get out, play the match. Get it over with. The training for this year's Munster Championship started back in October, really.

In January, it got really serious. Some were asked to undertake weight work, on top of the physical, stamina work. In the last few weeks, stick work and sharpness have taken over.

Hurlers are amateurs, if sometimes the demands placed on them on more akin to semi professional players like those in Aussie Rules. "It is part and parcel of playing," says Galligan. "It is what you have to do. Every team in the country has the same approach. If you don't train hard, you can't expect to survive.

"We have been training, working for this one match for the past six to eight months. It could all go in 70 minutes."

That's the reality. Then, there is the luck factor. Limerick know all about that. Galligan's memory, in fact, drifts back to the 1992 championship encounter against Cork, five seconds when defeat was copper fastened.

Anthony Carmody clear through the centre. The shot is blocked, cleared down the other end. Tomas Mulcahy grabs the sliothar. Did he throw it up twice? Doesn't matter. Back of the net, and Cork are six points clear. Small things happen quickly in hurling.

Luck, as much as all those months of hard graft, could determine tomorrow's outcome. Still, you stand no chance at all if all the preparations don't take place.

"Things have gone well. Last year (nine points defeat to Clare in the provincial final) was a bit of a set back, but it is all behind us now," says Galligan.

Mike Houlihan's return is an added bonus. Not alone has he defied the medical profession, he has surprised his team mates. Last month he got a kick from a heifer. Everyone thought he would miss the summer's hurling. Last week he got the wire taken out of his jaw. This week he was named in the side to play Cork.

Maybe miracles are working in Limerick hurling.