Although the emphasis throughout Limerick's eye-catching league campaign was on Eamonn Cregan's prudent investment in youth, one of the survivors from the bright summers of the mid-1990s has stood alone.

After consecutive opening championship defeats by Cork and Waterford, the general feeling was that it was time to jettison sentiment and fond memories, and start rebuilding the blocks.

Names that propped the county's ambitions in the nearly years gradually fell away. But that of TJ Ryan glows more brightly than ever now.

The Garryspillane player found himself on the bench for last year's championship game against Waterford, eventually coming in and battling through a frenetic last quarter which saw Limerick gain sympathy after being squeezed out, but also acquire the perception that it would be a while before they would re-group to trouble anyone again. Hurling in the county was temporarily derailed through uncertainty, with no clear direction as the Munster-winning side of 1994 and 1996 was disassembled by time.

Ryan felt stricken by the general malaise.

"Ah, I suppose I wasn't hurling all that well last year if I am to be honest about it," he reflected earlier in the week. "Maybe if we could have got through that game, things might have fallen into place but it wasn't to be. And the fact that we had had a poor league also probably left very few people with any expectations of us last year."

After hesitant beginnings, Limerick's past league campaign snowballed nicely, with Cregan's raw young side unfussily chalking up some notable results.

Underlying those wins, however, was the typically bold innovative streak pencilled in by the manager for the second game, when he marched Brian Begley, last year's full back, up to the front line and asked TJ Ryan, for years a roaming attacker with his county, how he felt he'd look in a number three jersey. TJ shrugged and said he'd give it a bash.

"Well, I had played at half back with the club for many seasons so in that sense it wasn't a huge transition to make. But I mean, yeah, full back is a position at which you are perpetually learning and, ultimately, you are the last line of defence.

"But the reality is that if a full forward is getting a steady, quality supply of ball into him, he will put some scores up. Of course, it's up to the full back to minimise those but the top forwards will take some chances. So on days when the half-back line are cutting out that supply, your job as a full back is that bit more easy."

The apparent ease with which Ryan took to the role was, nonetheless, remarkable. First day out, he held All-Star John Troy to a point during a comprehensive win against Offaly. A fortnight later, Clare's Conor Clancy shouldered up alongside him and failed to disturb the umpires. Galway's Ollie Fahy nailed 1-2 on an afternoon when the Limerick defence creaked a little but Ryan again drew appreciative words during a guileful afternoon.

His most trying afternoon was, perhaps, his most recent, when he became embroiled in a heated battle against Tipperary's Paul Shelly, who finished with two points.

"When TJ first went in at full back, I did wonder if it would suit him," says former team-mate Gary Kirby. "I felt it might be a bit tight for him, a bit restricting. But he has brought all his natural hurling skills to the position and having seen him in the games, he has definitely been impressive."

Not that Ryan is taking anything for granted. Early last year, the performances of Begley as Limerick's full back seemed like the one source of optimism throughout an ordinary league. Against Waterford, though, with Paul Flynn in a groove, his rawness cost him a little. That he has made the transition to full forward with such immediate impact is testimony to his all-round ability. But Begley's experience served to reinforce the old cliche about reputations being forged in the hot months.

And so tomorrow, TJ Ryan, since 1994 an inventive cog in Limerick's attack (he has hit 2-21 in 17 championship outings), finds himself as gamekeeper against three of the most elusive tricksters in the country.

"To be honest, I can't really say there is one type of forward I prefer to see over the other. With Cork, well, Joe Deane, Ben O'Connor, Seanie McGrath . . . take your pick. They are all phenomenal attacking players. I'm sure we'll have our hands full. Again, it will depend on the supply they get in. But with lads like Stephen McDonagh and Joe Quaid around, you do feel as if you have safe hands around you."

When the last Limerick team peaked in the mid-1990s, it seemed that luck was the one component lacking. After 1996, there was a sense that their time had faded again and that, ultimately, the era would be streaked with regret. Ryan sees it differently.

"We did get to two All-Irelands which I think confirms that that particular team had a lot of quality. And no we didn't win, which was devastating at the time, but that's how it goes. We still had a couple of marvellous seasons. And now we feel as if we are heading in the right direction again." And yet, it could all be put on ice after tomorrow. The draw could scarcely have been more testing for what remains a novice team. "It really is hard to pick weaknesses in that Cork team. Like, last year, they were rock solid down the middle and the forwards were flying it. Very competitive at centrefield. All strong links. And now they have the invaluable experience that comes with winning a championship. In that sense, it is a tough prospect."

The one solace is that Cork, not so long ago, were a lot like Limerick - fresh-faced and unproven.

"That Cork came through with a young team has to be encouraging. I feel that if we could just get through this game, then things could start to gain momentum. But it's a hell of a test. If we can keep it close until the last quarter, well then, hopefully, we'll be in with a real shout."