Hutchinson "not getting carried away" with Munster on the horizon

Ballygunner forward Dessie Hutchinson says they won't be getting ahead of themselves with the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship on the horizon.

The Gunners recently landed an 11th consecutive county title and are now seeking to make it four-in-a-row in Munster.

They'll go up against the Limerick champions at the Gaelic Grounds on November 3rd - as Na Piarsaigh meet Derek McGrath's Doon in the county final this Sunday.

Hutchinson says they know well no matter who they face in Munster, it will prove a serious challenge.

"Sometimes people get ahead of themselves in terms of us in Ballygunner and maybe going on to All-Irelands and stuff like that, but we're under no illusions that the Munster Club Championship is so tough. We're going up to Limerick for the third year in a row and we know what it's like up there and we know that if you're not on your game up there, you're going to be knocked off. That's the challenge for us is to be ready for that, and whoever comes out of that final in two weeks' time - we have to be prepared for them. In fairness to Derek, he's doing great work with Doon up there and that's going to be a great final and one we'll be keeping a close eye on - but look, it doesn't matter who's on what sideline, we know what we have to do against any team. Both Doon and Na Piarsaigh are filled with Limerick stars and very good club players then as well. The task is going to be massive and one we have to be ready for."

Managing that sense of expectation isn't something that Hutchinson expects to be any particular issue.

"We've had enough experience over the last few years to be able to deal with that correctly and we know that if you don't focus on what's next in terms of what game you're playing, it's very tough to win games. You can't take an eye off anyone and that has been no different in Waterford from the first round to the county final. We've taken every game, game by game, and that can't change going into a tough championship like this one. You're always going to have dreams of winning All-Irelands and stuff like that, but in order to do that, you need to be able to make sure you're performing consistently in the games leading to that."