‘Our targets are performance related not points related’

ELEVEN weeks before their Munster championship quarter-final in Thurles, Limerick and Tipperary clash this Sunday (2.30) in the Allianz National Football League.
The dress rehearsal takes place in Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock as the neighbours meet in round three of Division Three of the NFL.
Sunday is the first of four successive weekends of league action, which will determine if Limerick can live up to the expectations of the bookies, who now make Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side as second favourites for promotion.
“Championship is a different kettle of fish,” Mickey Ned O’Sullivan told Leader Sport this week ahead of Sunday’s game.
While the sides meet on May 24 in Semple Stadium, they also met last season in the championship in Fermoy, when Limerick were 1-8 to 1-5 winners.
“Obviously we have to go out and get two league points - we will put out our strongest team available. Tipperary are in the same league as ourselves - they have some good footballers and there is always very little between the teams,” O’Sullivan added.
The Limerick manager pointed to Tipperary’s win in Cavan in the last round, three weeks ago.
“To go up north and get a result is always great for any team,” said O’Sullivan.
Limerick welcomed back Drom-B’dford’s Seanie Buckley and Gary Egan to training this week, but it is unlikely they will be considered for Sunday.
Micheal Reidy is to take some time to consider his future while Jason Stokes is to take a month off to rest a recurring injury.
Jim O’Donovan and Andrew Lane will be absent through injury on Sunday while Diarmuid Carroll is back in training after a number of months in Australia and fellow defender Pa Ranahan is due back from his travels in the next week.
Limerick’s trio of dual players; Stephen Lucey, Mark O’Riordan and Stephen Walsh will be available on Sunday.
“Our targets are performance related not points related - then again if we perform the points will look after themselves,” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan and selectors; Joe Redington and Paddy Ivess and coach Donie Buckley are to reduce the squad to championship size this week.
“I think we have increased our options. The players are coming on steadily, they are certainly fitter now - we concentrated since the Louth game on fitness.
“We have four games on the trot now, so we will lower the level in training to get through the games.”
After this weekend, Limerick will play Cavan under the lights of Breffini Park on Saturday March 14 in round four of the NFL.
On Friday, March 13 Limerick will be in Munster under-21 football championship action.
Ollie Coffey’s side play Clare under lights in Cooraclare.
The return of Bobby O’Brien from Australia has bolstered the options for a squad that will have Ian Ryan, Ger Collins, Cormac Joyce Power and Pa Mullins as the leading lights.

Jerome O'Connell