Hurlers head for Ulster

JUSTIN McCarthy will utilise three games over this May Bank Holiday weekend to work towards finalising his starting 15 for next month’s Munster championship semi-final.
The Limerick senior hurlers journey north for two nights for a training weekend which will involve games against Antrim and Down on Saturday. Then on Tuesday night next, May 5, Limerick will play Tipperary at the official opening of the re-developed facilities at Lattin-Cullen GAA grounds.


A 33-man squad, together with management, Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan and Limerick GAA treasurer Owen Hayes, will make the journey north on Friday for a two-night stay.
On Saturday the group will be based in Pairc Mac Uilin, the GAA grounds of Ballycastle McQuillans - a small rural town situated on the most north-easterly tip of County Antrim.
For Limerick manager Justin McCarthy it will be a return to the county he guided to an All-Ireland intermediate title in 1970 - McQuillans had three representatives on that team; Paddy McShane and Eddie and Kevin Donnelly.
On Saturday the local club in Antrim have a schedule of events.
At 2.15pm Limerick play Down, while a second Limerick selection plays Antrim at 3.45pm. Then at 5.30pm the Heineken Cup semi-final between Munster and Leinster will be shown live on a big screen.
The challenge games with Antrim will offer an opportunity for Mark Foley and Ollie Moran to dust down the cobwebs after their prolonged breaks.
After returning to Limerick on Sunday Limerick will be back in action on Tuesday (7.00pm) in Lattin-Cullen GAA grounds.
This official re-opening of the local GAA grounds clashes with a full fixture list in Limerick’s All-County League so the make-up of Justin McCarthy’s side is unknown.
The facilities at Lattin-Cullen, the home club of Nicky English, have undergone radical change during the first decade of the 21st century.
Firstly, the pitch was drained and levelled which was followed by the erection of a covered stand that can cater for 590 seated patrons.
A floodlit all-weather training pitch and practice wall were added.
In 2008 a new building incorporating four dressing rooms, a referee’s room, meeting room and kitchen was completed. While Alan Kelly of Galway is referee on the night, the game will be officially started by George Ryan, who refeered the All-Ireland finals of 1979 and 1985.
GAA President Christy Cooney will perform the official -reopening, prior to the challenge game between the senior hurlers of Tipperary and Limerick. Admission is €10, with children admitted free of charge.

Jerome O’Connell