Injury Time . . . with Jerome O'Connell

THE county senior football championship kicks off this weekend and it will be a welcome break from the inter-county scene.
Following the relegation to the bottom tier of the National Football League, a return to the grassroots of the club championship will help to alleviate the doom and gloom surrounding football in the county.
I was on holidays last week when Limerick’s relegation was confirmed to Division Four of the NFL.
The debate as to whether Mickey Ned O’Sullivan should be sacked has passed.
And, last Friday evening a post-league meeting between the football management, officials of the football board and the players agreed to put their best foot forward and move collectively towards the championship.
It’s too late now to be calling for heads to roll.
But let me say, without any doubt, that this group of Limerick senior footballers must contest the Munster senior football final on July 5.
I firmly believe that the squad of players available to Limerick at present, is more talented than that available to John Evans in Tipperary or Frank Doherty in Clare.
All rejoiced when Limerick avoided Kerry and Cork in the provincial championship draw - now is the time for the players, management and officials to ensure that a season full of optimism reaches its potential.
There can be many varied opinions and excuses for the league performance, but D-Day on May 24 in Semple Stadium in Thurles will be judgement day.
There is certainly no arrogance attached to Limerick football, but I don’t think it is out of order to suggest that this squad of players should be beating Tipperary and Clare.
Many of the current players were mixing it with the best in Division One just a couple of seasons ago and all still have plenty football left in their legs.
And, that’s not to mention last season’s championship performances against top notch sides like Cork, Meath and Kildare.
Let’s just hope that all will roll up their sleeves and that the best performances are being saved for when it matters - the championship.
To date Munster football championship results in 2009 have not inspired football followers in the county. The under-21 footballers exited tamely in Cooraclare against Clare when they were clearly good enough to win.
Then in the last 10 days the county’s minor footballers fell at the first hurdle possible in their championship. Firstly came the 2-12 to 1-6 loss to Cork which had sprinklings of promise.
However, the backdoor offered no joy, when Waterford were 0-9 to 0-6 winners this Monday night.
Even after the loss to The Rebels John Colbert’s side could have had the possibility of playing four games of championship football which would no doubt have benefited the squad greatly.
But it was not to be and a poor first quarter and a total of 12 wides saw Limerick exit.
This weekend football followers will look for indicators of form from the varying inter-county senior players on display with their clubs.
The presence of Munster club champions Dromcollogher-Broadford brings a new element to what should be a keenly-contested competition.
There is no doubting that the Munster champions will be a target for all sides and they find themselves in a most interesting group.
Joining John Brudair’s side in Group One are 2007 champions Ballylanders, 2006 champions Fr. Casey’s, 2005 champions Monaleen, ever-improving St. Senan’s and Hospital-Herbertstown. Drom-B’dford and Ballylanders are the big guns and it is interesting that neither compete in the All-County League.
The possibilities in Group Two are endless with all six sides harbouring ideas of progressing to the semi-final or quarter-final.