‘These players will blossom’

DESPITE seeing Limerick drop into division four of the National Football League Mickey Ned O’Sullivan remained defiant in the face of a three-point defeat to Offaly in Tullamore.
“We have discovered some good young players who will be playing into the future for Limerick - three of our forwards, for example, are under-21. These players will blossom,” explained Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
“We have a committed bunch of players and although they didn’t play particularly well on Sunday that doesn’t mean that they have become a poor team over night. The team got relegated and as manager I have to take responsibility for that.
“I know it’s bad news for Limerick football, but it’s not the end of the world. We’ll get back up there again and we will be ready for the championship.”
Limerick finished on six points alongside Louth, Cavan and Roscommon. But once the respective scoring differences were factored in Limerick (-11) were down.
“Oh, we’re very disappointed, very disappointed,” Mickey Ned O’Sullivan said.
“We just didn’t get out of the blocks in the first half at all. And, because of our first half display we didn’t deserve to win, but on the plus side we played exceptionally well in the second half. It’s very difficult for a team to lift themselves when they are ten points down at half time. Our lads had to lift it and they did.
“This is a very competitive group of players and they never give up. We found ourselves in a very competitive group and had some other results gone our way we could have survived, but there’s no point in blaming anything or anyone.”
Now O’Sullivan only has eyes for the Munster championship and Limerick’s trip to face Tipp in Semple Stadium on May 24.
“Now we have to look forward.
“It won’t be difficult to get this group of players going for the championship. It won’t be a problem to motivate the players for the game against Tipperary.
“They’re good lads and they will be ready for it.”

Brian McDonnell