Injury Time . . . with Jerome O'Connell

A meeting of all senior hurling clubs in the county is to be organised to discuss the future structure of the county senior hurling championship.
The 2009 championship, which commences on the weekend of May 29/30/31, is to be the last of the three years of the current format.
Currently Limerick has 15 senior hurling clubs with an inter-divisional team completing the make-up of the championship.
It is proposed that officials of the varying clubs will sit down with representatives of the County Board executive to explore all possibilities.
Last December the Milford GAA club put a novel proposal before Limerick’s Annual Convention.
That proposal was withdrawn, but could be one of the possible suggestions.
Milford were looking for all four divisions to play in the county championship and thus increase the championship to 20 teams.


Secondary schools
THREE Limerick secondary schools have been pin-pointed by the Munster Council for a new Gaelic Football coaching initiative.
SMI Newcastle West, John the Baptist Community School in Hospital and Colaiste Mhuire in Bruff will all get specialist coaching for the next three to four years after recommendations from a Munster Council sub-committee, which was chaired by Limerick man John Landers. Three secondary schools in each of Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary have been identified in a bid to raise the standard of Gaelic Football in the counties.
Starting next September, the under-14 football sides in the three schools will be targeted.
The ultimate goal is that the schools would be in a position to play in the Corn Ui Mhuiri (Munster senior colleges A football championship) within four years. Qualified coaches will provide the extra coaching, while a number of blitzes between the participating schools are also planned.
The initiative is to be broadly welcomed and all await the positive results. But, perhaps a Limerick city school could have been included.

GAA celebrations
AS part of the GAA’s continuing 125 year celebrations the Munster Council will be honouring the captains of the winning hurling and football teams of the last 25 years as guests of Munster GAA at this year’s Munster GAA Championship finals.
Unfortunately, just hurlers Gary Kirby and Ciaran Carey will be necessary to represent Limerick.
In addition, the Munster Council will select a team of the last 25 years in both hurling and football.
With just two Munster senior hurling championships from that period and no All-Ireland title, Limerick representation could be limited.
Winning captains; Gary Kirby who won four All-Stars and Ciaran Carey who won two All-Stars, would appear the best options.
Of the current squad, Mark Foley is a likely contender. In football terms, Galtee Gaels midfielder John Quane would be a worthy recipient but the team will most likely be Kerry/Cork dominated.

Masters hurling tournament
THE All-Ireland Masters Hurling Tournament could be back on the GAA fixture list.
After a break of two seasons, there are moves afoot to revive the worthwhile competition.
Bruff’s Michael Weekes is spear heading the revival and already interest has been shown by Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, Galway and Dublin among others.
One of the proposals is to reduce the age to 35, which could see former inter-county stars like Steve McDonogh and Ciaran Carey return to the green of Limerick.