Injury Time . . . with Jerome O'Connell

THE Greenhills Hotel will host a Guinness Hurling Supporters Nights on June 3 - supporters will be given the chance to get closer to their hurling heroes at the Guinness Hurling Supporters Nights which will take place around the country with eight events in local pubs during June and July.
Two hundred and fifty fans at each Supporter’s Night will be able to celebrate hurling with a unique insider’s perspective on the hurling issues facing their own county.
Limerick fans will be able to debate the issues and talk about the upcoming championship opener against Waterford in the company of former greats TJ Ryan and Gary Kirby, as well as manager Justin McCarthy and members of the team. Alongside a panel of experts made up of former hurling stars, fans will also be in a position to pose questions to the current manager and players, under the eagle eye of MC Paul Collins of Today FM fame.
The night will run similar to a ‘championship’ preview format, where the panel will analyse previous championship games, including the last championship meet of Limerick and Waterford in the 2007 All-Ireland semi-final.
Supporters will also be able to engage in a Q&A session with the Justin McCarthy and two players, and there will be plenty of prizes on offer on the night from match tickets to signed jerseys and special hurling t-shirts.
Entrance to the event is free, but strictly limited to 250 supporters, who must pre-register in advance by emailing their details to guinnesshurling@ihurling.com. All supporters planning on attending the events must be over 18.
Further information is available via the hurling channel at www.guinness.com

Elderly supporters in difficulty
A number of elderly Limerick football supporters had some difficulty getting into Semple Stadium last Sunday.
It’s not that the large crowd made it uncomfortable or anything at the Munster senior football championship quarter-final. Seemingly on approaching the relevant stiles for OAPs there was some confrontation.
According to the Munster Council, OAPs have always been advised that proof of ID is necessary to receive the recession which was €10 last Sunday in Thurles.
So supporters heading to Cusack Park in Ennis on June 7 are warned that no ID will mean no concession.
That provincial football semi-final on Sunday week is not likely to be an all-ticket affair, but Limerick’s Munster senior hurling championship semi-final against Waterford on June 14 will require the purchase of tickets in advance.
Tickets are already available through the 70 clubs of the county. Tickets can also be purchased on the Munster GAA website. On Tuesday June 2, tickets will go on public sale in the Gaelic Grounds between 4.00-8.00pm.
The Munster Council have increased the number of family tickets available this season, while juvenile group passes are also available through the county board.
Senior citizens should note that a refund of €10 is available on stand tickets on “production of valid ID” prior to entering the stadium at designated turnstiles on the day of the game.

Dr. Harty Cup amalgamation
IT appears that the chances of an amalgamation team representing Limerick City schools in the Dr Harty Cup next season are yet to be finalised.
A Munster GAA Schools Council meeting took place last week, but there was no confirmation of the involvement of the proposed city schools side.
It is understood that Castletroy College, St Clements College, Crescent College Comprehensive and St Munchins could be joining forces to enter the Munster senior A colleges hurling championship.
But the provincial council are understood to favour the combining of no more than three schools, so there is a bit of work to be completed before Limerick’s representation in the top level competition increases to two.
Ardscoil Ris are now the flag bearers at this level in Limerick and will be among the pre-competition favourites next season, especially as they are now in a position to attract the top local players to the North Circular Road.