Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s fourth year in charge came on an end on Saturday, August 1 when Limerick lost an All-Ireland qualifier against Meath in Portlaoise by a single point 2-9 to 1-13.
A source on the Football Board executive told Leader Sport this week that they expect to have the manager “nailed down in the next couple of weeks” while Football Board chairman John Galvin explained that “the process has now begun and over the coming weeks we will look at all the options before making a decision.
“We’re trying to get a good, strong management team in place for the new season,” he added.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, although he did not wish to comment on the appointment process, has confirmed to Leader Sport that he is interested in extending his term on Shannonside to a fifth year.
The appointment process involves the Football Board executive (chairman John Galvin, secretary Sean McAuliffe, PRO Collette O’Grady, Michael Sheehan, Patrick O’Shaughnessy & James Moynihan) assessing Mickey Ned O’Sullivan and his management team while also looking at other potential options before making a recommendation to delegates - once the recommendad candidate is proposed and voted on by the Football Board delegates his name will then be forwarded to the County Board for final ratification.
Considering the progress made by the Limerick footballers, who only lost by a single point to Cork and Meath this summer, under the guiding hand of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan the Kerryman will be made favourite to retain the position for at least another year.
O’Sullivan has guided Limerick fortunes through 13 championship clashes winning five games and losing eight. While that record might not appear impressive progress has most certainly been made, especially since Donie Buckley joined the management team - in the past four years Limerick have recorded a 38 per cent win rate, the 19th best in the country.
In that time Limerick have beaten Clare (twice), Tipp (twice) and most heroically of all Meath by nine points last summer while they have lost to Westmeath, Louth, Kildare, Meath and Cork (four times) - in eight defeats Limerick have lost by a single point on four occasions.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s men have faced Cork in four consecutive Munster championships. While the Shannonsiders conclusively lost in 2006 and in 2007 they should have beaten Cork in 2008 and again this season.
Surely this progression marks significant improvements made.
The relegation to division four of the National Football League certainly represents a stain on O’Sullivan’s record, but it appears likely that the Kerryman’s efforts could earn him another year in charge.
Ladies football tickets
THE ticket details for the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football final have been confirmed.
On Sunday, September 27 the Limerick Ladies Football team will face Antrim in the junior decider (12pm) in Croke Park - that game will feature as part of an attractive triple header at GAA headquarters. The junior decider will be followed by the intermediate final between Clare and Fermanagh (2pm) while at 4pm the senior final will see Cork face Dublin.
Tickets for the finals cost: adults €25, students or OAPs €10, under-14 €8 while group and family rates are also available. Tickets can be purchased through any ladies Gaelic football club in the county. Alternatively tickets will be on sale at the following venues/times: Saturday, September 19 at the Gaelic Grounds immediately after Croom play Na Piarsaigh in the county senior hurling quarter-final (throw-in 5pm). Tickets will also be on sale this Saturday at the Courtney Lodge (Newcastle West) 8-9pm, on Sunday at the Woodlands Hotel (Adare) 7-8pm, on Monday at Lynch’s Bar (Main St., Caherconlish) 8-9pm and on Tuesday at the Woodlands Hotel 7-8pm. Tickets for the finals are also available from ladiesgaelic.ie
Brian McDonnell
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