Board seek seal of approval for O’Sullivan

AT next Wednesday night’s (October 7) Football Board meeting the executive officers will recommend that Mickey Ned O’Sullivan remain in charge of the inter-county side for a fifth consecutive year - should the football delegates ratify O’Sullivan the Kerry man’s name will then be forwarded to the County Board for their seal of approval.
It is likely that Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s fifth year in charge will officially begin following the County Board meeting on Tuesday, October 13.


While Abbeyfeale’s Ger O’Connor will guide the fortunes of the minor footballers next year it now appears almost certain that Newcastle West’s Billy Lee will take responsibility for the under-21 football team - Lee is also expected to be named as a selector with the senior footballers alongside Donie Buckley, Paddy Ivess and Joe Redington. The Football Board are seeking nominations for the position of junior football manager.
Meanwhile an executive meeting of the County Board officers will take place this Wednesday night (September 30) at which the make up of the inter-county hurling management teams will be discussed.
Although the County Board will be seeking nominations for an individual to succeed Gerry Molyneaux as intermediate manager Justin McCarthy (senior), Leo O’Connor (under-21) and Ger Hegarty (minor) will complete their two-year terms in charge of their respective sides in 2010.
Shannonsiders will be desperately hoping for an improved performance from their inter-county teams in 2010 - the respective Limerick hurling teams failed to win a single game in the 2009 Munster championship. The inter-county football sides faired much better winning three of eight games in the Munster championship.
The senior hurlers lost by eight points to Waterford, the under-21s lost by 15 points to Clare, the minor team lost by 13 points to Tipp and then by three to Waterford while the intermediate team lost by 23 points to the Déise. The senior footballers beat Tipp and Clare before losing by a point to Cork. The under-21 footballers lost by six points to Clare, the minors lost by three to Waterford and although the junior footballers beat Tipp they then lost to Clare.

Get your entries in
Leader Sport readers are this week reminded that the closing date for entries for the Limerick 25-year teams is fast approaching and those interested are asked to submit their completed forms as soon as possible - see page 11 for details.

All Stars
Five Limerick players have been nominated for the 2009 All Stars - Adare’s Mark Foley, Kilmallock’s Gavin O’Mahony and Murroe-Boher’s Seamus Hickey in hurling while Johnny McCarthy (St. Kieran’s) and John Galvin (Croom) have been nominated for a football award.
The hurling nominations for the prestigious awards were announced on Wednesday, September 23 and saw Tipperary receive 13 nominations, All-Ireland champions Kilkenny 12, Galway six, Waterford five, Dublin four, Limerick three and Cork just two.
Although Limerick did not win a single All Star in 2008 three Shannonsiders (Brian Murray, Ollie Moran & Andrew O’Shaughnessy) collected awards in 2007 - Limerick have won 44 All Star awards since 1971.
Sadly Limerick have never had the honour of collecting an All Star award in football - 338 different footballers have received the prestigious award and while Kerry lead with 43 award winners Carlow, Kilkenny, Limerick, London, Longford, Louth and Waterford have never won an award.
Twelve counties are represented on this year’s nominations list - Kerry and Cork enjoy the lion’s share with 12 and 10 nominations respectively.
Johnny McCarthy has been nominated for an award in the full-back line while John Galvin, who was also nominated in 2004, will hope to earn one of the midfield spots. The banquet will be held on Friday, October 16.

National Leagues
The GAA have also released the provisional fixtures (subject to change) for next year’s national hurling and football leagues.
The Limerick hurlers will launch their National Hurling League Division One campaign against Galway (home) on February 21 next.
Six days later Limerick host Cork on February 27 while on March 14 Limerick will travel to Waterford.
On March 21 Limerick host beaten All-Ireland finalists Tipperary and on March 28 Limerick face Offaly (away).
On April 4 Limerick host Kilkenny while in their final Division One game the Shannonsiders travel to Dublin (April 18).
The Limerick footballers will open their Division Four campaign with a trip to London on February 7 while their first home game, on February 13, will see Carlow visit Shannonside. On February 20 Longford host Limerick while on March 13 Waterford will visit Limerick.
On March 21 Limerick travel to face Mick O’Dwyer’s Wicklow and six days later the Shannonsiders host the Kilkenny footballers.
On April 3 Limerick face Clare in Ennis while in the final round of the 2010 National Football League Limerick will complete their Division Four campaign with a home game against Leitrim.
The County Board will confirm the details of all the above games in due course.

Brian McDonnell