McCarthy: ‘We need to make amends for this year’

JUSTIN McCarthy is under no illusions but that his Limerick senior hurling team have to “make amends” in 2010 for their All-Ireland semi-final collapse against Tipperary last August.


The draw for next year’s Munster championship has handed Limerick a bye into the provincial semi-final, where they await either Tipperary or Cork in mid-June. The draw was made in Croke Park last Thursday night by Munster Council chairman Jimmy O’Gorman and assistant secretary Enda McGuane.
“In the Munster championship there are no easy teams,” McCarthy told the Limerick Chronicle.
“Any of the teams are capable of winning a Munster championship.”
“It is going to be a huge challenge, but it is one that we have to be ready for.
“Cork and Tipperary are two outstanding teams. Cork will be trying to re-group and this will be a big showdown for them with Tipperary,” said the Limerick manager.
“We need to make amends for this year and show where we stand. I felt we made a fair bit of progress this year, but that wasn’t reflected in the Tipperary game.”
Already the search for fresh faces is underway for Justin McCarthy, Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey.
“We will hold a series of trial games and we’ll see what new players are available.
“We will give players every chance and I’d hope that these players would respond to the challenge.”
On the opposite side of the draw Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford will play his native Clare in the semi-final and this is a fixture that Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds will vie with Thurles to host.
Thurles will host any potential semi-final between Limerick and Tipperary while if Cork are to be Limerick’s opponents the game would be played in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Limerick last met Tipperary in the provincial championship in 2007 when Richie Bennis’ side won the final instalment of the ‘trilogy’ in the Gaelic Grounds.
The last Munster championship encounter with Cork was in Limerick in 2004 while the Rebels were 0-19 to 0-18 winners.
Meanwhile in the 2010 Munster senior football championship Limerick have been handed what is perceived to be the best draw possible as they await either Clare or Waterford in the semi-final.
On the other side All-Ireland champions Kerry must overcome Tipperary to set up a semi-final with Cork.
At a meeting of Limerick’s Football Board this Monday night in the Woodlands House Hotel the re-appointment of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan as county football manager moved a step closer when the Kerryman was given the backing of the football delegates.
Mickey Ned’s appointment will now need to be rubber stamped by a full County Board meeting - joining the senior backroom team for 2010 is Maurice Horan.
The former Mayo and Limerick senior footballer is to become a senior selector and manager of the county under-21 side. Horan transferred to Monaleen in 2004 from his native Ballinrobe.
He has experience of coaching the UL Sigerson Cup team and this year was involved with the Na Piarsaigh side that was defeated by St. Patrick’s in last weekend’s county intermediate football championship final.

Jerome O’Connell