Clubs of the county must have their say

IT is unconceivable that Limerick would start the 2010 National Hurling League without over a dozen of Shannonside’s most experienced inter-county hurlers.
Many supporters had given their backing to Justin McCarthy’s initial clear-out of his panel as that was his right to do so as team manager - albeit most would not have been in favour of his lack of communication with the affected players.
However when the likes of Brian Geary, Damien Reale, Donal O’Grady, Seamus Hickey, James Ryan and Wayne McNamara walk away from the panel in protest, the situation reaches crisis-point.


Justin McCarthy is more than entitled to make any changes he wishes to his panel, but he must also be responsible for the man-management of all players.
His wholesale changes have also had a domino affect with Damien Reale and the recently-retired Ollie Moran both quoted in the national media questioning aspects of McCarthy’s training as well as the manner in which he dropped players.
To see six experienced and highly-respected players walking away from any panel sounds alarm bells and McCarthy’s position could come under threat if a full meeting of the County Board were to be scheduled.
Simply, hurling in the county is not strong enough to compete at the highest level without this calibre of player.
Justin McCarthy and selectors Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey could plough forward with the 12 remaining members of the 2009 panel and select another 20 from the on-going trials, but Limerick would be left with a most inexperienced panel - of the 12 players that remain on the inter-county panel, seven of them only made their championship debuts this summer. Just Brian Murray and James O’Brien could be seen as experienced campaigners.
The remaining ten players (Tom Condon, Paul Browne, David Breen, Denis Moloney, David Moloney, Graeme Mulcahy, Gavin O’Mahony, Bryan O’Sullivan, Paudie McNamara & Stephen Walsh) have a total of just 31 senior championship appearances between them.
What happens if results are not favourable when the league starts in late-February?
It’s too late at that point to re-visit this crisis.
Firstly a full meeting of Limerick County Board must be called immediately to gauge the feeling of all club delegates.
And, what would be vital is that all delegates should be have already canvassed the feelings of their respective clubs before attending.
At this point 11 clubs of the 69 in the county have seen club players walk away or dropped from the inter-county panel.
If the clubs of the county want to back McCarthy and his management team so be it.
The executive officers of Limerick GAA have given their backing to Justin McCarthy, but it’s time they asked the clubs they represent for their views on the crisis.

Jerome O’Connell