McCarthy presses on

DESPITE the uncertainty surrounding the Limerick senior hurling panel manager Justin McCarthy is preparing to forge ahead with his rebuilding programme this Friday night.
The second of three planned trial games takes place underlights in the GAA grounds of Staker Wallace, but no member of the 2009 county senior panel can take part due to the GAA’s ‘closed season’ - all inter-county panels are prohibited from collective training during the months of November and December.


Leader Sport understands that Limerick GAA officials will then take the opportunity to sit down with the hurling management to discuss recent events and plans for the future.
This Friday night’s trial game will involve players that were identified by the management team during the local championships and others who were nominated by their clubs.
Two weeks ago only 25 players togged out for the first trial game - 13 newcomers and 12 from the 2009 panel.
And it now appears that McCarthy, Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey will be left with one of the most inexperienced Limerick panels ever when the 2010 season commences with a Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final clash against either Cork or UCC in mid-January.
Rumours are still widespread as to the future of some remaining panel members, but none have made official decisions.
Of the 16 players that remain on the inter-county panel, just five players (Brian Geary, Donal O’Grady, Brian Murray, Seamus Hickey & James O’Brien) could be considered experienced campaigners.
The remaining 11 players (Tom Condon, Paul Browne, David Breen, Denis Moloney, David Moloney, Graeme Mulcahy, Gavin O’Mahony, Bryan O’Sullivan, Paudie McNamara, Wayne McNamara & Stephen Walsh) have a total of just 34 senior hurling appearances between them.

Jerome O’Connell