UCC - McCarthy’s next obstacle

AFTER three months of continuous off-the-field turmoil Limerick’s new-look senior hurling team play their first competitive game of 2010 this Sunday.


There will certainly be more interest than normal when University College Cork provide the opposition in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock (2pm) in the quarter-final of the Waterford Crystal Cup. Attendance figures are likely to increase as Limerick’s hurling public travel in inquisitive mood to get a first-hand account of the inexperienced team.
Kilmallock duo Bryan O’Sullivan and Graeme Mulcahy will be in opposition to their current inter-county colleagues while another Limerick man involved with UCC is Michael Wilkinson of Ballybricken-Bohermore.
Clare trio Darach Honan (Clonlara), Aidan Quilligan (Sixmilebridge) and Damien Browne (Cratloe) could also be in the UCC line-up.
Last Saturday the new-look Limerick side had their first outing of the season when an experimental Wexford provided the opposition. That challenge game in Mallow finished all square, 0-18 a-piece.
“I’m pleased we got a game there today and all the lads got a run-out,” Justin McCarthy told reporters as he departed the field.
“I was delighted with the support we got as well and the effort in particular.
“It was typical Limerick hurling today, which was very important, and they gave their all, they were together today for the first time,” said the Limerick manager.
Limerick trailed for much of the game, but rallied to secure a draw with sub Conor Allis notching the equaliser.
“I was very pleased with the spirit shown to come back, it was very good,” said McCarthy.
Due to the wholesale changes to Limerick’s inter-county panel last October and the subsequent withdrawal of 12 regulars, only two of last year’s championship panel, Paudie McNamara and Bryan O’Sullivan, featured in the challenge game. Just McNamara played when Limerick and Wexford met in the All-Ireland qualifiers last summer.
Colm Bonnar’s Wexford were understrength with just five regulars starting and another two introduced as substitutes.
Patrickswell’s Thomas O’Brien was one of the newcomers to impress for Limerick. He was unerring from frees and added two fine scores from play in the second half.
Others to shine were Ballybrown’s Des Kenny at full-back, Kildimo’s Richie McKeogh at corner-forward and Lorcan O’Dwyer at wing back.
Pallasgreen’s Lorcan O’Dwyer has opted out of the county senior football panel to join the hurling set-up. O’Dwyer was named in the football team to face Waterford IT on Saturday, but opted to give his commitment to hurling.
Limerick v Wexford: Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock); David Lynch (Na Piarsaigh), Des Kenny (Ballybrown), Kieran O’Rourke (Bruree); Andrew Brennan (Caherline), Paul McNamara (Na Piarsaigh), Lorcan O’Dwyer (Pallasgreen); Daniel Moore (Monagea), Nicky Quaid (Effin); Cathal Mullane (Killeedy, 0-3), Bryan O’Sullivan (Kilmallock, 0-1), Thomas O’Brien (Patrickwell, 0-7, 5 frees); Andrew O’Connell (Adare), Paudie McNamara (Murroe-Boher, 0-3, 2 frees), Richie McKeogh (Kildimo, 0-1).
Subs: Conor Allis (Croom, 0-1) for Andrew O’Connell (h-t), Tommy O’Brien (Bruree) for Bryan O’Sullivan (44mins), Dean Madden (Bruff) for Daniel Moore (45mins), Peter Harty (Patrickswell, 0-1) for Paudie McNamara (54mins), Shane O’Donnell (Kilmallock, 0-1) for Nicky Quaid (59mins), Brian Quinn (Ballybrown) for Paul McNamara (65mins).
Ahead of this Sunday’s Waterford Crystal Cup game, Limerick have not won a game in the Waterford Crystal Cup since a TJ Ryan captained side won the competition with a final win over Waterford IT in the 2006 decider.
Limerick lost to Limerick IT in 2007, did not take part due to a team holiday in 2008 and lost to UL in Justin McCarthy’s first competitive game last January.
If Limerick win on Sunday, they would be back in action the following Sunday in the competition’s semi-final against either LIT or UL who meet in Moylish on Sunday (2pm).
The Davy Fitzgerald managed LIT will have a number of local players in their panel, namely Paul Browne (Bruff), Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock), John O’Riordan (Templeglantine) and Sean Tobin (Murroe-Boher).
Inter-county stars Joe Canning (Galway) and Seamus Callanan (Tipperary) lead the LIT charge along with a host of the Clare All-Ireland under-21 winning team.
Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher) is the sole Limerick representative on the UL panel.
Others likely to line-out for UL are Tipperary seniors’ John Devane, Paddy Stapleton and Willie Ryan, Clare’s Brendan Bugler and Offaly’s Brian Carroll.
On Saturday, Tralee IT play Waterford and the college side have a host of local clubs players involved including Nicky Quaid (Effin), Eoin Ryan (Kilmallock), Mikey Kiely (Ballybrown), Eoin O’Brien (Kildimo), James Riordan (Templeglantine) and Mark Deegan (Hospital-Herbertstown).

Jerome O’Connell