Eighty hurlers invited to inter-county trials

EIGHTY hurlers have been invited to trials this Sunday as Donal O’Grady wastes no time in settling into his new role as Limerick hurling manager.
On Sunday Donal O’Grady and his management team will hold two trial games as efforts commence to assemble the 2011 Limerick panel.


This Tuesday letters were sent to about 80 hurlers inviting them to trial games in the GAA grounds of Garryspillane in Knocklong and Staker Wallace in Martinstown.
O’Grady and selectors TJ Ryan, Ciaran Carey and Pat Heffernan are expected to host a further series of trials in the coming weeks.
Last week initial letters were sent to members of the 2009 and 2010 inter-county panels. It is understood that the objective of the letters was to avoid any confusion as regards the 2011 panel.
The letters informed the recipients that at present there was no panel selected for the new season and asked each individual to reply to selector TJ Ryan as to whether they would be available for selection.

Maurice Horan
Maurice Horan will be rubber-stamped as Limerick’s new senior football manager at next Tuesday’s October monthly meeting of the County Board in Claughaun.
This Wednesday night Horan was to be confirmed as the successor to Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, when his name was to be presented to a meeting of the Limerick Football Board in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.
The delegates of the Football Board would then pass their recommendation to the County Board executive, who would in turn present Horan for ratification on October 12.
The former Nemo Rangers boss Ephie Fitzgerald will join Horan’s backroom team as team trainer. Fitzgerald was manager of the Cork giants when they won four county titles in-a-row (2005 to 2008). The duo are to be joined by one selector, but his identity is still unknown.
Maurice Horan has played inter-county football with both his native Mayo and Limerick.
This season the Ballinrobe native was Limerick under-21 manager and a selector on Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s senior management team.
Under John Maughan’s stewardship Horan made his Mayo senior debut in 2003 as a 27-year-old, but that winter work commitments saw him move to Limerick and he transferred to Monaleen and joined up with Liam Kearns’ inter-county panel. For the last two seasons he has been involved with the Na Piarsaigh intermediate footballers.
Horan is also be continue as Limerick under-21 manager. He will be joined by the same selectors as he had in 2009 - former Limerick senior football captain Micheal Reidy (Drom-Broadford), Oola’s John Ryan and Adare’s Niall Crowley.

Nominations
Next Tuesday, October 12 is the deadline for nominations and motions for the 2010 Annual Convention of Limerick GAA, which will take place at a south Limerick venue on December 6.
All correspondence for the December AGM have to be with county secretary Mike O’Riordan by 6pm on next Tuesday.
With the exception of the full-time paid position of secretary, all officers on the executive of Limerick GAA can be challenged for their positions.
All have indicated that they will be standing for re-election, except two.
Both vice-chairman Mickey O’Sullivan and coaching officer Gerry Philips are standing down from their roles as they have five years service completed in their respective positions.
Many will eagerly await news of the motions for convention, if a new Hurling Board was to be established in Limerick it would require a motion to be voted on by the clubs at the December meeting.

Johnny McCarthy
Johnny McCarthy is Limerick’s final hope for representation in this month’s International Rules Series.
The star inter-county and St. Kieran’s defender remains the only man still in contention for a place on Anthony Tohill’s final Irish panel. Croom’s John Galvin was also in contention, but injury has ruled him out.
McCarthy will be hoping to impress in a final trial game which takes place in Limerick this Saturday. The Irish International Rules management bring their extended 45-man squad to Limerick this Thursday where they will spend three days in a training camp.
After that the final 30-strong squad to face the Australians at the Gaelic Grounds and Croke Park on October 23 and 30 respectively will be announced next week.
McCarthy travelled to Meath last weekend for training in Donaghmore.
The Australian team will arrive in Ireland on the weekend of October 16-17.
They will play a warm-up match in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Wednesday, October 20 against a combined universities team.
The Aussies then arrive in Limerick on the Thursday before the First Test, but it is not yet known if they will hold an open training session.
This week GAA authorities were finalising the ceremonies surrounding the October 23 Test in the Gaelic Grounds.
Both international panels will be afforded a Mayoral Reception on Thursday October 21. On the day of the First Test, pre-match entertainment is planned from 5pm - two hours ahead of the starting time for the match. Stilt walkers, face painting and live music will all add to the excitement on the approach roads to the Gaelic Grounds, while inside the ground the Newcastle West based Supermodel Twins and the Artane Band will provide pre-match music. The Walls will be the half time entertainment. After the game, a fireworks display will light up the night sky over the river Shannon.
Tickets can be purchased from the Gaelic Grounds Officer, Gleeson Sports Scene or through ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.ie or www.gaa.ie. Entry to the Mackey stand is €25, the Uncovered stand is €20 and the terrace is €15.
A host of special offers for groups, students and OAPs are also available.

Jerome O’Connell