Leader Sport - The Locker Room

Munster gear up for a battle with the Blues

2010-11-30T09:08:00.002Z

FOLLOWING Friday night’s 6-20 loss at the hands of the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade Tony McGahan’s Munster will be comforted with the thought of a return to Thomond Park for the visit of the Cardiff Blues (Saturday, 7.30pm).
The defeat to the Dragons may prove a blessing in disguise for Munster. Matters had been progressing nicely of late and although the province were without several of their leading lights Munster maintained their place at the summit of the Magners League table.
The victory over the Australian touring side capped a very successful November for McGahan, but, ironically, the defeat suffered at the hands of the Dragons could prove priceless should it concentrate the minds of the players ahead of vital few weeks.

Munster, once they get the Blues out of the way this weekend, return to Heineken Cup action on Sunday, December 12 when they host the Ospreys at Thomond Park.
Munster lead the pool by a single point from the Ospreys as things stand, but this clash with the Welsh side and the return fixture at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, December 18 could determine whether McGahan’s men will maintain their interest in the competition come January.
The Blues’ Magners League form has been patchy this season. Cardiff have won four of their six home games and only managed wins away to Treviso and Aironi.
Cardiff inflicted a 38-6 defeat on the Glasgow Warriors last Saturday and appear to have found some form.
The Welsh side will also have the Heineken Cup on their minds - Cardiff have already beaten Edinburgh in the European Cup this season and although they then lost away to Castres Olympique their consecutive clashes with the Northamption Saints will ultimately decide their fate in pool one of the prestigious competition.
Last season Munster shared the spoils with the Blues. In September 2009 at Thomond Park Munster saw off Cardiff on a 24-13 scoreline when tries from Marcus Horan and Denis Leamy helped the home side toward an 11-point win. The sides subsequently encountered one another on May 9 last when Cardiff won 13-12. The losing bonus point for Munster secured fourth spot and a place in last season’s Magners League semi-final against Leinster. No one in Munster needs reminding of how that turned out.
Munster will be expected to win this encounter and clear their throats nicely in time for the visit of the Ospreys on Sunday week.
Meanwhile it is not known at his point whether the next step in Paul O’Connell’s comeback from long-term injury is with his club side Young Munster or with Munster.
O’Connell played in his first competitive fixture for 250 days when featuring as a half-time replacement in Young Munster’s 17-18 All-Ireland League Division 1A defeat to Shannon before an estimated 3,000 supporters at Thomond Park on Friday night.
While the Munster skipper reported no ill effects after his 40-minute comeback, O’Connell, who had not played competitively since Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to Scotland last March, admitted his fitness levels needed to improve significantly.
Finally, John Hayes, who had been invited to play for the Barbarians against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, has not been named in the match day squad. That news suggests that John Hayes will turn out for Munster this weekend.

Brian McDonnell

Limerick FC hope to finalise playing squad by December

2010-11-30T09:07:00.000Z

LIMERICK FC supporters will be heartened to learn that preparations are already well under way for the 2011 Airtricity League First Division campaign.
Hopes were very high in 2010 that the Super Blues could make the jump to the Premier Division and although Pat Scully’s men were more than competitive for the majority of the season their form dipped significantly late in the year and Limerick FC finished fifth.
Sadly, that final placing was in keeping with Limerick’s recent performances in the division - in 2009 the Super Blues finished seventh, in 2008 and 2006 Limerick finished fifth and in 2007 they finished fourth.
Limerick FC have happily, and thanks in no small part to Pat O’Sullivan, put their financial problems behind them and confidently face into the FAI licensing process which begins this week. Indeed, the club is more determined than ever to fight their way back into the Premier Division.
Manager Pat Scully, who will remain with the club until at least November 2011 as part of a contract signed in March 2009, and his management team intend to have the bulk of the playing squad signed by Tuesday, December 14 while pre-season training is scheduled to begin on Saturday, January 22.
The club were delighted last week to announce the significant signing of Kilcornan’s Garry Sheahan who plied his trade for the last two seasons with the Wexford Youths. The lightning-fast Sheahan is a proven goal scorer and a welcome addition to the squad.
“Garry is a player we have tried to get back to Limerick on three occasions,” admitted manager Pat Scully.
“I feel we have signed one of the best forwards in the First Division.
“He will bring real speed to our front line and he is a great finisher.
“He is the right age to be part of our success for years to come.”
Shane Tracy has proven a real leader on the field for the Super Blues in recent seasons, a player Pat Scully was also delighted to re-sign: “I’m delighted Shane has re-signed.
“He has been a big player for us since I came to the club.
“Shane is a top quality player who has a knack for scoring goals and will be a vital part of the club’s future ambitions”.
Club stalwart and captain Pat Purcell has also re-signed for the 2011 season while the presence of Stephen O’Flynn in the playing squad could also prove vital during next season’s push for promotion.
Brian McCarthy, who played 24 times for Athlone Town last season, is another worthwhile addition to the squad while young players like the immensely talented Garbhan Coughlan and Jeffrey Judge will hope to make a significant contribution.
Bryan Murphy and Padraic Quinn, both of Tralee Dynamos, have also signed along with Andrew Bhandarkar, Darren Coleman, Brian O’Callaghan, David O’Leary and Shane Cusack while the club has also indicated that it is in on-going negotiations with other players with a view to agreeing terms for next season.
“We’re in talks with a number of players at the moment and I can see that the players out there are positive about Limerick as a club in progression,” Pat Scully explained.
“We won’t be signing many players as everyone at the club has worked very hard on our underage system and we have some excellent young players who will be part of next season’s squad.
“But we have identified three or four players who we feel can improve us that extra bit we need and I can assure the supporters that myself and the board are working hard to assemble a team we can all be proud of.”
Despite all of those positive developments if John Tierney, a talented striker who has lit up the division with his searing pace for the past three seasons, decides to leave the Super Blues such a departure would be seen as a crippling blow to the club’s ambitions. Limerick FC granted John Tierney’s recent request to be transfer listed and although a number of clubs have shown significant interest in signing the centre-forward the Super Blues remain hopeful that Tierney will commit his future to the club.
Meanwhile it remains to be seen whether Limerick FC will be permitted to return to the club’s spiritual home in the Market’s Field.
The club submitted a bid for the venue, but with the tender process still on-going it is not known at this point whether the Super Blues will be playing Airtricity League football at Jackman Park for the foreseeable future.

Brian McDonnell

O’Connell well on the way to making a full recovery

2010-11-29T10:16:00.002Z

A DECISION on whether the next step in Paul O’Connell’s comeback from long-term injury is with his club side Young Munster or with Magners League leaders Munster this Saturday is due to be made early this week.

O’Connell played in his first competitive fixture for 250 days when featuring as a half-time replacement in Young Munster’s 17-18 AIL Division 1A defeat to Shannon before an estimated 3,000 supporters at Thomond Park on Friday night.
While the Munster skipper reported no ill effects after his 40-minute comeback, O’Connell, who had not played competitively since sustaining a groin injury in Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to Scotland last March, admitted his fitness levels needed to improve significantly.
The 31-year-old said further game time in the coming weeks would help him achieve this.
The Lions captain could get his next taste of competitive action either for Young Munster in their crucial AIL tie with Dolphin at Clifford Park this Saturday at 2.30pm or for Munster in their crunch Magners League tie with the third-placed Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park later that same evening (7.30pm).
Paul O’Connell said: “My plan now is to play as many games as I can, be it with Young Munster, Munster A or Munster, whatever I can, in order to improve my match fitness.
“Tony McGahan will decide where I go from here. It will probably be during the week when any decision is taken.
“I would have struggled with 80 minutes (against Shannon), but I felt better than I thought I would.”
While Munster’s lead at the top of the Magners League has been cut to two points by a combination of the defeat to the Dragons on Friday night and the Scarlets’ bonus-point win over Glasgow the following day, Tony McGahan’s men recorded two victories from their three League fixtures during the autumn international window.
Munster were without the services of up to 20 senior players at different stages in late October and throughout November as a result of a combination of international commitments, injuries and suspensions.
The Irish international stars are set to return to the squad this week in the wake of the timely 29-9 victory over Argentina in the fourth and final autumn international at the Aviva Stadium yesterday.
Munster captain Paul O’Connell said the province’s younger players deserved great credit for the manner in which they had performed in the absence of so many seasoned internationals.
“We have a lot of young guys in that squad who have enjoyed a great run of performances in the past few weeks,” Paul O’Connell enthused.
“They have won three out of four when the internationals have been on, including a victory over Australia.
“It is a great run for us. These periods in the year are really what build your squad.
Munster coach Tony McGahan said the decision the management team would make in terms of the next step in Paul O’Connell’s comeback would be in the ‘best interests of the team and obviously in the best interests of Paul (O’Connell)’.
Meanwhile, on the club front, the three Limerick sides in Division 1A of the AIL are now separated by mere points’ difference at the foot of the table.
Shannon remain bottom, although the nine-time AIL winners now trail seventh-placed Young Munster and sixth-placed Garryowen by virtue of an inferior points difference.
Garryowen secured a dramatic late draw with the second-placed Cork Constitution at Dooradoyle on Saturday thanks to Declan Cusack’s late penalty goal.
All three Limerick sides now have ten league points each, but with just three points separating the bottom five sides in 1A the local sides will be hoping to jump up into the top half of the table following this Saturday’s final round of league fixtures before the Christmas and New Year’s break.
In Division 1B Bruff’s excellent run continued on Saturday when the Kilballyowen side recorded an impressive home victory over Dungannon to move third in the table.
UL-Bohs remain sixth after their disappointing run of results continued with a fourth defeat of the campaign, this time away to UCC.
In Division 2 Thomond jumped into 13th place in the table after the Fitzgerald Park side recorded a vital 32-21 bonus-point victory over basement side Clonakilty.
Thomond’s first win of the campaign saw the ‘royal blues’ leapfrog DLSP and Old Crescent in the table. Old Crescent’s scheduled clash with UCD was postponed as a result of an unplayable pitch at the Belfield Bowl.

COLM KINSELLA

Willie Casey refuses to rest on his laurels

2010-11-29T10:15:00.000Z

WILLIE Casey is certainly not resting on his laurels. The recently crowned European super bantam weight champion has confirmed he is set to return to the ring just five weeks after his historic title success.
The 28-year-old Southill southpaw is to fight in Dublin’s National Basketball Arena on Friday, December 10.
It was thought that Limerick’s new sporting hero would enjoy his recent success over the Christmas period and then headline an event in Cork’s Neptune Stadium on Saturday, January 22 as a warm-up for his title defence against former champion Kiko Martinez in March.
But over the weekend Casey was confirmed for the Tallaght event which will be his seventh night of professional boxing in 2010.
“I’m delighted to be fighting again so soon. I’m feeling great and looking forward to putting on a show for all my fans in Dublin,” explained the EBU champion.
The December event is being organised by Willie Casey’s management team at Dolphil Promotions.
While Casey’s European title won’t be on the line he is adamant that he does not want to loose his unbeaten run in the pro-boxing ranks.
“It isn’t a warm up though. That is a little disrespectful. I won’t be taking anything for granted.
“I am a scalp now and I expect my opponent to be all out against me. I won’t be thinking about Kiko until eight weeks before our March fight,” explained the proud Limerick man.
Casey’s fight will appear on the undercard of Anthony Fitzgerald’s WBF inter-continental title fight with others like Dean Byrne, Gavin Prunty, Christina McMahon, JJ McDonagh, Patrick Hyland, Paddy McDonagh and Noel O’Brien also on the schedule.
“Up and down the country ‘Casey Mania’ has gripped the nation like no other fighter.
“Having defeated Hyland in just his 11th professional fight, comparisons have been made to that of fairytales with some pundits labelling him ‘The Cinderella Man’,” explained Daniel Halpin of Dolphil Promotions.
“Fans are being urged to buy their tickets now as the capacity is restricted. Irish boxing fans must surely be licking their lips as Dolphil Promotions have also added Dean Byrne to the card - the Freddie Roach-trained fighter will be looking to extend his unbeaten record to 14-0.”
Capacity for Casey’s 12th pro-fight will be restricted to 1,000 and the fight will not be shown live on television.
Tickets are available from www.ticketgroup.ie or call 0818 33 33 44 or 087 280 4380.
The weekend of December 10-11 will be a busy one for Limerick fight fans with Andy Lee also in action.
On Saturday, December 11 the Castleconnell middleweight fights on the undercard of the Waldimir Klitschko and Derek Chisora heavyweight world title fight at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany. Currently ranked number nine in the WBA world rankings Lee’s opponent for next month’s fight is yet to be confirmed.
The former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian is in Austria at present training with Klitschko ahead of their December fights.
After that December 11 fight Lee could be set for a rematch against Brian Vera.
Brian Vera inflicted Lee’s only defeat in his 25-bout professional boxing career back in March 2008, but the Limerick middleweight has regrouped to win nine successive fights since that shock reversal.
If Andy Lee does win in Germany his rematch against Brian Vera could take place on February 4.

Jerome O'Connell

Murphy - back with a bang for Munster

2010-11-22T11:12:00.001Z

BARRY Murphy celebrated his return to Munster’s starting line-up by grabbing a precious second half try in the province’s top-of-the-table Magners League victory over the Scarlets at Musgrave Park last night.
Murphy, who had not started a game for Munster in 14 months due to injury, powered through the Scarlets defence in the 51st minute after collecting Paul Warwick’s well-timed pass to score a terrific try.
A combination of ankle, back and hamstring injuries had forced Murphy’s absence from Munster’s starting line-up since September 2009.
The 27-year-old outside centre, who had made a brief appearance for Tony McGahan’s side against the Wallabies at Thomond Park last week, showed he had lost none of his old sparkle when crossing for a crucial try in the 27-26 victory.
Two other young Limerick players also contributed handsomely to the win. Garryowen scrum-half Conor Murray turned in a Man of the Match performance after being introduced as a first half replacement for the injured Duncan Williams.
Murray’s Garryowen club-mate, Mike Sherry, produced another eye-catching display at hooker.
Sherry was only called into the starting line line-up on match day after Damien Varley had been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Munster coach Tony McGahan will be keeping his fingers crossed that Varley, hamstring injury victim Alan Quinlan and full-back Johne Murphy, forced to miss the win over the Scarlets with a knee injury, recover in time for Friday night’s trip to Rodney Parade to face the Dragons (7.05pm).
Munster currently enjoy a seven-point lead over the Scarlets at the top of the Magners League table.
Friday evening’s clash against the Dragons will be Munster’s third outing in the space of ten days.
Munster coach Tony McGahan said it was important now that they were mentally fresh for the challenge the Dragons would pose on Friday night.
“The biggest thing for us now ahead of the game with the Dragons on Friday is to make sure we recover properly,” McGahan said.
“We are faced with playing three games in a very short period.
“We need to make sure we are mentally fresh and looking forward to the challenge posed by the Dragons away from home.
“At this time we let the table look after itself. We need to make sure that we are going forward each week and are able to ground out victories with not everyone available to us. We are doing that at this point in time.”
“Overall, we are really delighted. A night like last Tuesday (against Australia) really takes a lot out of the players both emotionally and physically, especially in the wet conditions. It was a wet game and high attrition rate for the forwards. To back it up here and play against a Scarlets side which is fresh and not missing too many it is credit to the lads.”
Meanwhile, on the club front, Garryowen advanced to an ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup final date with Bruff on Sunday, December 19 after securing a comfortable 43-26 semi-final win over Dolphin at Tom Clifford Park.
Bruff’s scheduled semi-final meeting with Highfield was called-off after the Cork side confirmed that they are unable to play the game. Highfield also acknowledge that they have conceded the game to Bruff.

COLM KINSELLA

Niland shoots up the world rankings

2010-11-22T11:11:00.003Z

LIMERICK tennis star Conor Niland has reached a career high ranking of 131 in the world after his weekend victory in the Salzburg Indoor Open. The 29-year-old Mungret man claimed the top prize money of €6,150 and moved up 16 places in the latest ATP rankings. Ireland’s number one ranked player defeated the unseeded Jerzy Janowicz in this Sunday’s final - 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.

The victory in the ATP Challenger Tour event in Austria earned Niland 80 ranking points and edged him closer to his dream of entering the world’s top 100.
The win marked Conor Niland’s third singles title on the second-tier Challenger circuit, his previous similar achievements having been in the Israel Open, in Ramat Hasharon, last May and the New Delhi Open, India in August 2008.
Conor Niland’s win in Austria comes just one week after reaching the semi-finals of the Loughborough Challenger.
The Limerick man will have little time to savour his success however as today he faces a long-haul flight to Japan for this week’s Challenger event in Toyota.
Niland’s new ranking would have been high enough for him to make the main draw of this week’s more lucrative Challenger in Helsinki, but he wasn’t aware of that when he accepted a place in the Japan tournament.
In Japan’s Dunlop World Challenger Niland is seeded number two. In his last event of the year he will face Japanese qualifier Yasutaka Uchiyama in the first round on Tuesday.
In yesterday’s final Niland was a two sets to one winner against his Polish opponent.
In a gripping and roller-coaster final the eighth-seeded Limerick man saw off the challenge of the unseeded left-hander on a 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (2/7) 6-3 scoreline.
After 183-ranked Janowicz levelled at one set all, an early break in the third set gave Niland the boost he needed and subsequently he was never in danger of dropping his serve en route to closing out the match.
Niland reached the final after the number two seed Karol Beck withdrew ahead of their semi-final with a foot injury. In the quarter-finals on Friday afternoon Conor Niland defeated Spain’s Ivan Navarro 7-5, 6-3.
Conor Niland is a member of the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy based at the National Tennis Centre in DCU. He trains there under the guidance of Tennis Ireland Technical Director, Garry Cahill.

Jerome O'Connell

Andy Lee returns to the ring

2010-11-22T11:10:00.002Z

LIMERICK pro-boxer Andy Lee could be set for a rematch against Brian Vera.
Brian Vera inflicted the Castleconnell man’s only defeat in his 25-bout professional boxing career back in March 2008, but the Limerick middleweight has regrouped to win nine successive fights since that shock reversal.

But if a long-awaited rematch is to take place Lee will have to record another victory on December 11 when he fights on the undercard of the Waldimir Klitschko and Derek Chisora heavyweight world title fight at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany.
Currently ranked number nine in the WBA world rankings Lee’s opponent for next month’s fight is yet to be confirmed.
The former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian flew to Austria on Sunday to train with Klitschko ahead of their December fights.
“This is my fifth fight this year and no better stage for a boxer than a 20,000-seater stadium in Germany on the undercard of IBF, WBO and WBO Heavyweight World Champion, Waldimir Klitschko,” said Lee.
“Waldimir is a great role model for me. I learn so much from him and I thoroughly enjoy the experience of being in camp with him and Emanuel (Steward). It is nice to end the 2010 year off on a fight card like this,” said the Limerick man.
The Kronk fighter has been training hard for the past month at the Kronk Gym in Detroit along with his 22-year-old cousin, Tyson Fury - the current English heavyweight champion.
And, Andy Lee’s manager Emanuel Steward remains confident that the 26-year-old southpaw can be a world champion.
“I believe Andy is not just the best Irish middleweight in the world today, but also the most talented contender emerging and moving up the world rankings. The middleweight division is wide open at this time and Andy is in pole position to capitalize on this situation in 2011,” said Steward.
“Andy will be fighting on December 11. This will be Andy’s fifth time fighting on the undercard of a Waldimir Klitschko heavyweight world title championship fight. These occasions give Andy great exposure with the world media and boxing fraternity present, it provides an international dimension to Andy’s boxing profile. It is also is part of my management strategy to have Andy box on both sides of the Atlantic to reach out to his fan base and have his fights televised by different tv networks,” explained Steward over the weekend.
If Andy Lee does win in Germany next month his rematch against Vera could take place on February 4.
It has already been suggested that the fight would take place on the ESPN2 ‘Friday Night Fights’ card on Super Bowl weekend. The 2011 Super Bowl will take place at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas and the Lee fight would take place in the nearby Fort Worth.

JEROME O’CONNELL

‘It will be difficult to get guys back down to earth’

2010-11-17T10:58:00.001Z

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan admits it will be difficult for the players to come back down to earth from the high of their heroic display against Australia in time for this weekend’s big top-of-the-table Magners League clash with the Scarlets.

Munster face a short five-day turnaround between Tuesday night’s dramatic defeat of the Wallabies at Thomond Park and Sunday’s crunch tie against the second-placed Scarlets at Musgrave Park (5.35pm).
“It will be difficult to get guys back down to earth. There is no doubt about that,” Tony McGahan agreed.
“That is the beauty of rugby. You get a performance and a night like we had and then turn back around fro another game on Sunday, looking for four points against a Scarlets side which has been in great form.
“How the group and everyone manages that, the ability to park the win over Australia, turn up for training on Thursday afternoon, apply themselves and get the four points on Sunday is what our focus will turn to.”
Tony McGahan’s men currently enjoy a four-point lead over the Scarlets at the top of the table.
Munster have won all nine of their most recent meetings with the Welsh side. The Scarlets last win over the Irish province came in March 2007 when the teams met in the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup. Sunday’s game will be televised live on TG4.
The Munster management team is hoping that team captain Paul O’Connell may return to action in a Magners League game prior to the home Heineken Cup tie with the Ospreys on Sunday, December 12.
Munster face an away tie with the Dragons in the Magners league on Friday, November 26 and a home fixture with the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park on Saturday, December 4.
Tony McGahan said: “We would like to introduce Paul O’Connell before the Heineken Cup.
“If the opportunity comes to play him before the Ospreys game we will certainly look at it and take it.
“He just completed his first full week of training with the squad last week. This is week two and it is a limited training week with the game with Australia.”
McGahan revealed that injured scrum-half Tomas O’Leary could be back playing in two weeks.
However, Jerry Flannery’s likely return date to competitive action remains unclear.
“Jerry (Flannery) is booked in for more tests in the next few weeks. We will have to wait and see.
“We are all holding out hope as much as he is to make sure he gets a clear shot at it and gets back to play,” Tony McGahan explained.
“He had five games with Munster last season and 15 minutes this season. It has been a barren spell for him from our point of view. We share his disappointment and frustration with what he is going through.
“We really want to get our best players on the field.
“If you want to be at the back end of tournaments, there to get trophies, you certainly need your best players playing. We certainly recognise that and Jerry (Flannery) is one of those for us.”
McGahan said he was in favour of the province playing at least one fixture against an international touring side each season.
Munster’s win over the Wallabies on Tuesday night was the province’s fourth against Australia, but the first recorded at Thomond Park.
Munster coach Tony McGahan said the visit of one of the top international sides in world rugby had many benefits for the players, the city of Limerick as well as Munster Rugby.
Tony McGahan said: “I think we get a massive benefit out of these games. For the playing group and the young players it is an opportunity to soak up international experience against a top side. Those sort of games, the occasion and getting ready for a big match, for some guys it could be the biggest match they play in for two or three years.
“And hopefully it will build when they go into Heineken Cup and into the final series of the Magners League and Heineken Cup.
“I think it is great for the big crowd here who may not have the opportunity to get to Dublin and watch the autumn international games. So there is an element of that.
“There is the financial boost element to the city itself which comes from hosting such a game.
“Everyone gets something out of it. It’s a great thing. At least one game like this a year would be tremendous.
“From our end we would love it.”

Colm Kinsella

Kidney’s men focus their attention on the All Blacks

2010-11-17T10:57:00.003Z

IRISH coach Declan Kidney has insisted that there is no shortage of confidence in the team as the focus switches to Saturday’s mammoth autumn international showdown with New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium (5.35pm).

Ireland ended their six-match losing streak when stuttering to a 20-10 victory over Samoa last weekend, but the performance did little to suggest they have turned a corner. The in-form All Blacks will fancy their chances of maintaining their unbeaten record against Ireland in Dublin this Saturday, but coach Kidney insists morale remains healthy.
“Anxiety will always be there when you’ve lost a few matches,” Declan Kidney said.
“We were a bit anxious going into Samoa. The first 20 minutes went well but then they scored their try and the anxiety crept in a little bit. When you’re winning you take it for granted, when you’re losing it’s bound to bite. It wasn’t exactly an attractive game against Samoa but we managed to win and after the last six matches that’s a plus. We have to sit down and admit that bit needs a bit of work and that bit needs some improvement. The more matches you win, the higher the confidence will be.
“Our confidence will be a bit better going into Saturday than it was coming into Samoa. I don’t think the confidence is that bad.”
Ireland delayed naming their starting line-up to face New Zealand until this Thursday. New Zealand will approach Saturday’s match invigorated by their 49-3 demolition of Scotland and Kidney accepts they are formidable opposition.
“Every team that plays New Zealand has to play at the top of their ability to get the better of them,” he said.
“They’re the best team in the world and are motoring well.”
Ireland’s cause this autumn has not been helped by poor attendances at Aviva Stadium, with only 30,955 turning up to see Samoa beaten in such unconvincing fashion.
Kidney insists the small crowds inevitably have an effect on the players.
“If you arrive at the ground 75 minutes before kick off and it’s half-full, then it’s three-quarters full when you’re warming up and then it’s a full house when you come out, the adrenaline flows more freely,” Kidney said.
Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan is ruled out of Ireland’s final two games in the autumn international series after being handed a three-week ban for a stamping offence committed during the latter stages of Saturday’s win over Samoa.
Ryan’s case was heard by an independent Six Nations Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday which found that the offence merited a mid-range punishment in IRB sanctions.
The player’s exemplary disciplinary record and good conduct at the hearing saw his punishment reduced.
Ryan, who has a right of appeal, was a 69th-minute replacement for Devin Toner in the 20-10 win over Samoa.
Meanwhile, the latest Guinness Area 22 event, hosted by Matt Cooper, of The Last Word and TV3, takes place on this Thursday, November 18 at Peter Clohessy’s Bar, ahead of the upcoming Guinness Series clash with the All Blacks.
Matt Cooper will be joined by current Munster and Ireland star Tomás O’Leary, Shane Horgan, and regular Last Word rugby panellists, Neil Francis and Paul Wallace. The first half hour of the event, from 6.30pm to 7pm, will be broadcast live on the Last Word on Today FM, and the entire event will be streamed live on www.Facebook.com/GuinnessRugbyIreland and www.todayfm.com

Colm Kinsella

County Football Board set for a minor face-lift

2010-11-17T10:56:00.000Z

THE face of Limerick football officialdom will change next week with three elections at the County Football Board Annual Convention.
But it’s not a total face-lift with just one of the six people standing for election not a member of the out-going football executive. However that candidate is not a newcomer to Limerick GAA either as Gerry Philips is an out-going County Board officer. The County Football Board Convention has been postponed for 24 hours to Thursday, November 25 in the Woodland’s House Hotel due to a clash with the West Board Convention the previous night.
At the annual football gathering Sean McAuliffe and Michael Sheahan will go head to head to become the new chairman and following in the footsteps of John Galvin, Owen Hayes and Billy Ahern.
Hospital-Herbertstown clubman McAuliffe is the out-going football secretary while Monaleen man Sheahan is the out-going vice-chairman.
The battle for vice-chairman is also between two out-going officers - Pat O’Shaughnessy (Glin) is the out-going Football Development Officer while James Moynihan (South Libertes) is the out-going assistant secretary.
Two candidates are also battling it out for the role of secretary.
Mungret’s Colette O’Grady is the out-going PRO while her opposition is Monagea’s Gerry Philips who has to step down after completing his maximum five years as the County Board Coaching Officer.
It is most unusual that all six places on the Football Board will change at the same time.
Out-going chairman John Galvin becomes the new assistant secretary.
Two new faces to the boardroom of Limerick football are Patrick Keane of Newcastle West and Brian Kelly of Na Piarsaigh.
Twenty-six-year-old Keane becomes the youngest ever member of the Football Board when he starts as Football Development Officer. A teacher by trade, Keane was a selector with the Limerick under-14 side this season. The other newcomer Brian Kelly assumes the role of PRO, replacing the hugely efficient Colette O’Grady.

Bord na nOg
Limerick County Bord na nOg have taken issue with comments made to Leader Sport last week by Owen O’Neill, chairman of the group proposing the establishment of a Hurling Board for Limerick.
“It was erroneously stated that County Bord na nOg are in receipt of over €450,000 in funding from Bord Coiste Luimni. This is not correct,” said County Bord na nOg chairman Tony Roche.
“Bord na nOg receive approx €25,000 per annum from Bord Coiste Luimni, these are the only monies we receive from the County Senior Bord for which we are most grateful in addition to monies we receive from sponsorship and gate receipts throughout the year,” explained the chairman.
He added: “Coaching comes under the remit of County Games and Coaching and is not the responsibility of County Bord na nOg.”
Owen O’Neill had claimed that the issue of monies spent on coaching was a concern that a number of clubs had addressed to members of his group.
“The County Board indicated recently that over €450,0000 annually was spent on Bord na nOg coaching and mentoring.
“This is a major sum of money and schools and clubs throughout the county have expressed concern with the distribution of the funds and the actual quality of the coaching - it is best practise that coaching be monitored thoroughly and progress reports relayed to all units of the association in the county regularly,” said Owen O’Neill last week.

Jerome O’Connell

Rib injury Martinez rules out

2010-10-26T09:37:00.004+01:00

A RIB injury has ruled Kiko Martinez out of next month’s European title showdown with Willie Casey, but the University Arena Hunky Dorys Fight Night will still go ahead.
Paul Hyland has stepped into the breach - with the Dubliner now poised to take on Willie Casey for the vacant European title in what will be the first ever all-Irish clash for a European title.

Paul Hyland was already the number one challenger for the European Super Bantamweight title (previously held by Bernard Dunne until his shocking defeat to Martinez in 2007) and with Martinez having decided to vacate the title until he is fit to resume his career it leaves Casey and Hyland to battle it out in a historic night of boxing in Limerick on Saturday, November 6.
“Nothing has changed for me,” stressed the 28-year-old Willie Casey.
“I’m still fighting for the European title in my home town on November 6 and all that matters is leaving the ring with that belt around my waist,” said the Southill man.
“Paul’s an excellent boxer and he presents a different challenge to Kiko, but I’ll have a game plan for the fight.
“I’ve worked so hard for this and made the sacrifices you need to make to succeed at European level. I’ve been in Dublin now for the last seven weeks preparing for this fight and it’s been hard leaving my wife and family, but I know that all the hard work will be worth it in the end.”
A former Irish intermediate featherweight amateur champion Casey is a former member of Our Lady of St. Saviour Boxing Club.
Nicknamed the ‘Big Bang’ Casey’s management team consists of former Olympian and double European championship bronze medal winner Phil Sutcliffe and Don O’Leary.
“We sparred before, but there is a big difference between sparring and an actual fight and I’ve come an awful long way since we sparred.
“It’s going to be an exciting fight and I’m sure the atmosphere in Limerick will be brilliant,” said Casey.
“It will be a very different fight to the Martinez fight, but I still expect plenty of fireworks. Paul is saying he will win over 12 rounds, but that’s a very long time to be in a ring with me! I won’t be making any predictions except that the belt won’t be leaving Limerick,” vowed the Southill southpaw.
Promoter Brian Peters says he is delighted to have been able to salvage the show and create a piece of history in the process.
“It’s amazing that despite Ireland’s proud history in boxing two Irish men have yet to contest a European title, but it will finally happen on November 6 and what a fight it promises to be. It’s a real contrast of styles and what an opportunity for both guys to become Ireland’s next European Champion,” added Brian Peters.
Tickets are priced from €40 are available from www.ticketmaster.ie or 0818 719300.

Jerome O’Connell

Successful Test places Gaelic Grounds in the shop window

2010-10-26T09:37:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK’S Gaelic Grounds is in the shop window for more big games in 2011 after the successful staging of last weekend’s International Rules Test. That’s the view of GAA chairman Liam Lenihan.
While last Saturday’s first test between Ireland and Australia was largely disappointing as a contest, there was nothing, but compliments for the Ennis Road Stadium as a venue and the entire event management team.
“The whole idea was to showcase what we have,” said Liam Lenihan as the crowd over 30,000 made their way out of the ground after Australia won 47-40 ahead of next Saturday’s second and decisive test in Croke Park.
“The venue is there now and we are well able to run events and I hope the CCC (Competitions Control Committee) will take note in 2011. The more big games we get is good for the GAA and good for the city.
“We have a fine pitch and we have spent an enormous amount of money getting the place up to spec - we have fantastic lights, a fantastic pitch and a prime facility.”
While over 30,000 attended the unique contest between the stars of the GAA and the professionals of the AFL it was still someway short of the capacity of 49,000.
“To fill it is our aim. It is no good to fill it once or twice a year. We want to fill it at least half a dozen times a year,” said the GAA chairman.
“It was a wonderful night for Limerick city. We are delighted with the night. I have to pay tribute to everyone that helped out, to the Gardai, to the 300 voluntary stewards and the staff.”
While most expected fireworks on the pitch, the game proved largely uneventful.
“Unfortunately, the game was not that exciting until the last five to ten minutes. It took the Irish a long time to come to life,” accepted Lenihan.
“It was a great family night and a great family occasion with the atmosphere and the spectacle and entertainment helped by JP Dillion and Craig Willis out on the field and we were blessed with the weather as well.”

Ireland: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin); Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Finian Hanley (Galway), Brendan Donaghy (Armagh), Sean McDermott (Roscommon), Graham Canty (Cork), Kevin Reilly (Meath) 1pt, Colm Begley (Laois), Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney Swans) 1pt, Leighton Glynn (Wicklow) 3pts, Stephen McDonnell (Armagh) 8pts, Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone) 7pts, Bernard Brogan (Dublin) 9pts, Tommy Walsh (St Kilda) 4pts, Martin Clarke (Down) 1pt. Interchange players: Emmet Bolton (Kildare), Kevin McKernan (Down) 3pts, Paddy Keenan (Louth), Brendan Murphy (Carlow), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Niall McNamee (Offaly), James Kavanagh (Kildare), Danel Goulding (Cork) 3pts.
Australia: Travis Varcoe (Geelong Cats); Bryce Gibbs (Carlton), Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney Swans), Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs) 6pts, Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs) 2pts, Kade Simpson (Carlton) 2pts, James Frawley (Melbourne) 3pts, Jack Riewoldt (Richmond), Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) 6pts, Sam Gilbert (St Kilda), Kieran Jack (Sydney Swans) 1pt. Interchange players: Todd Banfield (Brisbane Lions) 6pts, Brad Green (Melbourne), Eddie Betts (Carlton) 6pts, Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide Crows) 3pts, Dane Swan (Collingwood), Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans) 12pts, David Wojcinski (Geelong Cats), Paul Duffield (Fremantle).
Referees: David Coldrick (Meath), Brett Rosebury (Australia).

Jerome O’Connell

Munster men must do the simple things right

2010-10-26T09:36:00.000+01:00

MUNSTER number eight James Coughlan believes the Magners League leaders must do ‘the simple things right’ if they are to record a rare victory over Ulster at Ravenhill this Friday night (7.05pm).
Munster currently enjoy a four-point lead over the Scarlets at the top of the Magners League table.
However, the province’s record in Belfast is poor in recent times with Munster recording just one victory over Ulster since 2004.
Coughlan, who bagged a try in Munster’s impressive win over Benetton Treviso on Friday night, agreed that visiting teams traditionally find it hard to secure an away victory over Ulster.
“Ravenhill is always a difficult place to go. The last time we won up there was about three years ago. Anyone who goes up there finds it hard,” James Coughlan said.
“Again I think it comes back to our set-piece, our line-out, our scrum, doing the simple things right. If we can win the small battles as it were, then hopefully we are good enough on the night to get a result. We had a good result against Treviso. It is always hard, especially after the emotions of the previous week (v Toulon), a massive game for us, one we had to win.
“We needed to roll up our sleeves and dig in. Our set piece was very good in the first half there. The scrum was excellent. We converted any time we got inside their ’22 which was important. Overall, I am pleased with the result. Sure there are things we need to fix up, but after a tough week last week it was important to get the result.
“I am pleased with our scrum. We worked hard on it during the week and the week before. It seems to be coming on. We got about 14 points out of it tonight which is a fantastic return from any set-piece.”
Munster must plan without several front-line Irish internationals who are preparing for the upcoming Guinness Series. Hooker Jerry Flannery could yet be fit in time for the last of Ireland’s autumn internationals against New Zealand next month and also Munster’s Heineken Cup back-to-back ties against the Ospreys in December. Flannery saw a specialist in Liverpool on Friday regarding his ongoing calf muscle problems and the diagnosis was better than expected with a four week rest expected to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, the Ireland squad is continuing their training camp in Limerick for the remainder of this week, before transferring to Dublin ahead of the first game of the Guinness Series against South Africa in the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has braced his side for a gruelling November playing schedule. After the South African fixture, Ireland face Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina on successive weekends at the Aviva Stadium as the countdown to next year’s World Cup begins in earnest.

Colm Kinsella

Fingers crossed for Johnny

2010-10-13T12:49:00.001+01:00

FINGERS are crossed right across Limerick that Johnny McCarthy will be selected this Thursday in the Irish squad to face the Australians for the International Rules Series.
The inter-county and St. Kieran’s defender remains the only local still in contention for a place on Anthony Tohill’s 23-man Irish panel.

Croom’s John Galvin was also in contention, but, unfortunately, injury has ruled the midfielder out.
Johnny McCarthy was one of 34 players to attend last weekend’s training sessions in Limerick when Anthony Tohill’s panel were based in Adare Manor and trained at the Gaelic Grounds.
McCarthy is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Stephen Kelly, John Quane and Paddy Barrett and represent his country against the Aussies.
Of course making this season all the more special is the fact that Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds will host the first test under floodflights on Saturday, October 23.
This week it was confirmed that the Mackey Stand was sold out for the eagerly-anticipated event, but tickets are still available for both the uncovered stand and terraces.
Tickets can be purchased from the Gaelic Grounds Office, Gleeson Sports Scene or through ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.ie or www.gaa.ie.
Entry to the uncovered stand is €20 and the terrace is €15. A host of special offers for groups, students and OAPs are also available.
The Australian team will arrive in Ireland this Saturday and will play a warm-up match in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork on Wednesday, October 20 against a combined Irish Universities selection.
Both international panels will be afforded a Limerick City 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 internationally acclaimed band The Walls will perform at half time while after the game a fireworks display will light up the night sky.
Before attention turns to the International Rules all the focus this Sunday (3.30) will be on Newcastle West when the county senior football championship final takes place outside of the Gaelic Grounds for the first time since 1987. The meeting of the men from Monaleen and the Adare lads is a repeat of the 2002 senior final which required a replay before Monaleen prevailed.

Jerome O’Connell

A clash of two very different rugby cultures

2010-10-13T12:48:00.001+01:00

“YOU’RE certainly dealing with two opposite ends of the spectrum when you’re looking at environment and culture.
“Munster is home-grown players who have been born, grown up on the field together, lived in the one area all of their lives and certainly have built friendships and relationships not only between themselves, but also with the community.
“That’s against a side (Toulon) who have been bankrolled to be put together. There are many different ways of bringing success and they have certainly started that journey over the last two or three years.”
Munster coach Tony McGahan provides an interesting insight into the clash of two rugby cultures which will be played out before a sell-out crowd at Thomond Park - Munster face the big-spending Toulon in a crunch pool three clash on Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm).

A second successive Munster defeat on the back of last weekend’s reverse at the hands of London Irish would all but end the province’s hopes of advancing to the knock-out stages of the competition for a 13th straight season.
Coach Tony McGahan appreciates the size of the challenge facing his charges against the Top 14 leaders in France whose annual wage bill is estimated to be close to €7 million. Toulon’s star-studded squad includes the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, George Smith, Joe Van Niekerk, Pierre Mignoni, Carl Hayman and Felipe Contepomi.
Much interest will centre around the make-up of Toulon’s match day squad as they are only entitled to include just two non-European qualified players in it.
“You look at what they (Toulon) achieved last year with their results in the Top 14 and also in the Challenge Cup and this year they have set the bar higher with the calibre of player they have brought in,” coach Tony McGahan pointed out.
“They are very different ways of approaching professional rugby, but it is a great challenge.
“That collective will and the environment the (Munster) players have been part of and excelled in - put their own self inside to make sure it grows - those sort of things give you the edge in big games. We’re looking for that to play a part on Saturday evening.”
Some aspects of McGahan’s team selection, including the omission of Alan Quinlan from the match day squad and the decision to name David Wallace and Paul Warwick on the replacements bench for last weekend’s clash with London Irish did raise some eyebrows.
However, Tony McGahan insists his team is picked on form.
“We lost the game and that’s where it is.
“Winning on the road in a tough group in the Heineken Cup is very difficult,” Tony McGahan pointed out.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, just to turn up and get a result doesn’t happen.
“We certainly realise there are areas we need to take forward this week and we won’t get a return on a result if we don’t. The squad is picked on each game and on its merits.
“That’s one of the things we’ve really tried to do in the last couple of years - whoever is putting in the performance is going to get the game. . .”
“For us this week we’re back at home. We obviously enjoy playing here, so it means a lot to us to play back here in front of our fans. We really look at what we can control to get the result.
“Whatever team they (Toulon) put out, they really have a strong way of playing and the fulcrum of that is (Jonny) Wilkinson. Whether he plays or does not play, definitely there will be a point of difference if he doesn’t play.”
Munster have included the fit-again Jerry Flannery in their extended squad for Saturday’s game. Hooker Flannery has been sidelined through injury since lining out against the Barbarians at Thomond Park last May.
He made his competitive comeback on Friday night last when playing for 40 minutes in Shannon’s All-Ireland League victory over city rivals Garryowen.
Niall Ronan, who was forced off after half an hour during the defeat to London Irish having received a cut to his head, is also included in the squad for Saturday’s sell-out clash.
But Munster were facing an anxious wait this Wednesday as centre Sam Tuitupou appeared before an ERC-convened disciplinary committee hearing in Dublin. Tuitupou was cited after committing an alleged dangerous tackle on London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson during the first-half of the game in the Madejski Stadium. Munster are already without another key centre, the suspended Lifeimi Mafi for the clash.

Munster squad: Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Jerry Flannery, Damien Varley, John Hayes, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes, Keith Earls, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley.

Colm Kinsella

Official move made to form a Hurling Board

2010-10-13T12:47:00.000+01:00

IT’S finally official - moves to form a County Hurling Committee are underway.
After months of speculation a motion is to come before the clubs of the county at the Annual Convention in December to set up a County Hurling Committee.
The motion was submitted by the Murroe-Boher GAA club.
The motion seeks for the establishment of a steering committee at Annual Convention with a view towards ratifying the new body at the February County Board meeting.
In recent times representatives of the break-away group met with Limerick GAA chiefs, but the sides reached no agreement on a way forward which has resulted in the motion to come before convention.
A 16-man committee are behind the plans to establish a seperate Hurling Board or Committee for Limerick - with four representatives from the clubs from each of the four divisions.
The break-away group contains a number of high-profile figures within Limerick hurling including past and present high ranking officials, former inter-county hurlers and footballers and former members of inter-county management teams.
There will also be a number of other interesting motions to come before the Annual Convention.
Bruff GAA club are proposing to end the involvement of divisional teams in the county senior hurling championship while the Killeedy club are proposing that all four divisions be represented in the championship proper.
Croagh-Kilfinny are seeking to have the county junior A hurling championship run on an all-county basis with 20 teams to compete with four groups of five teams.
Along similar lines Galtee Gaels want the county junior A football championship run across the county.
But Killeedy want the county intermediate hurling championship to return to the divisions.

Quaid & Carroll
TWO former Limerick hurlers could be about to move into the boardroom of Limerick GAA.
Former inter-county goalkeeper Joe Quaid and former star midfielder Jimmy Carroll are both nominated for positions on the executive of Limerick County Board.
The two-time All Star Quaid played between the posts for Limerick from 1994 to 2002 and was coach of the Limerick under-14 team for the Tony Forristal competition this season.
Carroll played with Limerick for a ten-year spell from the late 70’s until 1988 and for the last three years has managed the Emmets divisional team.
The duo could find themselves at the top table of Limerick GAA after the 2010 Annual Convention which will take place at a south venue on Monday, December 6.
Joe Quaid is nominated for the position of Coaching Officer - a position that is been vacated by Gerry Philips as he has competed his five-year term. Quaid will face opposition from out-going vice-chairman Mickey O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan has to step down from his vice-chairman role as he has completed his term and will be replaced by Oliver Mann who is the only candidate nominated for the position.
O’Sullivan is also nominated for the position of Munster Council delegate.
There are a total of six individuals nominated for the two positions to the provincial council - Jimmy Carroll, Denis Holmes, Oliver Mann, John Galvin, Eddie Wade and Mickey O’Sullivan.

Maurice Horan
Maurice Horan has finally been rubber-stamped as Limerick’s new senior football manager.
At this week’s October monthly meeting of the County Board in Claughaun the successor to Mickey Ned O’Sullivan was ratified by delegates.
The former Mayo and Limerick footballer will be joined by Eiphe Fitzgerald as trainer-selector and Joe Lee as selector.
Ephie Fitzgerald managed Nemo Rangers to a four-in-a-row of Cork SFC titles as well as two Munster titles.
As a player with Nemo he won four All-Ireland medals and five Munster club medals.
He also won two under-21 All-Irelands with Cork along with a Munster senior title.
Horan was also ratified as Limerick under-21 manager with selectors Micheal Reidy (Dromcollogher-Broadford), Oola’s John Ryan and Adare’s Niall Crowley.
Elsewhere, former Limerick senior hurling coach Ger Cunningham (Knockainey) has been appointed as a selector with the Limerick minor hurling team for 2011.
Cunnigham replaces Adare’s Joe Hannon as a selector as Hannon is to take up the role of Liaison Officer with Donal O’Grady’s senior hurlers.
Adare’s Shane Fitzgibbon is Limerick minor manager for next season along with Mike Galligan (Claughaun), Frankie Carroll (Garryspillane), George Lee (Ahane) and now Cunningham.
The position of county under-21 hurling manager remains vacant.
Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan told this week’s meeting that it would be after the International Rules Test before attention would be turned to the appointment.

Championship draw
Limerick have received a bye into the semi-finals of both codes in the 2011 Munster senior championships - Donal O’Grady’s hurlers were drawn against Munster champions Waterford in their semi-final of the provincial hurling championship.
The clash against the Davy Fitzgerald managed Decies is likely to take place in Semple Stadium Thurles.
On the other side of the draw All-Ireland champions Tipperary play Cork in the quarter-final with the winners to play Clare in the semi-final.
Meanwhile in the football draw Limerick received a bye in the semi-final. They await the winners of the quarter-final meeting of Kerry and Tipperary.
Limerick will have home advantage in the Gaelic Grounds, regardless of the opposition.
In the other side of the championship All-Ireland champions Cork play Clare with the winners to face Waterford.

Jerome O’Connell

‘I think Toulon have the Heineken Cup firmly in their sights’ - Payne

2010-10-12T19:21:00.001+01:00

MUNSTER manager, Shaun Payne is convinced big-spending French side Toulon will prove formidable opponents in Saturday’s glamour Heineken Cup pool three tie at Thomond Park (3.30pm).

In the past French sides coming to Thomond Park for big European club fixtures have been accused of not travelling well.
But Shaun Payne expects the Top 14 leaders to make a huge effort to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup this season.
“I wouldn’t be buying into the notion that Toulon won’t travel well this weekend,” Shaun Payne said.
“I think Toulon have the Heineken Cup firmly in their sights.
“We will await the official announcement later in the week in relation to the kind of team Toulon selects for Saturday. They have an issue in their squad in relation to non-European qualified players in their squad. You can only put two in any match-day squad.”
Munster welcome Jerry Flannery back into their extended squad for Saturday’s second round clash. Jerry Flannery had been sidelined through injury since lining out against the Barbarians at Thomond Park in May.
Shaun Payne said: “It is well documented that Jerry (Flannery) has been struggling with a few injury issues, a problem with a calf and then the hamstring pull.
“He had the injection into the back and that seems to have worked. Ever since then he has been training really well. Jerry had 40 minutes obviously with Shannon on Friday night. He came through it without any worries. Jerry is confident and we are too that he is finally on the mend.”
Niall Ronan, who was forced off after half an hour of last weekend’s defeat to London Irish having received a cut to his head, is included in the squad for Saturday’s sell-out clash in Limerick.
Munster face an anxious wait as centre Sam Tuitupou appears before an ERC-convened disciplinary committee hearing in Dublin later today.
Tuitupou was cited after committing an alleged dangerous tackle on London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson during the first-half of the game in the Madejski Stadium.
Munster are already without another key centre, the suspended Lifeimi Mafi, for Saturday’s game.
“In terms of the backs, since we first announced the Heineken Cup squad on the registration day, Ian Dowling, Tomas O’Leary and Lifeimi Mafi are on the sidelines,” Shaun Payne pointed out.
“It is quite unusual in that normally you run into numbers problems in the forwards. You cannot lose that many quality players and not be worried about it.
“We will leave Sam’s (Tuitupou’s) hearing until later today and see what happens then.”
There were a number of talking points in Munster’s starting line-up for the clash with London Irish, including the omission of Alan Quinlan from the match day squad and the fact that David Wallace was named among the replacements.
Team manager Payne insisted the starting XV was the strongest possible: “We chose the strongest possible team last week. What happened on the weekend as well there were certain guys who played excellently. According to that we will have to go and see how guys go in training this week.
“The team will be based on that and it will be the strongest possible selection as well.
“Selections do change from week to week depending what happens on a weekend result.
“Everyone is back in the picture for selection this weekend. Alan was obviously very disappointed to lose out last weekend.
“But I think it is a measure of the competition within the squad now in the back-row. Fellows have been putting up their hands.
“James (Coughlan) and Niall (Ronan) have been playing very well. Don’t forget, below that, we have younger fellas coming on hard as well. Peter O’Mahony and guys like that. There is pressure all over the squad to be honest.”

Munster squad: Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Jerry Flannery, Damien Varley, John Hayes, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes, Keith Earls, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley.

COLM KINSELLA

Eighty hurlers invited to inter-county trials

2010-10-06T12:12:00.004+01:00

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

Earls could feature against the Exiles

2010-10-06T12:12:00.002+01:00

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan believes Heineken Cup pool games now rival international Test matches in terms of build-up, preparation and the emotion of winning or losing.
McGahan was speaking on the eve of Munster’s mammoth Heineken Cup opener away to London Irish at the Madejski Stadium, Reading, on Saturday (5.45pm).

Munster, hoping to reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club rugby competition for a 13th successive season, will host big-spending French side Toulon at Thomond Park in their second pool game on Saturday, October 18.
Munster were dealt a blow ahead of this weekend’s clash against ‘the Exiles’ with confirmation that centre Lifeimi Mafi has been suspended for seven weeks for a dangerous tackle on Leinster’s Gordon D’Arcy in the provinces Magners League tie last weekend.
Munster coach McGahan may opt to slot fit-again Keith Earls back into the midfield for the Heineken Cup clash with the Aviva Premiership leaders. Earls has been sidelined for the early part of the season due to a combination of groin and ankle injuries. The exciting 22-year-old took a full part in a Munster training session in UL on Tuesday and reported no ill effects afterwards.
Munster squad advisor Mick Galwey said: “Keith has obviously come through the training session today which is very encouraging. Hopefully over the next 24 hours, there will be no reaction to it.
“This is his first full hard session. It’s great to have him back. The only concern is match time. He hasn’t had any match-time for a long time now.”
Scrum-half Tomas O’Leary, who took a blow to his hand in the defeat to Leinster, is expected to be fit for saturday’s game.
With Magners League champions, the Ospreys, also included in Pool 3 of the Heineken Cup, Munster will have to be at their best to advance to the knock-out stages of the competition.
Coach Tony McGahan said the pool draw appeared to get more difficult with each passing season.
“It’s always tough, but it seems the pools we’re getting get tougher and tougher,” McGahan said this week.
“The quality of the sides, the quality of the programmes being undertaken now from every side and every country, it’s just very difficult to win a game. It’s nearly like a 6 Nations game, a Test match, each weekend. It’s not like you get two games and you can be a little bit off to get through.
“And then you break and come back to it, so you look at the quality players that are running around, and some of the rugby that gets played, there’s going to be aspects of the weekend game on Saturday for example where a missed opportunity or a tackle or a kick, it’s going to have a major bearing on whether we get out of the pool at the end of January.”
Former Munster skipper Galwey said Saturday night’s defeat to Leinster in their high-profile Magners League tie before 50,000 spectators at the Aviva Stadium had served to focus minds ahead of the clash with in-form London Irish.
Galwey said: “Maybe getting beaten away to Leinster might be the ideal preparation, but it certainly has focused lads.
“They are very focused this week, and hopefully we can bring it on.”
The Munster team to face London Irish is due to be named at noon on Friday. The squad will depart from Shannon Airport at 12.30pm that day.

Munster Squad: Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Damien Varley, John Hayes, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan, Tomás O’Leary, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes, Keith Earls, Lifemi Mafi, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley.

Colm Kinsella

Alan Quinlan closes in on Munster record

2010-10-06T12:11:00.002+01:00

Flanker Alan Quinlan is in line to become the most capped Munster player of all time on Saturday.
Thirty-six-year-old Quinlan and former number eight Anthony Foley currently share the record of 201 appearances for Munster.
Should Quinlan, as expected, feature for Munster in Saturday’s big Heineken Cup opener against London Irish then he will set a new record for the number of appearances for the province.
Quinlan made his Munster debut when lining out against Western Samoa in November 1996.
Paying tribute to Quinlan this week, Mick Galwey, a former Shannon, Munster and Ireland team-mate, described the achievement as ‘phenomenal’.
Mick Galwey said: “Alan (Quinlan) has been there for a long time. I first started playing with Alan at Shannon. He has stood the test of time. That is the best thing you can say about him.
“He has been there or thereabouts. He has come through a few horrific injuries and yet he is as competitive as ever. We saw that last weekend against Leinster.
“The only other fellow so far to get to 200 caps is Anthony Foley. They both play in the back-row. It is phenomenal that they both managed to earn so many caps for Munster.
“Alan is going to be a very important part of the squad as the year goes on.”
Alan Quinlan was born on July 13, 1974. The Tipperary-born star has won five All-Ireland League titles with Shannon RFC and has been capped 201 times for Munster. Quinlan made his debut for the province in November 1996 v Western Samoa and earned his 100th provincial cap against Cardiff in the Celtic League in March 2005.
Alan Quinlan has also been capped 27 times for Ireland.

Colm Kinsella

Kilmallock chase national glory

2010-10-06T12:11:00.001+01:00

FOR the second time in 17 months Kilmallock United are preparing for an FAI Cup final.
This time round it is the ladies team that are in the national final when this Sunday (2pm) at Limerick’s Jackman Park they play in the FAI Junior Women’s Cup final against top Dublin side Bohemians.
In May 2009 the club’s under-17 boys side were defeated 3-1 by Belvedere in the FAI Umbro Under-17 Cup final.
Remarkably the ladies team was only reformed last November.
Managed by Margaret Maguire, Jimmy Conway and Joe McCormack the ladies played their first league match in April which started an unbelievable run of 11 wins out of 11 in the league and they also lifted the Division 2 Cup.
“Kilmallock have always had outstanding underage girls team, but we were missing the ladies team for a number of years,” explained ladies team manager Margaret Maguire.
“We put out the call and the response was an overwhelming 32 ladies from Irish internationals to girls that have never played ball - our players range in age from 16 to 30,” she said.
The team coach is Jimmy Conway: “These girls have been a joy to coach. I know on the day of the final they will do us and themselves proud. Any team that can say they have won 22 out of 24 games are something very special. It will be a very proud day for the girls as they stand on the pitch at Jackman Park and know they are in an FAI Cup final. Success on this scale and at this level does not happen by accident. This is down to hard work and commitment”.
Kilmallock have won four games to reach Sunday’s final.
In the first round Kilmallock were at home to Mungret FC from the Limerick Ladies Premier Division and despite falling behind they fought back for victory courtesy of two goals from Marie Claire Curtin.
In round two they were again at home against Millstreet FC from Cork. Goals from Sinead O’Riordan, Aisling Ryan, Jenny Clery and Claudia Hudner ensured their safe passage into the quarter-finals.
In the last eight they met Rathkeale from the Limerick Desmond League. Rathkeale were two goals up at half time, but Curtin and O’Riordan found the net to force extra-time. There were no further goals scored in extra time and the Kilmallock girls held their nerve to advance after a tense penalty shootout.
That win set up a daunting semi final trip away to Tramore AFC from Waterford, when goals from Jenny Clery and Sinead O’Riordan helped them to a 2-1 win.
Kilmallock are captained by former Irish senior international Marie Claire Curtin. Just last month Curtin was Player of the Match as the Limerick junior Ladies Footballers won the All-Ireland championship in Croke Park.
Club PRO Carmel Ryan said that “reaching an FAI Cup final has put our ladies team firmly in the sights of the Irish international team management. The team captain Marie Curtin has had a distinguished international career with hopefully more caps to come, but it would be fantastic reward if international recognition were to come for some of our other girls also.
“The support from the soccer club committee has been an integral part of our success as has been the phenomenal support which we have received all season from our loyal band of supporters and sponsors.
“This is deeply appreciated by all involved in the squad and we will give it our all to reward your support by bringing home the coveted FAI Junior Cup to Kilmallock on Sunday evening,” said the PRO.
“The final will kick off at 2pm in Jackman Park, Limerick which is brilliant for us. So, thank you to the LDMC. We welcome Bohemians FC junior ladies team to Limerick and we look forward to a very good game against them. A special thanks to all our sponsors for your generosity and finally, we look forward to a very good sporting final and a first national Cup final victory for our club,” said Ryan.
Club chairman Donal Hayes believes that there is a bright future for the ladies team.
“It is a proud day for our club. Incredibly seven of this team played under-16 football only last season. Great credit is due to the management team of Margaret Maguire, Jimmy Conway and Joe McCormack for their hard work and dedication,” said Hayes.
His words were echoed by John Webb O’Rourke, the club secretary.
“It is a fantastic achievement for a very talented squad of players supported by a very good management team.
“The sense of togetherness these players radiate is very evident in each one of them and has captured the attention of everyone in Kilmallock and the surrounding area,” said the secretary.

Kilmallock Squad
Janice O’Connell, Aedin Hayes, Mary Purcell, Aisling Ryan, Anna O’Dea, Claudia Hudner, Marie Curtin (captain), Sinead O’Riordan, Becky Hand, Jenny Clery, Vicky McMahon. Subs: Stella Stapleton, Sinead Hayes, Genille Conway, Lisa Noonan, Marguerite Freney, Louise Lannon, Roisin Howard, Siobhan Collins, Elaine Connery.

Jerome O’Connell

Munster focused for a fierce battle

2010-10-05T10:09:00.004+01:00

INJURED Munster captain Paul O’Connell believes the fiercely competitive nature of the province’s Heineken Cup group will focus the players’ minds as they bid to reach the knock-out stages of the competition for a 13th straight season. Munster open their European campaign with a difficult assignment against Aviva Premiership leaders London Irish at the Madejski Stadium this Saturday (5.45pm).

The two-time Heineken Cup champions host big-spending French side Toulon at Thomond Park a week later before resuming their pool fixtures with back-to-back games against the Ospreys in December.
Munster skipper O’Connell, who is hoping to be back playing competitively in December, believes the province had been drawn in an ‘incredibly tough’ group.
“You look at the draw on paper. Look at the squad and the experience that Toulon have,” O’Connell pointed out at the Irish launch of the Heineken Cup this week.
“I mean they may not have a history of winning or a history in the Heineken Cup, but everyone of their players have a history of winning and know how to win.
“Ospreys have massive ambitions in the Heineken Cup for years now. They have an incredibly strong squad. They won the Magners League. Obviously then you have London Irish who are top of the Premiership. They got great experience last year in the Heineken Cup.
“So, yeah it’s an incredibly tough group, but that’s the way it always has been with Munster and it really focuses the mind on every game.
“You can’t rest for one game and you can’t take your foot off the gas for one game.”
O’Connell has put back on 6kgs of the 10kgs he lost while battling the groin injury which has kept him sidelined since March.
O’Connell explained: “The injury is improving well. I’m not back in full training yet, hopefully that will happen in the next few weeks.
“I’ll have to do a bit of a min pre-season as I haven’t done a lot of running since the Scotland game in March. Then hopefully get out and get a few games. Hopefully, I will still be back before Christmas, but I don’t really know yet.”
O’Connell’s absence from competitive rugby has allowed him to spend more time than would normally be the case with his five and a half month old son Paddy, an experience he has enjoyed.
“It’s been good fun. If I hadn’t have had the injury I would have been away for the first four weeks on tour at the start. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone to have to do it on their own at the start, so it was great to be around for that. He’s piling it on, I wish I could get a bit of his metabolism.”
Munster coach Tony McGahan is hopeful Keith Earls will be available for selection for this weekend’s Heineken Cup pool opener with London Irish. However, hooker Jerry Flannery will not be available for selection for another week or two.
Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi attended a hearing in Belfast this Tuesday after a citing complaint was made against him in the wake of the province’s Magners League clash with Leinster.
Mafi was cited for an alleged dangerous tackle and allegedly punching or striking in an incident with Leinster’s Gordon D’Arcy in the 19th minute of the game. The hearing took place in the Ulster Branch offices in Ravenhill under the chairmanship of Hugh Logan.

Colm Kinsella

Greyhound Stadium opens its doors on Friday night

2010-10-05T10:09:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK’S new €18 million state-of-the-art Greyhound Stadium will open its doors this Friday night.
Years of waiting and disappointment will come to an end when the traps come up for the opening race which is timed for 7.45pm.
There will be a 12-race card on Friday and racegoers will also be able to enjoy a giant screen which will show the Republic of Ireland European Championship qualifier against Russia.
The new stadium, on Limerick’s Dock Road, is located on the old racecourse site at Greenpark will create 100 permanent jobs and will host over 1,750 races a year and have a capacity of 2,900.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature a main stand with viewing and dining areas as well as four bars.
The stadium will boast a 190-seat restaurant, private hospitality suites and gallery bars.
The restaurant and both corporate suites, with a total of 80 covers, are fully booked for this Friday’s first night of racing.
The general admission charge to the stadium is €10 with a 50 per cent reduction for OAP’s and students. Turnstiles will open at 6.30pm.
There are to be two race meetings each week at Limerick from this Friday.
Aside from the normal Friday and Saturday night, there will also be three extra Thursday meetings in the run-in to Christmas - December 2, December 9, December 16.
It is planned to run a bus service from the Market’s Field to the new stadium on race nights while there is secured car parking facilities for 450 vehicles at Greenpark free of charge.
“The racing team has moved in, all the systems are in place and we are having two mock nights at the stadium. We will have four mock races each night that will allow us to test everything, from the operation of the traps, the track, the tote, the restaurant, the bars, the toilets, everything,” said Stadium General Manager Declan O’Halloran.
“October 8 is really a trial run to allow staff and patrons become accustomed to our new surroundings.
“The official opening is scheduled for October 22 when we will have a special entertainment programme on offer,” he said.
“The place is looking great with all the major ground works completed and now it is just a case of applying the finished touches, such as the trimming of the carpets and touching up bits of paint,” Declan O’Halloran added.

Jerome O’Connell

All set for the Munster National

2010-10-05T10:08:00.000+01:00

THE €90,000 Ladbrokes Munster National will form the centrepiece of Limerick Racecourse’s most prestigious annual race day on Sunday next, October 10.
A top class field of runners is set to go to post for the Grade A feature race which is more than 100 years old. The action-packed programme of on-track action also includes an impressive supporting card. The 2010 Ladbrokes Munster National date is significant as it is ten years since the grand opening of this all encompassing racecourse at Greenmount Park.
A high class field of runners are expected to contest the 2010 running of the Ladbrokes Munster National.
Last year’s renewal was won by the Tom Taaffe-trained Treacle, with the Dashing George, trained in Rathkeale by Eric McNamara, finishing a very close second.
Local trainers have enjoyed a terrific record in the race in recent years with Askeaton handler, Davy Fitzgerald saddling Pearly Jack to take the top prize and the Patrickswell-based Michael Hourigan also landing the contest with Mossbank.
The opening contest on a seven race all-National Hunt card is due off at 2.30pm.
If the horses on show are somewhat of an appetiser for a day of entertainment, glamour and excitement, October 10 is also Ladies Day at Limerick Racecourse.
The now annual Munster National ladies day has become an important feature in this historical race meeting and Keane’s Jewellers, Limerick have once again supported the event.
Patrick Keane, of Keane’s Jewellers, will present a diamond ring valued at €5000 to the best dressed lady winner while the runner-up will receive a voucher for Isobel’s Boutique, Adare and the Revas Spa have put together a package for the recipient of the third place. Each of the ten finalists will receive a goodie bag which includes a €100 voucher for Keane’s Jellewers, Revas Spa items and a voucher for Isobel Boutique, Adare.
Several new features have also been added to the Munster National Itinerary at Greenmount Park this year. The Kidz Club will once again be in operation in the Munster Suite with further entertainment for children being provided outside of the main grandstand.
Children under-16 gain free admission so October 10 promises to be a wonderful day of racing, fun and excitement at Greenmount Park.
General admission is priced at €20 while the cost for those with concessions (students/senior citizens) is €10.
Further details, including on-line offers, are available at:
www.limerickraces.ie

Colm Kinsella

Kilmallock kingpins

2010-10-04T10:36:00.001+01:00

KILMALLOCK are back as the kingpins of Limerick club hurling. Yesterday the south Limerick town claimed their first county senior hurling title since 1994 when a decade of underage success was finally transformed into senior silverware.

“I felt confident coming in that we would win it, but I knew we would have to work really hard to win it because they were going to put it up to us,” said manager Tony Considine after Kilmallock’s 1-16 to 1-12 win over Emmets in the Gaelic Grounds.
“There was a lot of pressure over the years and that was weighing them down on their shoulders. Now that weight is gone off their shoulders once they have won,” said the former Clare hurling manager.
“I thought we hurled well. I thought we were the better team. I know we got a lucky goal, but there is no such thing as a bad goal and once we got on a run I thought we would be okay,” explained Considine.
Kilmallock now progress to the Munster club championship. On October 31 they will be away to the Clare champions in the provincial quarter-final.
Elsewhere in Limerick GAA circles Claughaun lost their senior hurling status over the weekend.
The ten-time senior champions were defeated by Garryspillane in the relegation play-off. The demise of their senior hurlers comes just two weeks after their senior footballers were also relegated to the intermediate ranks after a play-off defeat to Newcastle West.
Across the city there was better news for Na Piarsaigh when they qualified for the minor hurling premier championship final.
It will be a repeat of this year’s under-21 decider when Kilmallock are their opponents. Jake Mulcahy, Kevin O’Donnell, Mark O’Loughlin and Owen Webb-O’Rourke will all be hoping to add minor medals to the senior ones they won yesterday.

JEROME O’CONNELL

‘It has all the ingredients for an epic and classic battle’

2010-10-04T10:35:00.002+01:00

EMANUEL Steward is to step-up negotiations this week in an attempt to confirm Andy Lee’s world ranking middleweight contest against fellow Irishman John Duddy.
Lee brought his record to 24 wins from 25 pro fights over the weekend with a fourth round KO of Troy Lowry in the headline event of the ‘Fight Night at the Horseshoe’ boxing series at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.

Immediately after the 26-year-old Castleconnell man’s latest win his manager Emanuel Steward set about securing the clash against Derry’s John Duddy.
“There is a great appetite and interest amongst Irish boxing fans and boxing fans in general about a showdown between these two young talented fighters.
“Both fighters are ranked in the top 10 of the world ratings,” explained Steward.
“It has all the ingredients for an epic and classic battle.
“Styles make fights and the contrasting styles of Lee and Duddy is very evident. Andy is a technical boxer who carries a lethal punch and John is a courageous ring warrior who likes a bloody war. Both fighters have plenty of heart and can fight in the trenches when the going gets tough. It would make an unbelievable fight,” said Steward.
The legendary Kronk boxing icon believes an all-Irish war between Lee and Duddy would go down in Irish boxing history as the greatest fight ever to happen since Irish prize fighters Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney fought in the ‘Battle of the Long Count’ world title clash on September 22, 1927 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“I am very excited about trying to make the fight. It has drama and edge written all over it. It will be a memorable fight for Irish boxing fans that will go down in Irish boxing history as a classic.
“I think for both men it’s a huge fight at this stage of their careers and I believe Andy will be the victor and this will result in him moving closer to a world title shot in 2011. As far as I’m concerned Andy is the best middleweight in the division,” said Steward.
A possible date of December 4 in New York’s Madison Square Garden has already been mentioned, but it is still possible that the contest could be staged in the UL Sports Arena or in the O2 Arena, Dublin. Over the last few years speculation at times has been at fever pitch about the prospect of a Lee-Duddy encounter. Brian Peters Promotions made offers to both the Lee and Duddy camps last year to stage the fight in Limerick. However for a variety of reasons the fight did not get the go ahead. And, while his manager is working towards finalising details of the fight, Andy Lee is clear that he wants to face Duddy.
“There has never been a better time for the fight,” said the former Olympian.
“It is a fight were the stakes are stacked high and that neither fighter can afford to lose, a defining moment in our careers. It is an ‘Irish High Noon’ shootout, a winner takes all fight, where both fighters will be 100 per cent fired up for battle with their reputations and careers on the line and with the winner taking home more than his fight purse,” said Lee.
The Limerick man’s win over Troy Lowry last weekend was his second fight in just 15 days. Andy Lee knocked Lowry five times en route to being stopped at the end of the fourth round for his 19th KO of his career.

JEROME O’CONNELL

Devastated Munster men must pick themselves up

2010-10-04T10:34:00.002+01:00

MUNSTER winger Johne Murphy is hoping he can provide a vital insight into what his team mates can expect when they face Premiership high-flyers London Irish in next Saturday’s mammoth Heineken Cup opening round clash at the Madejski Stadium (kick-off 5.45pm).
Johne Murphy has plenty of experience facing ‘Irish’ from his years playing cross-channel with the Leicester Tigers.

The Munster players must pick themselves up from the bitter disappointment of losing to Leinster for the fifth straight occasion in time for Saturday’s Heineken Cup opener.
Munster failed to score a try against Leinster for the fifth successive game as Joe Schmidt’s side secured a hard-earned 13-9 victory before 50,000 spectators at the new Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.
Tony McGahan’s men do have the consolation, at least, of retaining top spot in the Magners League by virtue of the losing bonus point secured against their fiercest of rivals.
The twenty-five-year-old Munster winger Johne Murphy said he felt as disappointed as he ever felt after a game following Saturday night’s Magners League reverse in Dublin.
“This is as disappointed as I have been in my career.
“It is a rivalry which I think no one can really prepare you for.
“I am absolutely gutted,” Johne Murphy said.
“We had our opportunities to win the game.
“They got one opportunity and they took theirs.
“I suppose it was just the pressure building and building on each other which got them their try at the end.
“When we got into their green zone we didn’t build the same pressure which is something we have been trying to work on for the past couple of weeks.
“We will build on it hopefully for the Heineken Cup.
“We learned a lot tonight. What better way to prepare for the ERC games than with one of the biggest rivalries in Irish sport. We learned a lot about ourselves tonight.
“We will sit down now and look at what we need to do to go to London Irish.
“It is somewhere I am used to so hopefully I can help the guys build for next week and explain what it is going to be like on Saturday.”
Murphy is already looking forward to the opportunity to help Munster finally break their extended losing run against Leinster later in the season.
“We will have a chance to beat Leinster in the return game at Thomond Park later in the season.
“Hopefully, we can get this monkey off our back finally,” Johne Murphy said.
“The new Aviva stadium is fantastic. You play rugby for games like this.
“It was fantastic running out on the pitch. You get goose bumps walking around and when we ran out in the match it was a special moment.
“But that still doesn’t make up for the disappointment we have in the dressing room,” Johne Murphy told Leader Sport.
Munster will hope to have the injured duo of Jerry Flannery and Keith Earls back in contention for selection for the upcoming Heineken Cup group games against London Irish and big-spending Toulon.
Meanwhile on the club front Young Munster celebrated their return to the top flight of the AIL with a deserved victory over city rivals Garryowen at Dooradoyle.
Shannon had to make do with a losing bonus point from their clash with Dolphin.
In Division 1B there were opening weekend defeats for both UL-Bohemian and Bruff while in Division 2 Old Crescent recorded an encouraging home win over Clonakilty while Thomond succumbed to Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park.

COLM KINSELLA

Southern rivals are ready for battle

2010-09-29T12:00:00.002+01:00

As the Limerick hurling fraternity gears up for this weekend's county senior hurling final between Kilmallock and Emmets Jerome O'Connell spoke to the respective captains, Gavin O'Mahony and Brian Moloney. Sunday's county final takes place in the Gaelic Grounds at 3.30pm.

Kilmallock captain Gavin O’Mahony is the proud holder of four minor hurling championships, one minor football championship and four county under-21 crowns. But the centre-back would gladly swap all those underage medals for just one county senior championship success.
That is in no way a slight on the years of hard work that earned the Balbec all their underage success, but more it is evidence of the massive hunger that exists in the south Limerick town.
For most followers of those in green and white the wait since 1994 is far too long for the return of the Daly Cup to the town. There were final appearances in 1999 and 2005, but despite a conveyor belt of underage talent senior glory has eluded them.
“The pressure to win a senior is unreal,” commented Kilmallock captain Gavin O’Mahony who has already captained Kilmallock to minor and under-21 county titles.
“I would in a heart-beat,” he said when asked if he would swap his underage medals for senior success.
“We know how tough it is to win the senior. The gap of over 15 years is too much,” he remarked.
“Maybe we were missing from players as a transition from the last successful side to this group. There are a couple of lads still playing, but they are not on the starting team,” said O’Mahony.
“We are still such a young team with the spine of the team mostly under-23, but you always need a core of experienced players. Underage and senior success don’t go hand-in-hand.”
He explained: “Growing up we were all used to winning and then when you don’t it’s about how you handle it. If we won in 2005 it would have broken down a lot of barriers”.
That 2005 defeat to south rivals Garryspillane brought an end to the career of many older players like Mike Houlihan, but it didn’t do anything to lessen the pressure.
“Pressure and expectation are good,” says O’Mahony.
“Expectation keeps you training because you know that there are standards you have to keep. Hurling is huge around Kilmallock. Hurling is always number one.”
Just like their last appearance on county final day, Sunday is another local derby.
“I would have hurled with a lot of them (Emmets). There are ten or 11 of them that I would have played with - they have all played senior or intermediate with Limerick,” he said.
Indeed Effin duo Damien Moloney and Tommy Quaid were club team-mates of O’Mahony’s in 2004 when Kilmallock won the minor title.
“It’s all so local - the banter, I suppose is more for the supporters,” remarked the Kilmallock captain.
The “banter” is a mere sideshow that will matter little if O’Mahony doesn’t return the county title to Kilmallock on Sunday evening.
After a series of changes in recent seasons former Clare senior hurling manager Tony Considine was entrusted with the task of donning the bainesteoir bid this season.
“When someone like that says something you are going to listen,” said O’Mahony of Tony Considine.
“The experience and confidence that he has is great and we all know what he has achieved at club and inter-county level.
“He has great confidence in all our players to just tell them to go out and hurl and if things go wrong you are letting no one down.”
The captain feels that all in the Kilmallock camp could be coming of age.
“Fellas are getting older and stronger and maybe they are now playing in their more natural positions. The talent is there, but the aim is to keep them altogether.”

Brian Moloney
What a year it has been for Brian Moloney. Just 12 months ago Moloney and his Blackrock colleagues were preparing for an assault on the county junior A hurling championship after their replay win over Effin in the south final. The Kilfinane and Ardpatrick men progressed all the way to Croke Park last February and as a result of that All-Ireland success Moloney was selected as captain of the Emmets divisional team. On Sunday he leads out the men from the south division and the opportunity is not lost on the stylish wing back.
“It has been an unbelievable year so far to have come this far to the county final,” he told Leader Sport.
“There is only a chance for two teams to win a county senior medal this year, so we have got to be happy with that. We know that this might be our one big chance to win it. We will loose one club at the end of this season so this might be our best chance,” he explained in reference to the guarantee that there will be south winner of the county intermediate final.
“This could be our one chance so we have nothing to lose.”
Like his manager Brian Moloney can see the positives of divisional teams playing in the county senior championship. In 2009 Moloney and his Blackrock colleagues, Dave Moloney and Richie McCarthy, were making the step up from the junior ranks to senior hurling when they donned the blue and gold of Emmets.
“There are a lot of pros and cons to the Emmets team, but it gives junior and intermediate players a platform to show what they can do and that can only be good for Limerick hurling. You can see when the players go back to their own clubs that the higher standard has helped them to progress. The experience of playing at the higher standard has been great for me personally and I suppose the biggest thing has been the speed of the game,” explained Moloney.
“It’s a big step up, but the Emmets teams has really helped us,” he said in reference to Blackrock’s promotion.
“It’s a great honour for me to be captain,” said Moloney.
“When you look at this team everyone of the players are leaders within their own clubs. We really have 30 captains and in games when it might be in the balance you never have to look too far for someone that will grab the game by the scruff of the neck. With the exception of three of four players the majority of the team would be under 25 years of age.”
The captain said that the motivation behind their 2010 campaign was a disappointing semi-final loss to Na Piarsaigh last season.
“We were all very disgusted with the way we played. Since the start of the year Jimmy and Darren have been telling us that the goal was to get back to the semi-final and get to the final.”
There will be no surprise for either side on Sunday and Moloney sees that as an advantage for both sides.
When the sides met in the group stages in lat May, Kilmallock were 2-12 to 1-12 winners.
“For Kilmallock it is a positive because they know that they can beat us. There was not that much intensity because it was not a knockout game but on Sunday it should be played at a higher grade,” said Moloney.
“Both sets of players know each other very well - there is certainly a rivalry between both teams and there would be a lot of friends involved in both sides but that will be left to one side for an hour on Sunday and then we will be friends again after.”
When Moloney and club colleagues collected the county title last autumn they wore blue and gold against Effin, the Emmets captain will be hoping that could be an omen for Sunday.

Jerome O’Connell

Lee could face a mouth-watering contest against John Duddy

2010-09-29T11:59:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK pro-boxer Andy Lee could face a mouth-watering contest against fellow Irish middleweight John Duddy on December 4 in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
But before any contracts are signed for a clash between the Castleconnell man and the Derry native Lee must win his latest fight this weekend.

This Friday, October 2 the Limerick southpaw will headline a boxing event promoted by Hitz Boxing at the lavish ‘Venue’ in the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana.
The opponent for the scheduled ten-round fight will be veteran fighter Troy Lowry from Saint Paul, Minnesota. This fight comes just two weeks after Lee maintained his push for a world title bout by defeating Michael Walker at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
The former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian stopped the hometown fighter after two minutes and three seconds of the eighth round.
Ahead of his 25th pro-fight Lee has previously learned not to look beyond any opponent, but the prospect of a clash with Duddy would make headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.
“Yeah, I think that fight’s definitely a possibility that could be becoming a reality that could happen. In fact, Emanuel has been talking with Duddy’s people and they’ve been going back and forth. I think Duddy is well up for the fight and I would like the fight, too,” said Andy Lee.
“It would be a good fight for me. He’s a good name and a good fighter and it would be a good platform for me especially here in America.
“If I won the fight I could move on to bigger fights say like a Matrinez or a Williams. Yeah, I would like the fight.”
Already December 4 has been pin-pointed as a potential date and the Lee v Duddy fight would be on the undercard of Miguel Cotto’s first defence of his WBA World light middleweight title.
“Hopefully it gets made. I think it’s an attractive fight for a lot of reasons. It’s good styles, a fighter versus a boxer, two Irish guys and a big rivalry in New York with all of our fans.
“They’re always going back and forth. So yeah, it would be a good fight. I hope it gets made,” said Andy Lee.
Lee’s manager Emmanuel Steward and Duddy’s manager Craig Hamilton have confirmed they have had discussions.
“I have talked to Craig about the fight and he’s up for it and so are we. It looks like it will be part of the undercard to Miguel Cotto in New York. New York is where I would like it to be, it’s a huge fight there for the Irish community, but I know there is interest in staging the fight in Ireland,” said Steward.
“I think for both men it’s a great fight at this stage of their careers and I believe it will take Andy closer to a world title shot. As far as I’m concerned Andy is the best middleweight in the world. I want him to face the winner of the Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez WBC title fight in November,” said Steward.
Meanwhile tickets for Willie Casey’s European Super Bantamweight title fight at Limerick’s University Sports Arena on Saturday, November 6 will go on sale this Friday. The Southill man challenges Kiko Martinez for the Spaniard’s belt. Tickets go on sale from 9am this Friday, October 1 from www.ticketmaster.ie or 0818719300.

Jerome O’Connell

McGahan plays down poor Leinster form

2010-09-29T11:58:00.003+01:00

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan is playing down Leinster’s indifferent early season form as the build-up to Saturday’s mammoth Magners League clash between the arch rivals at the Aviva Stadium cranks up in earnest (7.30pm).

McGahan believes the impressive levels of performance Leinster have produced against Munster in recent seasons is a better guide to the type of challenge Joe Schmidt’s side will provide this weekend rather than the stumbling start to their Magners League campaign.
Munster occupy top spot in the league table with four straight victories while Leinster are languishing in ninth place having already lost three times.
However, Leinster boast an impressive record against Munster in recent seasons, winning all four of their most recent clashes in the Magners League and Heineken Cup.
“Really all that we go on is the games that we’ve played against Leinster in the past, and how they approach us and how we approach them,” Tony McGahan said.
“If we were playing Connacht or we were playing Ulster, there would be that same mentality.
“We don’t really draw any conclusions from where they are in the table or how they’ve done in past games.
“All we know is that we expect them to be at their best on Saturday and we’re sure they’ll be expecting our best too.
“You can’t argue with history, you can’t argue with the stats.
“They have four wins out of the last four encounters and we’re zero, and that’s the way it stands. There is no argument there and we certainly don’t have any qualms.”
McGahan believes this weekend’s sell-out attendance at the 50,000-plus capacity stadium are set for a mammoth battle.
The fixture will be Munster’s final competitive outing before their Heineken Cup opening round tie away to in-form London Irish on Saturday, October 9.
Tony McGahan said: “I think there is an extra edge in training. I don’t think there is any hiding from that. These games correspond to ERC time so certainly there is a spring in the step,” McGahan admitted.
“One thing we really have tried to do over the last couple of years is to try and keep that going every week. Obviously, there are weeks with huge intensity and motivation, but trying to keep that consistently through the season is a real theme of what we are trying to do. We’ve done that so far.
“Obviously, different opponents bring out different emotions, so certainly today was a good training session,” he pointed out.
Updating a number of injury concerns with the squad at the Munster pre-match press conference in Cork yesterday, Tony McGahan said he expected winger Ian Dowling to be sidelined for three months and for the luckless Felix Jones, due to undergo an operation on Friday, to be ruled out of action for up to six months due to injury.
He hoped that both Keith Earls and hooker Jerry Flannery would be available for selection within the next two weeks.
McGahan says Munster’s run of four defeats against Leinster over the past two seasons, three in the Magners League as well as the 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final, will act as a major motivating factor this weekend.
“It’s always a motivation when you lose against anyone, but especially someone very close to you with regards to Leinster,” Australian-born McGahan said.
“Last year we lost to Glasgow badly away, we lost to Edinburgh, we lost to the Ospreys at home, and we’ve been lucky enough to play well enough and get the results in those games.
“But this game will be judged on its own merits, judged on its own environment which is different to where we have been for a period of time playing back at the Aviva Stadium. It’s one we are eagerly looking forward to.”

Munster Squad V Leinster: Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Sean Henry, Damien Varley, John Hayes, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan, Tomás O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes, Lifeimi Mafi, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Doug Howlett and Denis Hurley.

Colm Kinsella

Horan closes in on football appointment

2010-09-29T11:58:00.001+01:00

MAURICE Horan will be ratified as Limerick’s new senior football manager at next Wednesday’s October monthly meeting of the Limerick Football Board in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.
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).
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, but Horan was plagued by injury and had to take a break from the game.
For the last two seasons he has been involved with the Na Piarsaigh intermediate footballers.

Unconditional support
Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan has called for “unconditional support” for Limerick’s new senior hurling manager Dónal O’Grady.
“What we need now is unconditional support for Dónal and his management team. We have to work together, it’s the only chance we have as a county. I would appeal to everyone in the room to preach a positive message about Limerick hurling,” pleaded Liam Lenihan after the former Cork All-Ireland winning manager was ratified at last Wednesday’s special County Board meeting.
“You are the people who will go back to their clubs, to their work places and to their families and we want you to go back with a positive message. There’s only one way to go from here and that’s forward,” he said.
“We’re all looking forward now to 2011. I think we’ve got a very good man in Dónal O’Grady. I don’t think anyone could question his pedigree, his coaching skills or his managerial skills. So, it’s upwards and onwards from here on.”
The meeting, as expected, went smoothly with no delegate raising an objection against the Cork man or his management team, namely selectors Ciarán Carey (Patrickswell), TJ Ryan (Garryspillane) and Pat Heffernan (Blackrock) who were all recommended by the Independent Appointments Committee of Jim Woulfe, Damien Quigley and Paudie Fitzmaurice in recent weeks.
“The whole idea was that they would get the right person. I didn’t want them to rush it. I didn’t know who they interviewed, I didn’t know who they spoke to and I was delighted when they came up with the name of Dónal O’Grady. Yes, it did take time, but one thing we need in Limerick is patience. We had patience with them and we heard their report there tonight. It was comprehensive. I think they met 36 times so that’s a fair amount of work for three busy men.”
“My message to supporters is to be positive and go out and support Limerick. As I said there give unconditional support to the team management and to whatever Limerick team is on the field. That’s the only way we can go forward, if we’re all working together and pulling together. I’d appeal to the supporters to give them their full support,” said Lenihan.

Ardscoil Ris
Ardscoil Ris make two trips to Tipp in the next week as they continue to fly the flag for Limerick in the top grade of colleges hurling.
Next Wednesday they begin the defence of their Harty Cup title when they face the Waterford Colleges amalgamation in Bansha at 2.30pm.
The North Circular Road secondary school have been drawn in one of the groups of three teams for this season’s Munster senior A colleges hurling championship.
Ardscoil will also face opposition from St. Colman’s College, Fermoy and two of the three teams will progress to the Harty Cup quarter-finals.
The Ardscoil Ris senior team will be managed by Niall Moran, Derek Larkin, Liam Cronin, Jimmy Browne and Natal O’Grady this season. Among their starting line-up will be Declan Hannon, Shane Dowling, Mark Carmody, Mark Ryan and Clare All-Ireland minor finalists Jamie Shanahan and Martin Moroney.
Elsewhere in the Harty Cup group A comprises of four schools: Thurles CBS, DLS Waterford, Blackwater College and St. Flannan’s. Charleville CBS are in group B along with Coláiste Chríost Rí, St. Caimin’s of Shannon and Our Lady’s, Templemore. Nenagh CBS, Midleton CBS and Kerry Colleges make up group C.
Meanwhile the Dean Ryan Cup gets underway this Thursday, September 30 in Bansha at 2.30pm when Ardscoil Ris play Blackwater of Lismore in Waterford. The Limerick secondary school are managed by Niall Crowe, Fergal Lyons and Liam Kennedy. If Ardscoil progress they will play Dungarvan in the quarter-final.

John Galvin
Limerick footballer John Galvin has been nominated for an All Star for the third time. Although Cork lead the nominations with 11 in all the Croom man is in the running for a spot at midfield following several sensational performances for the Shannonsiders this year. Galvin was also nominated last season and back in 2004, but is yet to make it into the final selection.
Galvin faces opposition for the two midfield spots from Aidan Walsh (Cork), Paddy Keenan (Louth), Michael Dara MaCauley (Dublin), Kalum King (Down) and Nicholas Murphy (Cork).
John Galvin was also in line for an International Rules spot until injury ruled him out of playing for Ireland against Australia.
The 2010 All Star nominees have been drawn from 12 counties representing all four provinces.
Defeated All-Ireland finalists Down have the second highest number with seven nominees, with semi-finalists Kildare third highest with five nominees and Dublin and Tyrone joint-next with four.
Only ten of the 45 players nominated have previously won All Stars with Kerry duo Colm Cooper and Tomás Ó Sé the most decorated nominees with five All Stars each.
The 2010 All-Star banquet takes place on October 15.

Jerome O’Connell

Monaleen cause a sensation as ladies light up Croke Park

2010-09-27T10:45:00.001+01:00

MONALEEN caused an absolute sensation on Saturday afternoon when beating Drom-Broadford, the 2008 and 2009 county champions, by a point in a thrilling county semi-final at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock.

Monaleen saw off Fr. Casey’s (0-11 to 0-9) in the quarter-finals and although they entered Saturday’s semi-final as distinct underdogs Ger Lawlor’s side stunned the defending champions and were good value for their 0-12 to 0-11 win. Monaleen will be joined in the final, which is scheduled for October 17, by Adare who saw off Ballylanders 2-8 to 0-12 in Kilmallock on Saturday.
In the intermediate football championship Mountcollins got the better of Bruff (3-8 to 1-10) in Saturday’s quarter-final replay in Newcastle West and will now take on Oola in the semi-finals for the right to play Galbally in the county final.
The excitement is building down south as Emmets and Kilmallock prepare to face off in next Sunday’s county senior hurling final at the Gaelic Grounds.
The senior final is expected to form the second part of an extremely attractive double header, the first game of which should see Doon face off against South Liberties in the inaugural County Cup final - South Liberties booked their place in the final following their extraordinary 6-15 to 1-12 win over Croom on Saturday afternoon while Doon beat Bruff in their respective semi-final last week.
While South Liberties and Doon will be hurling their way into history in the inaugural County Cup final at the Gaelic Grounds Kilbreedy (throw-in 7.30pm) is expected to host some very serious business on Friday night when Claughaun and Garryspillane clash in the county senior hurling relegation final.
The Hoops have already lost the senior football relegation final this term and will be eager to avoid the drop from the senior hurling ranks.
The Limerick ladies footballers stormed to a stunning 4-10 to 3-8 win over Louth in Sunday’s All-Ireland junior final at Croke Park.
Tommy Stack’s team trailed by two goals at half time, but staged a sensational second-half comeback to win with five points to spare.
Marie-Claire Curtin and Dymphna O’Brien were the heroes for Limerick on the day scoring a combined 3-10 between them. The only other scorer for Limerick was Clodagh Reidy who netted a second half goal.
Speaking to Leader Sport in the aftermath of this famous win Limerick manager Tommy Stack said: “This is very satisfying. A lot of hard work has gone into the year. I think we have met more than 100 times in all as a group this year. The intensity in training and commitment in training has been second to none. We have played some very good challenge games.
“The second half today especially showed what these girls have, not just physically and skills wise, but mentally also,” Stack explained.
Meanwhile the Football Board appear poised to nominate Mayo man Maurice Horan as their preferred option to succeed Mickey Ned O’Sullivan as senior football manager. The recommendation will go to a Football Board meeting on Tuesday night and then, if successful, to a full County Board meeting for ratification. Maurice Horan served as selector this year under Mickey Ned O’Sullivan while he also managed the under-21 team. If ratified Horan is expected to also manage the under-21 side next season. A further development may see Horan introduce former Nemo Rangers boss Ephie Fitzgerald, who trained the Cork giants to four county titles in-a-row (2005 to 2008), as the team trainer.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Munster maintain winning run as Leinster loom large

2010-09-27T10:43:00.001+01:00

MUNSTER will set out to complete their own version of the ‘Drive for Five’ at the new Aviva Stadium this Saturday when the Magners League leaders lock horns with Leinster (7.30pm).
In-form Munster made it four wins on the trot in the league when recording a 43-29 bonus-point victory over the Glasgow Warriors at Firhill on Friday night.
The victory has helped Munster build a three-point lead over the Scarlets at the top of the Magners League table.
Munster will travel to the Aviva Stadium in confident mood, but also conscious of the fact that Leinster have emerged victorious in each of the four most recent meetings between the provinces.
The versatile Johne Murphy opened his try-scoring account for Munster, bagging a brace of touchdowns in the impressive come-from-behind victory over the Warriors on Friday.
Stand-in captain Denis Leamy and in-form flanker Niall Ronan also crossed the Warriors’ whitewash.
Out-half Ronan O’Gara stamped his mark on the fourth round game kicking 23 points which included four second half penalty goals.
Glasgow had edged their way into a 26-17 half-time lead.
At the same time Munster were recording a previous away win in Scotland, Leinster were succumbing to a 32-24 defeat to Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
The defeat, Leinster’s third in four Magners League fixtures, has seen last season’s play-off finalists slip down to ninth place in the table.
Saturday evening’s game at the Aviva Stadium will be televised live on TG4.
Leinster Rugby has announced that only 3,500 tickets are available for the glamour Magners league tie with Munster at the Aviva Stadium.
Limited seats are available in all categories of the stadium priced between €30 and €70. Tickets for the game can be purchased from ticketmaster (ticketmaster.ie).
Leinster Chief Executive Mick Dawson said: “There has been a steady take-up over the past few weeks and we are delighted to announce that over 47,500 tickets have now been sold for the Munster match”.
Meanwhile, on the club front, Limerick sides experienced a mixed day in the opening round of the ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup. Holders Young Munster surrendered their grip on the Cup after suffering a 27-20 defeat to UL-Bohemian at Annacotty. Munsters will be concerned by the knee injury sustained by scrum-half and the club’s Director of Rugby, Mike Prendergast late on in the game with Friday night’s opening round AIL tie with Garryowen at Dooradoyle looming large. UL Bohemian’s prize for knocking out the holders is a last eight tie with either Garryowen or UCC in November.
In the weekend’s second all-Limerick Munster Senior Cup clash Bruff recorded a surprise 21-14 victory over Cup specialists Shannon at Kilballyowen Park.
Bruff will now enjoy home advantage for their quarter-final clash with Cork Constitution.
Elsewhere, Thomond suffered a dramatic extra-time defeat to Highfield while Old Crescent exited the Cup at the hands of Midleton. Garryowen’s scheduled clash with UCC did not take place as a result of the students Dudley Cup commitments.

COLM KINSELLA

O’Grady wipes the Limerick slate clean

2010-09-22T10:59:00.003+01:00

DONAL O’Grady has vowed to bring some “stability” to Limerick hurling.
The new inter-county senior hurling manager has agreed a one-year deal to replace Justin McCarthy and has put in place an impressive backroom team which includes former Shannonside heroes Ciaran Carey, TJ Ryan and Pat Heffernan.

All in Limerick, from supporters to players to officials, will be hoping that the arrival of the former Cork All-Ireland winning manager will bring an end to a turbulent 11 months.
Speaking to Leader Sport this Tuesday Donal O’Grady said that “everyone” would be considered for selection in 2011.
“My way is that when I come into a new position with any group I draw a line under everything in the past,” said O’Grady who confirmed that he will be in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday week for the county hurling final between Kilmallock and Emmets.
“Everything is old, everyone will have a clean sheet, a blank canvass.”
He added: “Everyone deserves a chance to play for Limerick.
“For me history doesn’t start until January 1, 2011 and every player will be considered.”

Out of the blue
The 56-year-old retired secondary school principal has been out of inter-county management since departing his native Cork at the end of a two-year term which yielded the 2004 All-Ireland title.
“This came up out of the blue,” he said of the Limerick position.
“I was approached last week to know if I would be interested. I met the Appointments Committee and then made up my mind and met the selectors on Monday night,” Donal O’Grady explained.

Appointment process
The Independent Appointments Committee of Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe set about their task after the July monthly meeting of the Limerick County Board. It was always within their remit to source a manager from outside those nominated by the clubs and from the outset Donal O’Grady was rumoured as a potential successor to Justin McCarthy. Out-going manager McCarthy was among the nine nominated by the clubs along with Ciaran Carey, TJ Ryan, Gary Kirby, Leo O’Connor, Val Murnane, Dave Keane, John Tuohy and John Allen.
After over two months of interviews and deliberations the three-man committee got their man this Monday night when Donal O’Grady met with his new selectors in the Charleville Park Hotel.
“I am delighted that they are on board. They all bring something different to the management team. These guys are Limerick to their finger tips and are all very enthusiastic. It’s a very strong management team,” Donal O’Grady said of Carey, Ryan and Heffernan.
As of now no physical trainer has been announced while issues such as a liaison officer and other elements of the back room team will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

One-year term
O’Grady has agreed to stay with Limerick for just the 2011 season and it is his wish that one of his selectors could step into his shoes the following season - just as John Allen did in Cork.
“My opinion is that I felt that Limerick should be able to look after itself and that there should be some sort of succession path. My feeling all along is that there would be enough managerial talent in Limerick to look after themselves, but they felt they needed someone to bring stability and maybe because I came in with Cork after 2002 that I was the right person. I suppose my role would be to bring in some structures and to put some things in place so that Limerick will be able to carry on by themselves after me,” he outlined.
“It’s a bit of a challenge, it’s safe to say,” said the former Rebel full-back.
“The challenge appealed to me and Limerick is not a million miles away from me. I always enjoyed the coaching side of things. I don’t think it would have appealed to me if I was approached by a club to allow my name go forward, but it was different when I was sought out and I decided to give it a lash,” he explained.
The decision wasn’t take lightly.
“It’s a major decision and commitment. There is a degree of travel, late nights, dealing with journalists etc.”

Attention to detail
Donal O’Grady is known for his attention to detail and his man-management skills.
“There is a awful lot of work to do to get all the small things right and I am a firm believer that you start with the small things and everything else will fall into place. And, I would always think that a team is like a pyramid. You have to make the base very solid, the bottom has to be right and the right things have to be in place with relation to the training and so on as well as logistical matters. They are the kind of things that maybe have been missing in my opinion. I won’t really know until I get in there, but that’s the role I see for myself in the coming year.”
But it’s a return to the training field that tempted O’Grady to return to inter-county management: “Coaching enthuses me and most coaches like the opportunity to coach at the top level. I want to get the players to play the best they can and put a system and structure in place to ensure that. My attitude has always been, whether it was an under-14, under-16 or senior team, that I was there to get the best from the players.”
For many an instant return to division one of the National Hurling League would be paramount, but Donal O’Grady was warned of the dangers of division two.
“I think it’s a huge challenge. The standard is rising in that division - look at Antrim reaching the All-Ireland quarter-final and the likes of Carlow and Laois are on the rise. It’s mentally tough to get out of that division. It is a very difficult situation because every team in division two will feel Limerick are a big scalp so it will be a huge challenge for Limerick,” Donal O’Grady said.
“Firstly the most important thing to do will be to get to know the players and maybe put together the strongest panel possible. I would always hope to take it on from there.
“As a manager I would never say that we are going to win this competition or to win that competition. I would hope to put belief into the players and to bring out their potential and I can’t do anymore than that.”

Facing Cork
Limerick’s relegation earlier this year also helped make up O’Grady’s mind.
“One attraction was that they won’t be meeting Cork - I would find that a bit awkward. As I said Cork are in division one and Limerick are in division two so hopefully they won’t meet one another. That was one thing that was very attractive to me about the job before I took it. I would hope that won’t happen. If it happens, it happens,” said the St. Finbarr’s club-man.
A hurling analyst in recent years on radio, television and with the Irish Examiner O’Grady is well aware of the “traumatic” year that Limerick just been through. Dual players and discipline are just two of the “issues” he will have to address.
“We will cross those bridges when we come to them,” he said.
“They are three to four months down the line.”
O’Grady said he will “introduce good practise”.
“We will lay down guidelines and parameters and hope that the player adhere to them. It’s up to everyone to do what they want to. It’s a decision for every individual,” he said of dual players.
“From what I am hearing a lot of that talk was mythical,” O’Grady said when discussing rumours of indiscipline in recent years.
But he added that he expects high standards from his players and that for many of them: “They know it will be sink or swim”.

This Wednesday evening (September 22) Donal O’Grady was expected to be officially ratified at a County Board club delegate meeting in Claughaun.

Jerome O’Connell

McGlinchey and Horan remain football front runners

2010-09-22T10:59:00.001+01:00

MAURICE Horan and Tom McGlinchey remain the front runners to replace Mickey Ned O’Sullivan as Limerick’s new senior football manager.
A final decision is expected before the weekend and yet another special County Board meeting will have to be scheduled in the near future to ratify the selected candidate.
It appears that there is a strong feeling that there should be some continuity going forward and this would point toward Maurice Horan.
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 with Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s senior management.
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.
But Horan was plagued by injury and had to take a break from the game. For the last two seasons he has been involved with the Na Piarsaigh intermediate footballers.
Leader Sport has learned that Horan could be bringing Ephie Fitzgerald on board in his backroom team.
The former Nemo Rangers manager won three All-Ireland club medals with his club as a player.
Also in the frame is former Tipperary senior football manager Tom McGlinchey.
The Cork native led Tipperary to a 2002 Munster final appearance and was coach to the Ballylanders side that won the 2007 County SFC title. Withdrawn from the process are former Limerick and Laois senior football manager Liam Kearns and former Clare senior football manager John Kennedy.
The two Kerry natives were among the six nominations initially submitted by the clubs of the county however football committee officials have the remit to source a manager from outside the short list.
John Galvin, Sean McAuliffe and Michael Sheehan have been handed the task of finding the new manager who will have to be ratified by both the football committee and the County Board.

Jerome O’Connell

O’Grady nominated as hurling manager

2010-09-21T09:38:00.001+01:00

FORMER Cork All-Ireland winning manager Donal O’Grady is poised to become the new Limerick senior hurling manager.
While there has been no confirmation from Limerick GAA officials it is understood that O’Grady’s name will be put before the clubs of Limerick in the coming days when a special County Board meeting is scheduled to ratify the new management team.

This Monday evening the three-man Independent Appointments Committee brought their two-month search for the county’s new hurling maestro to an end when Donal O’Grady began to assemble his backroom team. The 56-year-old Cork native met with potential selectors in the Charleville Park Hotel. Former Limerick hurling heroes Ciaran Carey, Pat Heffernan and TJ Ryan are all understood to be in line for positions as selectors. The trio of former players were all in the Limerick team that lost the 1994 All-Ireland final to Offaly. Carey and Ryan were among the initial nine nominations from the clubs for the position of manager. Heffernan has previously served as manager of the Kerry senior hurling team.
The Independent Appointments Committee of Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe set about their task after the July monthly meeting of the Limerick County Board. It was always within their remit to source a manager from outside those nominated by the clubs and from the outset Donal O’Grady was rumoured as a potential successor to Justin McCarthy.
Earlier this month Donal O’Grady appeared to distance himself from the Limerick role: “I haven’t spoken to anyone in Limerick. And nobody has spoken to me. I’m aware of those rumours, but that’s all they are”.
Donal O’Grady has recently retired as principal of the North Monastery CBS in Cork city and is a prominent member of the St. Finbarr’s club in Cork with whom he won several county titles throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Donal O’Grady was also an outstanding inter-county full-back. O’Grady captained the Rebels to a second consecutive National Hurling League in 1981 before winning his first Munster title in 1982. In 1984 O’Grady starred in a campaign which saw Cork beat Offaly in the All-Ireland final. O’Grady served a selector for one year in 1986 when Cork won another All-Ireland title.
He then managed Cork in 2003 and 2004. During his first year in charge he handed inter-county debuts to John Gardiner, Tom Kenny, Ronan Curran and Setanta Ó hAilpín. Cork duly won the Munster title, but lost the All-Ireland final to Kilkenny by three points. For 2004 O’Grady tempted Brian Corcoran back out of retirement after Setanta Ó hAilpín departed for Australia. That season Cork lost the Munster final to Waterford, but plotted a course to the All-Ireland final through the qualifiers before beating Kilkenny to the McCarthy Cup.
O’Grady resigned in the wake of that victory, but has worked as a pundit on RTÉ’s The Sunday Game while also working as a columnist for the Irish Examiner.
Meanwhile on the club scene this weekend the semi-finals of the county senior football championship dominate. Monaleen play champions Dromcollogher-Broadford and Adare play Ballylanders in a double-header in Kilmallock.
Last weekend Claughaun were relegated from the senior football championship. The 14-time county senior football champions drop back to the intermediate ranks next season after their play-off defeat to Newcastle West.
Claughaun now turn to their attention to another relegation play-off as they fight for their senior hurling survival when they face 2005 county senior champions Garryspillane in the senior hurling relegation final.
Favourites Ballybrown were knocked out of the intermediate hurling championship by Hospital-Herbertstown, 1-12 to 0-13.
Just like the senior hurling championship, the intermediate final will be an all-south affair with Hospital-Herbertstown awaiting the winners of a replay between Dromin-Athlacca and Glenroe who drew 0-11 a-piece.
There was also a draw in the County Cup semi-final between South Liberties and Croom.
With Doon awaiting the winners in the final of the new competition Croom scored an injury-time goal to secure a replay. There was yet another draw in the intermediate football championship quarter-final between Bruff and Mountcollins.
Oola await the winners in the semi-final, with Galbally playing Hospital-Herbertstown in the other semi-final.
In the other news the Limerick ladies footballers are this week preparing for their All-Ireland junior final against Louth in Croke Park on Sunday (throw-in 12 noon).
The game will be shown live on TG4 and the Limerick ladies will be hoping to go one better than 2009 when the Shannonsiders lost the All-Ireland final to Antrim.

Jerome O’Connell

Munster suffer injury blows ahead of key Magners League clashes

2010-09-21T09:37:00.000+01:00

MUNSTER have been dealt three injury blows ahead of key fixtures in the Magners League and Heineken Cup.
It has been confirmed that full-back Felix Jones suffered cruciate ligament damage in his right knee during Saturday’s victory over the Ospreys at Thomond Park.
Luckless Jones only returned to action at start of this season having been sidelined since December due to a serious neck injury.
In a further blow to Munster ahead of Friday’s Magners League fixture with the Glasgow Warriors at Firhill (7.30pm), it has also been confirmed that hooker Denis Fogarty will be out of action until the New Year having undergone a shoulder operation on Monday morning in a Dublin clinic.
The extent of the damage winger Ian Dowling suffered to his hip early on in the Ospreys game has still to be fully determined. Both he and Felix Jones are to seek further specialist advice. However, a Munster Rugby statement revealed that ‘initial examination suggests they both face lengthy periods of rehab’.
Meanwhile the Munster A Schools’ side begin their quest for inter-provincial honours with a fixture against Connacht Schools at St. Nessan’s Community College’s new playing pitch this Wednesday at 3pm. The game will be preceded by the official opening of the new playing pitch at St. Nessan’s which will be performed by Munster rugby star Keith Earls. Twenty-two-year-old Earls is a past pupil of the school.
No fewer than five Limerick-based schools have representatives in the 27-strong squad announced for the game. Munster A Schools starting line-up will include the Villiers duo of Ronan Hunt at full-back and his colleague Aaron Atkinson at scrum-half.
St. Clement’s College also have two representatives in the starting line-up, Paddy Marks at tight-head prop and Evan Fitzgerald in the second row. Keith Ryan, of host school St Nessan’s Community College, is included in the replacements as is Eoghan Bedford of Salesians Pallaskenry, Ryan Meaney of Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh, and the St. Clement’s duo of Dara Phillips and Shane Gavin and Niall Fitzgerald from Villiers.
The Munster A Schools team v Connacht: Ronan Hunt (Villiers), Conor Moloney (Bandon Grammar), Conor Haran (Waterpark College), Andrew Walsh (Newtown), Stephen Scallan (Newtown); Ned Hodson (Midleton College), Aaron Atkinson (Villiers); Neil Willoughby (Bandon Grammar), Ben Cross (Newtown), Paddy Marks (St. Clement’s); PJ Hegarty (Bandon Grammar), Evan Fitzgerald (St. Clement’s); Willie O’Morochoe (N) (capt.), Sam Hunter (Bandon Grammar), Peter Deane (Bandon Grammar). Replacements: Keith Ryan (St. Nessan’s Community College), Diarmuid O’Donnell (Abbey), Eoghan Bedford (Salesians Pallaskenry), Ryan Meaney (Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh), Stuart O’Sullivan (Midleton College), Dara Phillips (St. Clement’s), Jack Robinson (Bandon Grammar), Deano James (Midleton College), Niall Fitzgerald (Villiers), Shane Galvin (St. Clement’s), John Sweetnam (Midleton College), Pat Ryan (Abbey).

Colm Kinsella

Steward: ‘We want Andy to fight for the title by March’

2010-09-20T10:44:00.002+01:00

LIMERICK pro-boxer Andy Lee could fight for a world middleweight title by next March. That was the promise of his manager Emanuel Steward after the Limerick man brought his career record to 23 wins from 24 bouts on Friday night in Chicago.
The Castleconnell 26-year-old maintained his push for a world title bout after defeating Michael Walker at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

The former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian stopped the hometown fighter after two minutes and three seconds of the eighth round.
While Lee appeared to dominate the early rounds Walker held his ground and could very well have been ahead on points when the referee stopped the fight.
“He might have been outpointing me, but all the while I was hitting him with shots. I knew I’d wear him down in the end,” said Andy Lee after he brought his unbeaten record to eight fights.
“I always felt fully confident from the moment the bout was signed,” said the confident Limerick man.
Manager Emanuel Steward declared himself happy with Lee’s progress after the weekend win: “The other man came to fight. Andy was just a step ahead of him. I was satisfied because I wanted him to get some rounds in. We want Andy to fight for the title by March and he’s right on schedule.”
“Andy is growing in confidence. He fought a very smart and disciplined fight. He demonstrated great maturity in the ring.”
It has also been confirmed that Andy Lee will take on Troy Lowry on October 2.
That bout will take place in the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana - a venue where Lee defeated Anthony Shuler in August 2009.
While all in the Kronk Gym continue to eye a world title fight for Lee a return back to Ireland has not been ruled out for this side of Christmas.
Meanwhile Lee’s former amateur coach Ken Moore of St. Francis was one of the driving forces behind a top class amateur exhibition in the South Court Hotel in Raheen on Friday night between an Irish selection and a Eastern European selection.
Irish Olympian John Joe Joyce was among the star attractions and he didn’t disappoint with a win over Ukrainian light middleweight Oleksander Ivanev.
“I called on all these Irish great boxers and not one lad said no to me and what we got was a top night’s boxing. I would be surprised if there is a better night of boxing in Ireland this year,” said Moore.
“Each one showed their class tonight and I’m very proud to be associated with each of them. The only pity is we only got 300 people, this show deserved 3,000. That’s how good it was,” said Moore.
The night started with two absorbing support bouts.
In a local contest between Limerick’s Derek Duhig (St. Francis) and Ger Griffin (Corpus Christi) the honours went to Griffin.
National champion Jessie Lyons (St. Francis) added to her growing reputation by beating three-time champion Ciara Doyle of Gorey.
The biggest cheer of the night was given to Irish team captain and St. Francis boxer Mark McNamara who was a points winner over Grodamski Tomasz of Poland.

JEROME O’CONNELL

Munster await medical reports on injured trio

2010-09-20T10:42:00.001+01:00

MUNSTER were awaiting further medical updates on three players today as the province’s focus switches to Friday night’s Magners League clash with the Glasgow Warriors at the Firhill Stadium (7.30pm).

Munster maintained their grip on top spot in the Magners League table after securing a deserved 22-10 victory over the holders, the Ospreys, at Thomond Park on Saturday night before an official attendance of 18,400.
However, the victory came at a cost as three members of Tony McGahan’s starting line-up were forced off early with injuries.
Hooker Denis Fogarty was due to undergo a medical procedure on an injured shoulder in a Dublin clinic today in order to repair the damage.
Unfortunate full-back Felix Jones will have to wait until the swelling goes down on a knee injury he picked up late on in Saturday’s game before undergoing further examination while winger Ian Dowling was due to undergo a medical examination in order to establish the full extent of the hip injury he sustained very early on in the round three tie.
The good news for coach McGahan is that number eight Denis Leamy, who was a late withdrawal from the Munster side on Saturday due to a rib injury he sustained in training, is expected to be available for the trip to Glasgow later this week.
Man of the Match from Munster’s victory over the Ospreys, Doug Howlett, does not believe the result will have any bearing on the upcoming Heineken cup pool meetings between the sides. The impressive Howlett, who captained Munster on the night, scored the province’s only try of the game shortly after half-time.
“It’s still early in the season and you want to be picking up the league points where you can,” Howlett said.
“It was a great result. There was no shortage of motivation going into the game. It was our first at Thomond Park this season and with Alan Quinlan earning his 200th cap, we wanted to make it a special occasion and we managed to get the result in the end. The Ospreys are the kind of side which can score from anywhere on the pitch. That was the first of four games the sides will play this season and there is a lot of work to be done still. It was an honour to captain the side and it is an honour to be part of this fantastic team.”
Munster coach Tony McGahan said everyone involved in the set-up was delighted that flanker Alan Quinlan had reached a landmark in making 200 appearances for the province.
Tony McGahan said: “What more can you say about Alan? He was enthusiastic as usual. There was a great intensity to what he did. He was huge for us. The players are management are so delighted for him to get his 200th game. Everyone rowed in behind him and he certainly played a major part in the result tonight. I am delighted for him and his family.”
Meanwhile more than 43,000 tickets have already been sold for Munster’s round five Magners League clash with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday week, October 2.
Limited tickets for all categories - price €30 to €70 - are available now online from a number of outlets including Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. This will be the first competitive rugby match to be played in the new state of the art arena and the fixture is expected to attract a sell-out crowd on the day.

COLM KINSELLA

‘By Friday week we should be ready’

2010-09-15T11:49:00.003+01:00

LIMERICK’S new county senior hurling and football managers will be confirmed at a special County Board meeting inside the next two weeks.
This Tuesday night Limerick County Board chairman Liam Lenihan told the September County Board meeting that a hurling appointment was imminent and his football counterpart John Galvin said that the football manager could be in position “within the next ten days”.

This would mean that both inter-county management teams could be in place before the county senior and intermediate championship finals.
Liam Lenihan told the club delegates that he had spoken to the chairman of the selection committee, Jim Woulfe, in the previous 24 hours.
“We are all anxious to get this sorted as soon as possible and Jim Woulfe assured me that by Friday week we should be ready,” explained chairman Liam Lenihan.
To their credit the three-man Independent Appointments Committee of Paudie Fitzmaurice, Jim Woulfe and Damien Quigley have remained tight-lipped throughout their two-month search for the 2011 hurling manager.
It is understood that former inter-county players Gary Kirby, TJ Ryan, Ciaran Carey and Pat Heffernan were among those interviewed for the position during the past two weeks, but names such as Davy Fitzgerald, Pat Herbert and Tony Considine have also been mentioned.
Former Cork All-Ireland winning manager Donal O’Grady has quashed rumours linking him to position.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone in Limerick,” Donal O’Grady said.
“And nobody has spoken to me. I’m aware of those rumours, but that’s all they are,” he said in the past week.
Also at Tuesday’s County Board meeting Limerick’s minor hurling management for 2011 was ratified. Former Limerick corner-forward Shane Fitzgibbon was confirmed as manager with Mike Galligan (Claughaun), Frankie Carroll (Garryspillane), George Lee (Ahane) and Joe Hannon (Adare) as selectors. This management team have progressed up along the varying age levels with next season’s minor players.
Meanwhile the selection process for Limerick’s under-21 hurling manager for next season has been postponed until the senior management team are in place. A total of seven different candidates have been nominated by the clubs. Among them is outgoing under-21 manager Leo O’Connor. Also on the shortlist are John Tuohy (Patrickswell), Tony Dunne (Adare), Natal O’Grady (Patrickswell), Gerard Murphy (Templeglantine), Val Murnane (Caherline) and Mick Heelan (Kilmallock).

Football manager
The committee charged with finding Limerick’s new senior football manager have already interviewed five candidates - Maurice Horan and Tom McGlinchey are the front runners to replace Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
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 with Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s senior management. His appointment would guarantee some continuinty going forward.
Also in the frame is former Tipperary senior football manager Tom McGlinchey. The Cork native led Tipperary to a 2002 Munster final appearance and was coach to the Ballylanders side that won the 2007 County SFC title.
Withdrawn from the process are former Limerick and Laois senior football manager Liam Kearns and former Clare senior football manager John Kennedy.
The two Kerry natives withdrew their names late last week.
“I have informed the Limerick County Board of my decision. It wouldn’t be the right move for Limerick football or me at the moment,” said Liam Kearns.
“It’s my intention to return to inter-county management at some stage once all the circumstances are right,” said Kearns, who previously managed Limerick from 1999 to 2005.
Six nominations were initially submitted by the clubs of the county however football committee officials have the remit to source a manager from outside the short list.
John Galvin, Sean McAuliffe and Michael Sheehan have been handed the task of finding the new manager who will have to be ratified by both the football committee and the County Board.
In the past week the trio met with five potential managers - Horan, McGlinchey, Johnny Cummins, John Brudair and Paddy Ivess.

Annual convention
While the inter-county managements will be filled in the coming weeks, attention will then turn to the annual convention in December where three positions will become vacant.
This week it was confirmed that Limerick football committee chairman John Galvin, Limerick GAA Coaching and Games Officer Gerry Philips and Limerick GAA vice-chairman Mickey O’Sullivan would all be stepping down from their roles at the end of this year as they have served the maximum of five years in their positions.
It was also confirmed that all remaining officiers intend to allow their names go forward for re-election.

Jerome O’Connell

Moves to establish ‘Hurling Board’ set to step up a notch

2010-09-15T11:49:00.001+01:00

MOVES to form a County Hurling Board could be set to step up a notch with the break-away group contemplating submitting a formal motion to the Limerick annual convention. In the past week representatives of the new break-away group met in the Gaelic Grounds with officers of the County Board and four weeks previously the two sides had held an initial meeting.
A 16-man committee are behind the plans to establish a seperate Hurling Board for Limerick - four representatives from clubs from each of the four divisions. It is understood that the intentions of those behind the Hurling Board are to ‘run’ all aspects of Limerick hurling - including fund-raising. Leader Sport believes that at last week’s meeting between the Limerick GAA hierarchy and the break-away group any possibility of official support for the move was ruled out.
However, this Tuesday night there was a brief discussion about the proposed Hurling Board at the September County Board Meeting.
The meeting was discussing a proposal to expand “Lifting The Treaty” when Limerick GAA Chairman Liam Lenihan proposed that a sub-committee be set up to investigate the possibilty of creating “Lifting The Treaty 2”. The chairman asked for opinions as to the appointment of two members of this break-away group into the sub-committee.
“As you are aware there is an ad-hoc hurling committee and we have sat down with them twice and they have some very definite ideas about how hurling should be progressed.
“With your permission I was going to ask them to nominate two people to come onto the committee,” explained chairman Liam Lenihan.
He added: “We will take our instructions from ye”.
The Limerick GAA Chairman then outlined the dealings with the new group.
“At the first meeting they outlined verbally what their aims were and then they came back with a document to the county secretary and that was circulated to the officers and we had a look at it and we met them last Wednesday.
“Noel Hartigan gave a presentation on what is happening at underage level because there are some people out there who wouldn’t be aware of it. Mike (O’Riordan) gave a presentation of what’s happening at adult level and Gerry (Philips) spoke about coaching and games and Tony (Roche) spoke about our underage county teams.”
Liam Lenihan told the meeting that the motive of the “ad-hoc committee” was to set up a Hurling Board: “They are self-appointed and self-regulated, but they certainly have ideas”.
It appeared that news of the break-away group was news to some club delegates and while there were no decisions made and the discussion was brief, there is no doubting that the topic will be discussed again in the near future. It is understood that another meeting between the break-away group and Limerick GAA officiers could take place inside the next week.
However, there is an increasing feeling that the ‘Hurling Board Committee’ could be set to formulate a motion which they would require a club to submit for December’s annual convention. That motion would seek to gain official recognition for the new Hurling Board.
The break-away group contains a number of high-profile figures within Limerick hurling - including past and present high-ranking officials, former inter-county hurlers and footballers and former members of inter-county management teams.

Jerome O’Connell

Alan in line to make landmark appearance

2010-09-15T11:48:00.002+01:00

VETERAN flanker Alan Quinlan is in line to make a landmark 200th competitive appearance for Munster in Saturday’s glamour Magners League meeting with the Ospreys at Thomond Park (8pm).
Quinlan will move within one cap of record holder Anthony Foley who made 201 appearances for the province, should the 36-year-old, as expected, see action in this weekend’s tie.

Quinlan made his debut for Munster in 1996 in a friendly tie against Western Samoa at Musgrave Park and is in his 15th season playing with the province. It took Quinlan almost nine years to accumulate his first 100 caps in the red of Munster and just five to complete the second century.
Current Munster squad advisor, Mick Galwey, who played alongside Quinlan at Shannon, Munster and ireland, said the flanker’s passion for the jersey helped him maintain at the top of his profession for so long.
Galwey, the first player to win 100 Munster caps said: “I remember him when he won his first cap, his first few caps, his first Heineken Cup start. They all meant so much to him and even to this day I can still see that putting on the Munster jersey means so much to Alan.”
Munster received a major boost ahead of key upcoming fixtures with confirmation that centre Lifeimi Mafi will make his return to competitive action for the province’s ‘A’ side in the interprovincial clash with the Ulster Ravens at Nenagh Ormond’s grounds this Friday (4.30pm). Twenty-eight-year-old Mafi has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury last May.
Mafi’s return to fitness is a major boost for the province, with Ireland’s international centre Keith Earls also on the sidelines at present.
Earls is, expected to be out of action until Munster’s opening round fixtures in the Heineken Cup next month.
Munster manager Shaun Payne explained: “We are very happy, obviously, with the recovery Mafs (Lifeimi Mafi) has made from the shoulder surgery. We are not going to put him straight back in to the senior team. We will let him line out for the A side this week with a view to towards the upcoming ERC games and the Magners League matches with Glasgow and Leinster.
“It’s a little bit ahead of schedule. He has been absolutely outstanding for us in the past couple of seasons. Last season he was struggling a bit with that shoulder and right throughout the season, it was one that was hanging over him. He’s a dynamic player.”
The Ospreys completed a home and away double over Munster in the Magners League last season and Payne believes the Welsh side will prove an even bigger test this season.
“Now they have had good results against us and against Leinster last year they will have confidence to boot to go with what has always been an excellent squad.
“They have been good in the Magners League so far - Ospreys are certainly dangerous.”
Manager Payne agreed this weekend’s game takes on an added dimension as the clubs have been drawn in the same pool in this season’s Heineken Cup.
“Yeah, Saturday’s game does take on an added dimension.
“Obviously there are four games minimum against them this season so it’s quite strange in a way,” Shaun Payne said.
“We have the double header against them in the Heineken Cup towards the end of the year.
“But in seasons past everything would have been centred on the Heineken Cup whereas the Welsh sides, the Scottish sides and ourselves - we’ll wait and see what the Italians are doing - but we seem to be placing more and more emphasis on the Magners League games as well.
“So it’s a case of what do you want to give away in these games, do you want to hold anything back for the Heineken Cup games? We’re just approaching it game by game at the minute, obviously building up to the ERC games.”
Munster’s starting line-up to face the Ospreys is due to be announced at mid-day on Friday.
Munster squad v Ospreys: Denis Hurley, Felix Jones, Scott Deasy, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Danny Barnes, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Ronan O’Gara, Paul Warwick, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Tomas O’Leary, Wian du Preez, Marcus Horan, Damien Varley, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Donncha O’Callaghan, Billy Holland, Donncha Ryan, Mick O’Driscoll, Ian Nagle, Alan Quinlan.

Colm Kinsella

Andy Lee returns to the ring on Friday night

2010-09-15T11:47:00.000+01:00

ANDY Lee has boxed just twice in 2010, but now he is to face into two fights in 15 days. The 26-year-old Limerick pro-boxer will be back in the ring this Friday (September 17) when he fights Michael Walker at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
The Castleconnell middleweight will headline the ten-fight card with a ten-round contest against Walker who is a home town favourite. Thirty-two-year-old Walker has 19 wins from his 25 professional fights, but has suffered losses in his last three contests. Walker has only fought twice in 2010 and only had one fight in 2009.
Although Walker’s recent record points to a Lee win the Limerick man is taking nothing for granted.
“Michael Walker is no push over. I will have to be on top of my game, especially fighting him in his home town. He will try and train even harder for this fight, but I’ll be ready for him,” said Andy Lee.
“I know him well. I’ve watched him fight a few times and know his style. He’s a tough, rugged, aggressive fighter, but he is short and one paced so I will use my height and speed and look to out box him,” explained Lee.
“I’d like to fight for a world title next year, but I’m not looking past Michael Walker.
“I’ve seen a few of his fights and I know how tough he is, plus I know that fighting at home will be important for him as it is for me when I fight in Ireland. I’m looking forward to getting into the ring on Friday night and have been doing a lot of sparring in the gym in Detroit.
“Michael Walker is an experienced fighter, he will have his job to do and I will have mine, but I aim to come out on top,” added Lee.
“We’ve gotten some great sparring here with Anthony Dirrell and James Countryman. Chicago is a terrific city with a huge Irish population and I’m looking forward to fighting there on September 17.”
If the former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian is successful on Friday he could be back in action just two weeks later with an October 2 date provisionally marked into his diary. That bout will take place in the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana - a venue where Lee defeated Anthony Shuler in August 2009.
“I have to say it’s great to be back in action so soon.
“I need to keep busy, after only fighting twice so far this year it will serve me well to stay active,” added Andy Lee.
He manager Emmanuel Steward confirmed that there are hectic times ahead for the Limerick pro-boxer: “I’m keen to keep Andy busy and have planned fights for him in the coming months. Andy is now ranked fifth in the European rankings and ninth in the WBA rankings and in the first half of 2011 Andy will be primed and ready to challenge for a world title. The division is now wide open with new young talent coming through and Andy has all the qualities and tools a fighter needs to win a world title.”
Andy Lee’s record now stands at 21 wins from 22 fights with 16 kos. While the Detroit-based boxer has been busy of late, he still awaits an opportunity of a big-time fight.

Boxing Exhibition
Olympian John Joe Joyce is the star attraction this Friday night when a top Irish boxing selection will take on a star-studded Eastern European team in the South Court Hotel.
There will be five local boxers on the card with two-time Irish champion Mark McNamara boxing Polish middleweight champion Gromadzki Tomasz. McNamara has boxed for Ireland at four different levels from Youth to Senior and is currently sparring unbeaten professional boxer Alan Donnellan in preparation for the event. Polish national Kris Sikora now boxing out of the St Francis club will box at light heavyweight against Ukraine champion Orekhovskyy Fedir.
Local Munster champions Ger Griffin (Corpus Christi) and Derek Duhig (St. Francis) will kick the night off in a rematch of a top contest won by Griffin at the end of last season.
One of the more intriguing contests will see current Irish intermediate champion Jessie Lyons (St. Francis) facing up to Irish Junior champion Ciara Doyle from Wexford. The Irish side has been organised by St Francis coach Ken Moore and all eight are national champions.
“I got the call six weeks ago and was asked if I could put together a team of boxers good enough to take on this top European selection.
“When I saw the names involved I was a little taken back by the level of opposition would be travelling so I started making calls and got eight really talented guys to box for me,” said Moore.
“Each Irish lad is of top quality and to have two national senior champions in Con Sheehan and John Joe Joyce on the card is brilliant - Joyce was actually born in Limerick a fact I remind him of every chance I get!” said Moore.
“This is top show and anyone interested in boxing or just top quality sport should not miss it. Tickets are on sale and going fast. Limerick boxing is on a high at the moment - last season we won more Irish titles than ever before Andy Lee and Willie Casey are doing great things as professionals and this show is just another big thing to happen to Limerick boxing.”
Tickets for the night are €20 and can be got at the South Court Hotel and on www.ticketgroup.ie

Jerome O’Connell

Casey promises a night to remember

2010-09-14T09:48:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK pro boxer Willie Casey is to fight for the European Super Bantamweight title. And, the fight against Kiko Martinez for his European belt will take place at

Limerick’s University Sports Arena on Saturday, November 6.
The first-ever championship fight in Limerick will take place as part of the Hunky Dorys Fight Night which is being promoted by Brian Peters Promotions.
“I’m very proud to be a Limerick man today. I am honoured and I will train hard,” said Willie Casey at this Monday’s press conference in King John’s Castle in Limerick to announce details of the November fight which will be televised live on RTE.
“It makes sense to have this fight on in Limerick. It is only this time last year that I had my first fight in Limerick and I got great support for that. What better way to be back in Limerick again than to be fighting for a European title,” explained the married father of four.
Willie Casey has had his sights set on a European title fight since he extended his record to ten wins from ten bouts in early August.
The 28-year-old Southill man moved up to number nine in the Euro rankings following his last win over Italian Emiliano Salvini in an eight round super bantamweight contest when he headlined a Dolphil Promotions event in Dublin’s City-West Hotel Complex.
Willie Casey was in the National Stadium, Dublin last Saturday night to see Martinez’s latest win when he out-pointed Armenian Arsen Martirosyan to win the European super bantamweight title.
“It is going to be a 50-50 fight,” said Casey of his 12-round contest against the 24-year-old Spaniard.
“There are only 14 people ever in Ireland to have won it and no one from Limerick has done it,” said Willie Casey of the prospect of a European title.
“Hopefully, everything will go according to plan. I am very excited about it. To be honest I would rather it was on next week rather than waiting eight weeks for it. I’ve never been more excited about fighting than I have for this fight.”
A former Irish intermediate featherweight amateur champion Casey is a former member of Our Lady of St. Saviour Boxing Club.
Nicknamed the ‘Big Bang’ Casey’s management team consists of former Olympian and double European championship bronze medal winner Phil Sutcliffe and Don O’Leary.
Casey is hoping to inspire others to follow his lead.
“I want to show everyone what can be done, especially the people in disadvantaged areas in Limerick who get involved with drugs and gangs and trouble. Southill is in the papers a lot of the time for a lot of the wrong reasons like trouble and gangs. I am trying to bring something new to the area and the kids, to show them that they can go on and do something, if it’s not boxing, it could be soccer or anything at all. My hope is that they would follow my lead,” he explained.
Casey shot to fame in May when winning Sky TV’s Prizefighter Series and although he only made his pro debut in October 2008 he will bring a record of ten wins from ten bouts into the title fight.
“I am trying not to get carried away with all the press and media and everything. I am still the same Willie Casey as I was before I started out.
“I am still living in Southill and I am still a member of the Travelling Community and I never try to hide anything of myself or where I am from or who I am.”
Willie Casey’s opponent Kiko ‘La Sensacion’ Martinez is best known for his first round stoppage of Bernard Dunne in their 2007 title fight at Dublin’s Point Theatre.
“What happened to Bernard Dunne can happen to anyone, when you get hit in the right place at the right time you are going down,” said Casey.
He promises that the November fight is “going to be one to remember.”
“He might be unbeaten in Dublin, but he hasn’t fought in Limerick yet,” joked Casey.
“I’ll be looking to take some of that Munster spirit into the ring with me. I’m just so excited about this fight and to have a chance to win a European title right here in Limerick. I might be the underdog, but I’ve been an underdog since I turned professional and I’m sure the whole city will come out to support me. Not too many gave me a chance when I went out to Canada to fight the Canadian champ, but I knocked him out. Not too many people gave me a chance when I went into the Prizefighter, but I ended up winning that as well,” he said.
“I know all about Kiko, everyone in Ireland knows about him because of his win over Bernard Dunne and he is a big hitter, but they don’t call me the Big Bang for nothing either. I was at Kiko’s fight in Dublin on Saturday night and he’s an excellent fighter, but people haven’t seen the best of me yet. I’m still learning and improving in the gym every day. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I’m determined to grab it with both hands.”
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night will go on sale from 9am on Friday, October 1 from www.ticketmaster.ie or 0818 719300.

Jerome O’Connell

Willie Casey takes aim at Kiko Martinez

2010-09-13T10:32:00.003+01:00

BIG TIME boxing is coming to town with Limerick’s own Willie Casey set to fight for the European super bantamweight title.
This lunch-time promoter Brian Peters will hold a press conference in King John’s Castle where Casey will be unveiled as the latest challenger to Spain’s Kiko Martinez.

On Saturday night Martinez out-pointed Armenian Arsen Martirosyan to win the European super-bantamweight title.
It is understood that the title fight will take place in the University Sports Arena on Saturday, November 6.
Willie Casey has had his sights set on a European title fight since he extended his record to ten wins from ten bouts in early August.
The 28-year-old Southill man has moved up to number nine in the Euro rankings following his last win over Italian Emiliano Salvini in an eight round super bantamweight contest when he headlined a Dolphil Promotions event in Dublin’s City-West Hotel Complex.
Willie Casey was in the National Stadium on Saturday night to see Martinez’s latest win and afterwards was confident that he could challenge the Spaniard.
“That’s the plan,” said Willie Casey.
“We are hoping we will get a shot at him (Martinez) soon. Hopefully it will be this year. I did not see anything there that would scare me. That’s the thing with me, I don’t fear anyone. Most of his opponents fear him (Martinez) and that is why he is beating them. I am hoping that boxing an Irish opponent in Ireland will give it that bit of excitement that was missing Saturday night and I think the people would want to see that fight. They know his style, they know my style. It would be a great fight to watch,” said the Limerick man.
“I am ranked number nine in Europe and that makes me eligible for a shot at the title. Who’d imagine after only 10 fights as a pro - not even two years yet - that I would be here now talking of a European title fight.
“Paulie Hyland is there as well and one of us will get a shot at it, but I think my fight would be the more exciting,” said the Southill man.
A former Irish intermediate featherweight champion Casey is a former member of Our Lady of St. Saviour Boxing Club.
Nicknamed the ‘Big Bang’ Casey’s management team consists of former Olympian and double European championship bronze medal winner Phil Sutcliffe and Don O’Leary.
A married father of four Willie Casey shot to fame in May when winning Sky TV’s Prizefighter Series. Casey only made his pro debut in October 2008 and brings a record of 10 wins from 10 bouts into the title fight.
His opponent Kiko ‘La Sensacion’ Martinez is best known for his first round stoppage of Bernard Dunne in their 2007 title fight in Dublin’s Point Theatre.
Twenty-four-year-old Martinez has won 23 of his 26 pro-fight since his debut in 2004.
Meanwhile, another of Limerick’s pro-boxers Andy Lee is back in the ring this weekend.
The 26-year-old Castleconnell middleweight fights Michael Walker at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago this Friday, September 17 in a ten-round contest.

JEROME O’CONNELL

McGahan’s men hope to extend winning run

2010-09-13T10:32:00.001+01:00

MUNSTER will aim to extend their winning start in the Magners League to three games when Tony McGahan’s side host the holders, the Ospreys, at Thomond Park this Saturday night (8pm).
Gritty Munster, boosted by the second half introduction of internationals Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and Tomas O’Leary, made it back-to-back wins in the league with a precious 16-13 success over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night.
Coach Tony McGahan said he had been impressed with his side’s mental strength as they maintained their fine start to the competition.
“What pleased me most was to come and win in what is a very difficult environment,” Tony McGahan said.
“We coughed up ten points in the space of a few minutes at the end of the first and then the start of the second half, so to recover from that says a lot of the mentality of this squad.”
Munster’s stand-in captain Denis Leamy added: “We dominated the first half and deserved to be further ahead.
“We didn’t turn our possession into points though, and then Edinburgh came out and scored from the crossfield kick.
“But we rolled up our sleeves and got back into the game and when they (the returning internationals) came on, they helped to revive us a bit in the last quarter.
“The Edinburgh defence was very good and we never really threatened their line, but when we went behind we stepped up again and worked very hard, got back up the pitch and into their faces and got the win.”
Meanwhile, on the club front holders Young Munster set up a mouth-watering Limerick Charity Cup final showdown with Shannon, thanks to their 24-17 semi-final victory over Garryowen at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday.
Former Garryowen player Willie Staunton kicked 14 points with the boot while a Young Munster replacement Matthew Costelloe and impressive number eight Shane Hassett crossed for Munsters’ two tries.
A decision on the date, venue and kick-off time for the decider was due to be made later today.
Young Munster’s Director of Rugby, Mike Prendergast said the victory provided his charges with valuable competitive games ahead of the start of the AIL, as well as an opportunity to retain the Cup.
“The good thing is that we have a Charity Cup final to look forward to and a Munster Senior Cup match with UL-Bohs’ to come and they are sure to be good competitive games. It is a good build-up,” Mike Prendergast said.
“Shannon have been an outstanding club and team for the past 15 years or more.
“They will be quite keen to get back at us because we beat them at the start of the season in the Charity Cup.
“They will have that in the back of their mind.
“They are a quality team with quality players.”

COLM KINSELLA

Payne: ‘Our away form last season wasn’t good enough’

2010-09-08T11:56:00.001+01:00

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne has stressed the importance of the province winning regularly on the road this season in the Magners League in order to boost their prospects of making the top four play-offs.

Coach Tony McGahan’s high-flying Munster side face Edinburgh this Friday at Murrayfield in their first away fixture of the campaign - kick-off is at 7.05pm.
Munster travel to Scotland boosted by the return of international stars Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary and Donnacha O’Callaghan.
However, a number of other seasoned internationals are facing periods on the sidelines due to injury.
Team captain Paul O’Connell is expected to be out of action until Christmas due to a groin injury while it is hoped that Keith Earls will be available for selection for the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup next month after sustaining an ankle sprain. The 22-year-old is due to have a scan this week.
Irish hooker Jerry Flannery is ruled out with a calf problem at present although the management team is hopeful he will be back playing in two weeks time.
David Wallace’s pre-season training was limited by a back injury which is an on-going issue. However, the Munster management team hope to have him available for selection from Monday next.
Tom Gleeson and Declan Cusack are ruled out with groin injuries while Barry Murphy is troubled with a hamstring injury.
It is hoped that centre Lifeimi Mafi will be available for the big round three Magners League tie with the Ospreys at Thomond Park later this month. Mafi has resumed training.
And, James Coughlan is sidelined after suffering concussion in the pre-season tie with the Leicester Tigers. Despite the number of high-profile absentees from the trip to Scotland, Shaun Payne remains upbeat about the talent available for selection.
“On the injury front we’re quite positive at the moment with (Lifeimi) Mafi back and (Keith) Earls not being out for too long,” Shaun Payne said.
“I know Paulie (O’Connell) is a long-term injury, but I think we’re starting to look pretty good.
“Denis Leamy has been a massive positive coming back in for us.
“Donncha Ryan, as well, has recovered from his shoulder injury.
“Almost all of our front rowers are injury free and ready to go which is unheard of for most squads.
“Definitely our away form last season wasn’t good enough.
“First and foremost you have to win your home games. But if you want to be a semi-finalist you want to be picking up games away from home. Everything went with the home teams in the first week. This week is an opportunity to show ourselves away from home. It’s a massive game for us in terms of that.
“This time last season we had lost our first game against Glasgow. It was a very poor performance. We did poorly in the scrums and really there wasn’t much to be positive about.
“There is a lot to work on, but that is the norm. We’ve only had two pre-season games this season whereas normally we would have three.
“So it’s as if we are still in pre-season in a way, but we’re happy with the way it is turning out. The scrums are a massive positive.
“We have a lot of work to do in the lineouts. We turned over far too much ball in the first half last week. We settled in the second half and got into our stride and when we managed to string the phases together we had Aironi in trouble.”
While Munster opened their Magners League campaign with a four-try, bonus-point win over Italian newcomers Aironi Rugby at Musgrave Park, Edinburgh suffered a disappointing reverse at the hands of the Cardiff Blues.
Munster squad v Edinburgh: Wian du Preez, Marcus Horan, Damien Varley, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Donncha O’Callaghan, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Mick O’Driscoll, Ian Nagle, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony, Peter Stringer, Tomas O’Leary, Duncan Williams, Paul Warwick, Ronan O’Gara, Sam Tuitupou, Johne Murphy, Danny Barnes, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Felix Jones, Scott Deasy & Denis Hurley.

Mickey Cross
Limerick rugby enthusiasts have been saddened to learn of the passing of Mickey Cross, Hyde Road, who has died peacefully following a short illness at the age of 83.
An accomplished rugby player in his younger days Mickey Cross was the holder of four Munster Junior Cup medals,two of which he won with Richmond RFC and the remaining two with Young Munster.
The late Mr Cross was also a highly regarded rugby coach and was renowned for the work he did for more than 30 years with under-age teams from under-10s upwards at Young Munster. The popular rugby enthusiast remained a keen follower of rugby at all levels of the game throughout his life.

COLM KINSELLA

Hurling manager not featured on Board agenda

2010-09-08T11:55:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK’S new senior hurling manager will not be appointed at next Tuesday’s September County Board meeting - the agenda for the monthly meeting does not include any reference to the senior hurling management position.
The Independent Appointments Committee continued their search in the past week when interviewing a number of candidates. While Paudie Fitzmaurice, Jim Woulfe and Damien Quigley are remaining tight-lipped it is understood that former inter-county players Gary Kirby, TJ Ryan, Ciaran Carey and Pat Heffernan were among those interviewed.
Aside from that quartet rumours persist linking Cork’s Donal O’Grady to the position, but the committee could yet opt to appoint a Limerick man to succeed Justin McCarthy.
The search for the new hurling manager now extends beyond two months.
And, it now looks most likely that the new management team won’t be in a position to watch any of the knock-out games in the senior or intermediate hurling championships.
Nine nominees were originally identified by Limerick clubs. Both John Allen and John Tuohy withdrew from the selection process leaving Dave Keane, Gary Kirby, Ciaran Carey, Leo O’Connor, TJ Ryan, Val Murnane and Justin McCarthy from the shortlist nominated by the clubs.
It now appears that some of this list have been eliminated from the process as the three-man committee reduce their options.
However it was within their remit to source a manager from outside of those nominated by the clubs and none of the names of these candidates have been made public.
The Independent Appointments Committee are looking to make a nomination for the position of Limerick senior hurling manager and their choice will then need to be ratified by a full County Board meeting which may yet require a special meeting to be called later this month.
It is understood that the new manager is to be offered a two or three-year term with an annual review.
The manager would appoint his coach, trainer and selectors in consultation with the Independent Appointments Committee.

Football manager
This week the quest to find a successor to Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, as Limerick senior football manager, is getting underway.
Six nominations have been submitted by the clubs of the county, however Football Committee officials also have the remit to source a manager from outside the shortlist.
John Galvin, Sean McAuliffe and Michael Sheehan have been handed the task of finding the new manager, who will have to be ratified by both the Football Committee and the County Board. It is understood that the trio were to meet with some of the nominees this week.
It appears that Liam Kearns is interested in a return as Limerick senior football manager. The man who guided the fortunes of the Limerick senior footballers from 1999 to 2005 is one of six nominations to succeed Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, who replaced Kearns in the autumn of 2005.
Since he departed Limerick Kearns spent two seasons in charge of Laois and at present has been linked to the vacant Galway position after the departure of Joe Kernan.
Despite not having been nominated by a Galway club for the vacant football manager’s job Kearns may still be added to the ticket if officers feel he could be a viable option.
Also in the running to replace Mickey Ned is former Clare senior football manager John Kennedy and former Tipperary senior football manager Tom McGlinchey.
Kerry native Kennedy was also nominated for the Limerick position back in 2005 when Mickey Ned O’Sullivan replaced Kearns. Cork native McGlinchey was also previously linked to the Limerick role when he was suggested as a replacement for O’Sullivan after the end of the Kerry man’s fourth season in charge.
The man who led Tipperary to a 2002 Munster final appearance was coach to the Ballylanders side that won the 2007 County SFC title.
McGlinchey coached Ballylanders for three seasons, but departed last winter. This year he was physical coach to the Smith O’Briens senior hurling team in Killaloe where former Irish rugby captain Keith Wood was also part of the management team.
The three remaining nominees are John Cummins, John Brudair and Maurice Horan.
Galbally native Cummins is a former Limerick footballer and in recent seasons has served as a selector with John Evans in the Tipperary senior football management.
Maurice Horan has also played with Limerick. He also played for his native Mayo and this season was Limerick under-21 manager and a selector with the senior team.
The sixth candidate is John Brudair. He has managed Dromcollogher-Broadford to back-to-back Limerick SFC titles.
At present Limerick are also seeking to find inter-county under-21/junior and minor management teams and perhaps some of those nominated for the senior role could be potential candidates for these roles.

John Galvin
THE International Rules dream could be over for Limerick’s John Galvin.
The inspirational Limerick football midfielder suffered an injury last weekend at a training session with Anthony Tohill’s Irish International Rules panel.
The Croom man appeared to land heavily during the Parnell Park session on Friday night and had to be helped from the field. The long-serving Limerick footballer was on crutches over the weekend.
Galvin went for an MRI scan this Monday and is expecting the results in the coming days. It is thought that Galvin suffered damage to his groin/pelvic area.
Both Galvin and his Limerick inter-county colleague Johnny McCarthy were included in the extended Irish panel for the forthcoming series against Australia. The first test will take place in Limerick on October 23.

Jerome O’Connell

O’Donovan returns to Munster

2010-09-07T09:38:00.002+01:00

NIALL O’Donovan is to return to the Munster management set-up as manager of the province’s A team programme.
O’Donovan’s part-time management role will see him oversee Munster A’s British and Irish Cup campaign.

Last season’s British and Irish Cup team manager Mick Galwey has been appointed as squad advisor with the province’s senior team.
O’Donovan has enjoyed a distinguished coaching career.
As coach to Shannon O’Donovan led them to AIB All-Ireland League title wins in 1994, ‘95 and ‘96 and to a further title as the club’s Director of Rugby in 1997.
A widely acknowledged line-out and forwards expert, he was assistant coach to the Munster team for five years when they twice reached the Heineken Cup final. He joined the Ireland management team in December 2001 as forwards coach and the former Munster number eight continued in that role until 2008.
Munster will hope to build on their opening round bonus point win over Aironi Rugby when they travel to Murrayfield to take on Edinburgh this Friday. Kick-off is at 7.05pm and the game will be televised live on TG4.
Munster’s victory over Aironi last Saturday ended a four-game losing run in all competitions. The Munstermen have not won outside Ireland in the Magners League since a trip to the Llanelli Scarlets on September 19 last year.
Edinburgh’s only victory over Munster in their last seven meetings was a 12-7 win at Murrayfield in round six last season. Munster’s record at Murrayfield is an excellent one, with the two-time Magners League champions winning five of their six meetings with the Scots.
Meanwhile former Shannon and Munster star John Lacey has been appointed to the ERC Referee Panel for the Heineken Cup. Lacey, who as on duty at the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina this summer, will take charge of Northampton Saints against Castres Olympique in round one of the Heineken Cup on Friday, October 8.
The former Shannon and Munster player scored four tries in six Heineken Cup appearances during the 1997-98 tournament.

Colm Kinsella

Could Galvin be ruled out for Irish team?

2010-09-07T09:37:00.002+01:00

THE International Rules dream could be over for Limerick’s John Galvin - the Limerick football star suffered an injury at the weekend during a training session with Anthony Tohill’s Irish International Rules squad.
The Croom man appeared to land heavily during the Parnell Park session on Friday night and had to be helped from the field. The long-serving Limerick footballer was on crutches over the weekend.

Galvin went for an MRI scan this Monday and is expecting the results in the coming days. It is thought that Galvin suffered damage to his groin/pelvic area.
Both Galvin and his Limerick inter-county colleague Johnny McCarthy were included in the extended Irish panel for the forthcoming series against Australia. The first test will take place in Limerick on October 23.
Caherdavin’s Na Piarsaigh bid to reach back-to-back county senior hurling championship finals this Sunday. Although the Limerick city side dethroned three-in-a-row champions Adare in the quarter-final, they are still underdogs against Kilmallock this Sunday. The second of Sunday’s semi-final double-header in the Gaelic Grounds will have a 3.30pm start.
Getting the action underway at 2pm will be the semi-final clash between Knockainey and Emmets.
The meeting of Na Piarsaigh and Kilmallock will be a clash between former Clare senior hurling management colleagues, Tony Considine and Sean Stack - who served together as selectors with Ger Loughnane in 1999. Considine is manager of Kilmallock while Stack is coach to the Timmy O’Connor managed Na Piarsaigh.
Last season Na Piarsaigh reached their first ever county senior hurling final, but fell to a disappointing 17-point defeat to Adare. However, they avenged that defeat in last month’s quarter-final with a sparkling 4-12 to 2-15 over the champions.
The other semi-final will be between surprise packets Knockainey and south Limerick divisional side Emmets. In their quarter-final Emmets saw off the challenge of Murroe-Boher with a 2-23 to 3-13 win.
Knockainey booked their place in their second ever semi-final with a shock win over Patrickswell.
While Limerick city side Na Piarsaigh chase hurling progression this weekend another city side Monaleen are on the football trail.
Monaleen play Fr. Casey’s of Abbeyfeale this Sunday evening (6pm) in Kilmallock in the quarter-final of the Limerick’s Live 95FM sponsored county senior football championship. Although Monaleen were defeated by city rivals St. Patrick’s in the final group game they progressed to the knock-out stages on scoring difference. The west Limerick side are bidding to return to the final which they lost last season to Drom-Broadford.
The second quarter-final takes place on Friday evening (6pm) in Kilmallock and brings together Ballylanders and Ballysteen for a first ever championship clash. Ballysteen fell to Drom-Broadford in the semi-finals last season while Ballylanders are bidding to return to the final for the first time since 2007.
Meanwhile in the intermediate football championship Mungret play Galbally in the quarter-final on Saturday (6pm) in Bruff.
Mungret only qualified for the knockout stages with a late surge.
After losing the opening two rounds of the group stages they regrouped to reach the quarter-final when finishing level on points with Na Piarsaigh, but Mungret advanced by virtue of winning the head-to-head battle.

Jerome O’Connell

All set for Dolan’s Team of the Decade

2010-09-07T09:36:00.002+01:00

THE eyes of the Limerick soccer fraternity will be fixed on Dolan’s Pub on the Dock Road this Friday night (September 10) when the Dolan’s Team of the Decade will be announced.
The search for the best junior soccer players of the last ten years (2000-2010) began earlier this summer with the nominations whittled down to 50 in August.
Great credit is due to Dolan’s proprietor Mick Dolan for his generous sponsorship of an event which will see friend and foe drop their guard for an evening.
The judges (Pat Mullally, Sean Hehir, Aidan Ryan, Christy Earls & Derek Whyte) have selected their final 11 which will be announced on the night. The event is open to the public with proceedings kicking off at 9pm in the upstairs venue of Dolans Pub. The final team was picked from the following nominees and it is hoped that as many as possible will attend on the night.
Nominees - Goalkeepers: Gordon Stewart, Paudie Hickey, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Owen Lynch & Ian Bennis.
Full-Backs: Mike Ahern, David Dunphy, Pat Mitchell, Trevor Cosgrave, Declan Considine, John Corbett, Alan Sheehan, Ronan Hanrahan & Declan Casey.
Centre-Backs: Colm Enright, Tom Daly, Pat McGarry, Garrett Ryan, Mike Carey, Dara Droog, Brian Buckley & Philip Purcell.
Midfield: Frank Lee, Paul Quinn, Albert Slattery, Dave O’Grady, Damien Conway, Alan Finucane, Keith Harnett, Barry Conway, Dermot Phelan, John Boyle, Jason Purcell, Kevin McCarthy, Philip Collopy, Ross Cosgrove & Colm Heffernan.
Strikers: David Morris, Frank Stewart, Robert Earls, Ger Constable, Pat Moloney, Alan O’Keeffe, Conor Lynch, Shane Guerin, Thomas Barrett, Anthony Cusack, Robbie Kelleher, Alan Barry & Jason O’Connor.

Pat Sheehan

Barry books his place in Open second round

2010-09-07T09:36:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK’S rising tennis star Sam Barry has booked his place in the second round of the US Junior Open.
The 18-year-old from the Ennis Road defeated USA’s world number 34 Nick Chappell in the first round of action in New York on Monday.
Playing in the Flushing Meadows event for the first time the Limerick teenager, ranked 62nd at under-18, dumped out Chappell 6-1 6-3 in 73 minutes. The Limerick man now faces number five seed Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tomorrow Barry will play doubles with New Zealand’s Ben MacLachan against the fifth seeds, Juan Sebastian Gomez of Colombia and Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan.
After his first round win in the US Junior Open Barry is now looking to go one step further than the Australian Open. Last January Barry reached the second round of the Australian Junior Open while in June he fell at the first hurdle in the French Open.
A son of Michael and Jean - from his initial introduction to the sport in Limerick Lawn Tennis club at the age of six, Sam Barry has been a member of Tennis Ireland’s National Training Programme since September 2007 and he trains at the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy which is operated by Tennis Ireland at DCU in Dublin.
This Monday’s win for the Limerick man bridged a 17-year gap for Irish players in the US Junior Open - no player from Ireland had won a match in the main draw of the Flushing Meadows event since Karen Nugent became the first to achieve the feat - in the girls’ singles in 1993.
Right-hander Barry made a very shaky start against his left-handed Toronto-born opponent, facing three break points in his opening two service games. But after saving all of those, breaks in the fourth and sixth games helped Barry take the opening set in 35 minutes.
Barry and Chappell shared four services breaks in the first six games of the second set but the Irish player broke to love in the seventh game, and after holding to 30 in the next, he finished off the American in style by breaking him to 15 in the ninth game.

Jerome O’Connell

GAA decision frustrates County Board officials

2010-08-31T20:07:00.002+01:00

LIMERICK GAA officials have expressed their disappointment after Croke Park overlooked the Gaelic Grounds as a venue for this month’s All-Ireland under-21 hurling final.
Officers of the County Board had made representations to host the September 11 All-Ireland under-21 final between Tipperary and Galway, but this Monday Croke Park officials confirmed that the game would be played under floodlights in Semple Stadium, Thurles.
This decision has left local GAA officials fuming and up in Galway they are equally unimpressed.

On Monday night Galway hurling officials called a meeting with the management of the county’s under-21 side and it is understood that yesterday they made an official request to Croke Park’s management committee of the CCCC to have the venue changed. Leader Sport understands that Galway officials have nominated Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds, O’Connor Park in Tullamore and O’Moore Park in Portlaoise as alternate venues.
The All-Ireland under-21 hurling final has shared a billing with the All-Ireland senior camogie final in recent seasons, but this September the All-Ireland senior, intermediate and junior camogie finals will all be played on September 12 in Croke Park.
GAA officials made a decision earlier this year to move the under-21 decider out of Croke Park and in May fixed the final for Semple Stadium.
“This was done with a view to playing future finals in Semple Stadium. It just so happens that Tipperary happen to be in this year’s final,” said the GAA’s communications manager Alan Milton.
Galway GAA officials had written to Croke Park in the wake of their semi-final win over Dublin (Tipp beat Antrim in their respective semi-final) calling for the decider to be played at a neutral venue.
Limerick can meet all the criteria of Semple Stadium, Thurles in terms of a more than adequate capacity and floodlighting.
“The under-21 final would have been a great dry-run for October 23rds International Rules series in the Gaelic Grounds,” Limerick GAA secretary Mike O’Riordan told Leader Sport.
“Of course we are disappointed - we had hoped that the final would be fixed for Limerick. It was an ideal opportunity for a big game to be played in Limerick,” said the full-time secretary.
Meanwhile, it’s a quiet weekend on the local GAA scene in Limerick, but five different clubs will take part in the annual Meteor Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Sevens on the eve of Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling championship final between Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Recently deposed Limerick SHC champions Adare are in group eight along with Kilruane McDonaghs (Tipperary), Eire Og Corra Choill (Kildare) and Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary). Croom will play All-Ireland club champions from 2006, ‘08 and ‘09 and All-Ireland Sevens winners in ‘04 and ‘08 Portumna who are led by Joe and Ollie Canning. Also in group four are Eire Og Annacarty-Donohill of Tipperary and Rapparees-Starlights of Wexford.
In group five Murroe-Boher are paired with defending champions Moycarkey Borris (Tipperary), Carrigtwohill of Cork and Lorrha-Dorrha of Tipperary. Patrickswell will face Bride Rovers (Cork), Portroe (Tipperary) and Blackwater-St. Brigid’s (Wexford). The fifth Limerick side are Granagh-Ballingarry and then will play Killenaule (Tipperary), Ballinhassig (Cork) and Shelmaliers (Wexford).

JEROME O’CONNELL

Injured ankle sidelines Keith Earls

2010-08-31T20:06:00.000+01:00

RESULTS of a scan on the injured ankle of Munster star Keith Earls has revealed that the 22-year-old has suffered a sprain.
Earls is not expected to resume training again for several weeks.
The Limerick man was involved in a training accident in Cork at the start of last week.
Keith Earls attended the Munster squad training in Cork yesterday although his role was confined to that of a spectator on the sidelines.
The exciting Irish international has had a cruel run of luck with injuries recently. He missed Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia due to a persistent groin injury.
The Munster squad for the opening Magners League clash with Aironi Rugby at Musgrave Park this Saturday evening (7.30pm) will be announced at noon today.
Meanwhile five UL-Bohemian players have been included in the Irish Women’s team to face the USA in today’s fifth to eighth place playoff at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in the Surrey Sports Park, England (4pm)
UL Bohs’ Joy Neville, who has been in terrific try-scoring form throughout the tournament, will again fill the number eight slot.
Neville will be joined in the Irish line-up by her clubmates, team captain Fiona Coghlan and Gillian Bourke in the front-row, centre Lynne Cantwell and scrum-half Louise Beamish.
Cantwell won her 60th cap in Ireland’s impressive victory over Kazakhstan in the final pool game. Ireland have already beaten the USA in the group stages of the tournament.
Ireland: Niamh Briggs (Clonmel & Munster); Amy Davis (Blackrock & Leinster), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians), Shannon Houston (Blackrock & Leinster), Eliza Downey (Cooke & Ulster); Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond & Exile), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian & Munster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians & Leinster) (capt), Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock & Leinster), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians & Munster); Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel & Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Navan & Leinster); Orla Brennan (Blackrock & Leinster), Sinead Ryan (Blackrock & Leinster), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians & Munster). Replacements: Chris Fanning (Highfield & Munster), Louise Austin (UL Bohemians & Munster), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians & Munster), Carol Staunton (Galwegians & Connacht), Claire Molloy (Bristol & Connacht), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere & Leinster), Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians & Munster).
Meanwhile the Limerick Charity Cup continues tonight when Garryowen host last season’s beaten finalists UL-Bohemians in the last of the quarter-finals at Dooradoyle. The game has a 7.30pm kick-off. The winners of this tie will face Young Munster in the semi-finals. The remaining semi-final will see Shannon host Bruff this Saturday at Coonagh (2.30pm).

COLM KINSELLA

Lee faces into hectic six-week schedule

2010-08-31T10:00:00.002+01:00

ANDY Lee is facing into a hectic six-week schedule as he plans two quick-fire contests.
The 26-year-old Limerick pro-boxer has two fights scheduled for the coming weeks, but neither are to take place in Limerick.

The Castleconnell middleweight will be back in the ring on September 17 when he fights Michael Walker at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Lee will headline the 10-fight card with a 10-round contest against Walker who is a home town favourite.
Thirty-two-year-old Walker has 19 wins from his 25 pro-fights, but has suffered losses in his last three contests. Walker has only fought twice in 2010 and only had one fight in 2009.
Lee, meanwhile, stretched his unbeaten run to seven fights last month when he recorded his 22nd professional boxing win in the Buffalo Run Casino in Oklahoma. The fifth round knockout of James Cook was Lee’s seventh straight win since his only career defeat of March 2008 when he surprisingly lost to Brian Vera.
The win over 32-year-old Cook of Missouri was the Castleconnell man’s fourth knockout win out of his last seven bouts.
If the former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian is successful on September 17 he could be back in action just two weeks later with an October 2 date provisionally marked into his diary.
That bout will take place in the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana - a venue where Lee defeated Anthony Shuler last August.
“I have to say it’s great to be back in action so soon. I need to keep busy, after only fighting twice so far this year it will serve me well to stay active,” said Lee of his busy schedule.
Although Walker’s recent record points to a Lee win the Limerick man is taking nothing for granted.
“Michael Walker is no push over. I will have to be on top of my game, especially fighting him in his home town. He will try and train even harder for this fight, but I’ll be ready for him. I know him well, I’ve watched him fight a few times and know his style. He’s a tough, rugged, aggressive fighter, but he is short and one paced so I will use my height and speed and look to out box him,” said Lee.
Meanwhile another of Limerick’s professional boxers Willie Casey was also due to fight in September, but he is no longer on the Barry McGuigan promoted event on September 18 in the Ulster Hall in Belfast.
That event will be headlined by Carl Frampton and was also to include Casey, but the 28-year-old super bantamweight has been withdrawn.
Last month the Southill man extended his record to ten wins from ten bouts and moved up to number nine in the Euro rankings following his win over Italian Emiliano Salvini in an eight round super bantamweight in Dublin’s City-West Hotel Complex.

Jerome O’Connell

Munster look set to maintain their ‘back to basics’ approach

2010-08-31T09:59:00.000+01:00

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan is encouraged by the improvement in the side’s scrum and rolling maul ahead of Saturday evening’s big Magners League opener against Aironi Rugby at Musgrave Park (7.30pm).
Munster’s pack turned in an impressive display in their pre-season victory over Gloucester on Friday night and the ‘back to basics’ approach looks set to be maintained as the province locks horns with Italian newcomers Aironi in Cork this weekend.
Tony McGahan said: “When you finish a season as we did last year there are a lot of focal points going into this one. The set-piece is such a crucial part of results.
“We weren’t anywhere near where we needed to be last season with those areas.
“We put a lot of work into them with Paul (Mccarthy) coming on and doing a great job with the scrum. Laurie (Fisher) and Axel (Anthony Foley) have done tremendous work with the maul. They are two weapons we want to get back into our game and be a cornerstone going forward with them. Tonight (game with Gloucester) certainly was a step in the right direction. We had a tough hit out against a full strength Leicester side the previous week, but we saw the fruits of that against Gloucester.
“The game is ever-changing across the whole pitch, but there are some elements which don’t change. Having a solid set-piece, a good solid scrum and line-out to work off in order to be able to play either through the opposition or around them is very important.
“We hope to continue making progress in those areas.”
Saturday’s opponents Aironi Rugby have assembled a very decent squad which includes impressive front-row forwards Salvatore Perugini, hooker Fabio Ongaro and prop Matias Aguero.
Marco Bortolami, who has joined from Gloucester, and former Ulster player Carlo Del Fava are quality locks. In the back-row, New Zealander Josh Sole has won 46 caps for Italy while former Auckland Blue, Nick Williams has joined the Italian set-up from Munster this summer.
Experienced French out-half Ludovic Mercier, who was a prolific points-scorer with Gloucester, is a key member of the Aironi backline.
Saturday night’s game will be televised live on RTE 2 with coverage beginning at 7.15pm.
Meanwhile, the Munster U20s open their Interprovincial campaign when they host Ulster at the Mardyke on Friday evening (7pm). Munster warmed up for the series with a friendly fixture against a UCC selection at Cork IT on Friday last.

Munster U20s squad 2010/11: John Randles (Crescent College Comprehensive), Tom Doyle (Rockwell), Paul Mullen (Kings Hospital), Jake Considine (Young Munster), Ian Mullarkey (Dolphin), Kieran Stokes (Christians), Kevin O’Byrne (UCC), Niall Scannell (PBC), Brian Vaughan (PBC), David O’Mahony (PBC), Tom Goggin (St Munchin’s College), Rob O’Herlihy (PBC), Yasin Browne (Christians), Shane Buckley (Rockwell), Simon Hanbidge (Christians), Jack Duffy (PBC), Conal Murphy (UCC), Luke Cahill (Rockwell) Cathal O’Flaherty (PBC), Henry Travers (Bandon Grammer School), Ronan Barry (PBC), Eoin O’Shaughnessy (PBC), Sean Upton (Young Munster), Gareth Quinn McDonagh (Shannon), Johnny Holland (UCC), JJ Hanarahan (Rockwell), Sean Og Murphy (PBC), Lucas Kunz (St Munchin’s College), Daniel Horgan (PBC), Ben Sargent (Shannon), Cian Bohane (Dolphin), Jamie McGarry (Ard Scoil Ris), Dara O’Doherty (Crescent College Comprehensive), Corey Hircock (Garryowen), Olan Dennehy (UCC), Cathal Quinn (CBC), Jack Costigan (PBC), Eoin O’Donnell (Cork Con), Derry O’Connor (Garryowen), Jack Murray (St Munchin’s College).

Colm Kinsella

Extent of Keith Earls’ ankle injury will be known today

2010-08-30T10:50:00.003+01:00

MUNSTER star Keith Earls was due to have further medical examinations today to help determine the exact extent of his damaged ankle.
The exciting Earls sustained the injury in training in Cork at the start of last week and although initial indications are that there is no break, today’s scan should determine the full extent of the injury.

Twenty-two-year-old Earls has had a cruel run of luck with injuries recently - he missed Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia due to a groin injury.
Meanwhile Munster’s focus now switches to their opening competitive fixture of the new season, a home Magners League tie against competition newcomers, Aironi Rugby, of Italy, at Musgrave Park this Saturday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
Munster completed their programme of pre-season fixtures when recording a gritty victory over Gloucester in Cork on Friday night.
Tries from Wian du Preez and Alan Quinlan guided Munster to a 15-10 success.
Tony McGahan’s starting line up for the game included the likes of Alan Quinlan, Tony Buckley, Damien Varley, Peter Stringer, Felix Jones, Ian Nagle and Doug Howlett.
Mick O’Driscoll and Niall Ronan both made appearances from the bench and there was also a first Munster start for Johne Murphy who partnered fellow newcomer Sam Tuitupou at centre.
Munster’s Irish internationals have been given the all clear to feature in the opening rounds of the new Magners League season.
In a change from last year’s policy Munster internationals stars such as Ronan O’Gara, David Wallace, Marcus Horan, Tomas O’Leary and Donncha O’Callaghan will be available for selection, if fit, for the upcoming Magners League games.
Under the player management scheme endorsed by the IRFU, big names missed the first month of last season, with many of them having toured South Africa with the Lions.
That won’t be the case this year after Ireland’s governing body gave clubs and provinces permission to select their big names from week one or two of the season.
“The big difference this year is that most of the international players will be available to play in Magners League (week) One and then there are seven or eight other internationals - the guys who are going to play a lot of football this year and who played a lot of football last year - who will start Magners League Two,” Ireland manager Paul McNaughton said.
“The programme is very similar to last year, making sure the players who are playing the most football have rest periods.
“There are agreed rest periods which will be giving a player a match off in a certain phase, depending on the player, and it’s up to the provinces to decide what match that is.
“The other thing is that there are two Magners League games on in November and four more during the Six Nations and the international players will not be available for them.
“The top players, depending on age will play anything from 26 to 32 games, which is the same as last year.
“The approach is different but the objective is the same: we want players in good shape at the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, on the club front, Shannon set up a Limerick Charity Cup semi-final meeting with Bruff after recording a convincing 44-13 quarter-final win over Old Crescent at Rosbrien on Friday night. Colm Tucker’s side ran in six tries, three in each half.
Holders Young Munster also advanced to the semi-final courtesy of a 33-21 victory over Nenagh ormond at Tom Clifford Park.
Munsters’ now face the winners of this Wednesday night’s clash of Garryowen and UL-Bohemian which takes place at Dooradoyle on Wednesday night at 7.30pm.

COLM KINSELLA

Former champions Claughaun now face the dreaded drop

2010-08-30T10:50:00.001+01:00

CLAUGHAUN, who have won the county senior football championship on 14 occasions, are now staring potential relegation in the face - following the final round of group games the Hoops must now take on Newcastle West in a play-off with the loser of that game facing the dreaded drop.
Claughaun prepared for Saturday night’s encounter with Ballysteen knowing that a win would propel near neighbours St. Patrick’s into the relegation play-off, but the Hoops lost by five points (0-3 to 0-8) in Clarina and must now steel themselves for a battle with Newcastle West side who most recently beat Fr. Casey’s 1-10 to 0-9.
Group one of the Limerick’s Live 95FM county senior football championship concluded with Claughaun’s disappointing result against Ballysteen, Drom-Broadford’s 1-8 to 0-9 win over St. Kieran’s and St. Patrick’s 2-10 to 1-11 win over Monaleen. St. Pat’s stormed to an impressive two-point win over Monaleen in Claughaun and thereby ensured their survival in the senior ranks, but were cruelly ruled out of the knock-out stages on scoring difference.
Monaleen will now face Fr. Casey’s in the quarter-finals (scheduled for the weekending Sunday, September 12). Drom-Broadford, the defending champions, progress as group one winners directly to the semi-finals while the second placed Ballysteen will take on Ballylanders in the quarter-finals. Adare won group two and maintained their 100 per cent record with a 1-10 to 0-7 win over Pallasgreen on Saturday evening. Although Fr. Casey’s lost to Newcastle West the Abbeyfeale men were already guaranteed their place in the knock-out stages while Ballylanders took the honours in a winner-takes-all afair at Ballyagran when they beat St. Senan’s 1-14 to 1-9.
On Sunday evening group one of the county intermediate football championship concluded with a win for Mungret over Athea, Hospital-Herbertstown beat Cappamore and Na Piarsaigh saw off Mountcollins. In group two Galbally beat Bruff, Gerald Griffins beat Croom and Oola enjoyed a five-point win over Galtee Gaels.
Those results combined now mean that Oola and Hospital-Herbertstown progress directly to the sem-finals as group winners. In the quarter-finals Mountcollins will meet Bruff and Mungret face Galbally. The relegation final will pit Cappamore against the Galtee Gaels.
Meanwhile the Limerick ladies footballers fought their way back into the All-Ireland junior final on Saturday thanks to a 1-11 to 0-8 semi-final win over Wexford at St. Lachtain’s Park in Freshford, County Kilkenny.
The Tommy Stack-managed side proved far too strong for Wexford with star forward Dympna O’Brien contributing 1-9 to Limerick’s tally while inspirational full-back Sandra Healy walked away with the player of the match award.
Limerick lost last year’s All-Ireland final to Antrim, but enjoy an opportunity to set the record straight on Sunday, September 26 when they will face Louth in the decider.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Bumper crowd expected for cup replay

2010-08-30T10:49:00.001+01:00

A BUMPER crowd is expected at Jackman Park this evening (kick-off 7.45pm) for the FAI Ford Cup fourth round replay between Limerick FC and Sporting Fingal.
On Friday night Limerick FC fought back from two goals down at the Morton Stadium in Santry to earn a two-all draw and a replay against Sporting Fingal.
Even the most ardent of Super Blue fans would not have considered tonight’s game a realistic possibility when Pat Scully’s side fell 0-2 behind inside the opening 20 minutes against the Premier Division outfit. Limerick FC fought back however, first through captain Pat Purcell in the 49th minute and then Stephen O’Flynn struck for a stunning equaliser in second half injury time.
The winners of tonight’s fourth round clash will go into the hat for the quarter-final draw and although a potential final at the Aviva Stadium is most attractive Limerick FC will be eager to get back to winning ways in the league as soon as possible. Following an abject performance against Derry City, when the Super Blues lost 0-1 at Jackman Park, the performance against Sporting Fingal will give the club a huge lift ahead of this Friday night’s encounter with Longford Town at Jackman Park (7.45pm). The Super Blues have encountered Longford Town twice this season, losing once and winning once. Longford paid a visit to Jackman Park on March 19 and lost 0-2. The sides clashed once more on May 29 when Longford Town won 1-0.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Galvin: 'I'll be back!'

2010-08-25T12:54:00.000+01:00

FOOTBALL fans will be relieved to learn that Croom’s John Galvin has committed himself to another season with Limerick.
When manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan informed the Football Board last week that he did not wish to be considered for a sixth successive season in charge there were initial fears that John Galvin, widely and rightfully recognised as one of the best midfielders in the country, would call time on his glittering inter-county career.

The Croom stalwart, although stunned by Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s decision, told Leader Sport this week that, after careful consideration, he will pull on the Limerick jersey for at least one more season.
“I’ll be back, there’s no doubt about it,” the 30-year-old John Galvin said.
“I’ll be there again next year. I’m not waiting to see who the next manager is or anything like that. I’ll be there no matter what.”
From an emotional point of view the 2010 campaign was difficult for John Galvin to stomach. Galvin made his debut for Limerick in 1998, captained the Shannonsiders to a Munster under-21 football title in 2000 and inspired Limerick to Allianz National Football League division four honours last April when Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side beat Waterford in the final at Croke Park, but has suffered defeat in four Munster senior finals - to Kerry in 2003 & 2004, to Cork in 2009 and to Kerry, once more, last July.
Indeed, considering how close Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s Limerick had come to winning a first Munster title since 1896 in Killarney John Galvin was surprised last Thursday when O’Sullivan broke the news to the Croom man personally.
“To be honest I was never expecting Mickey Ned to go. I was shocked really. I really thought he would come back and give it another year.
“That’s what everyone thought, but, obviously, Mickey Ned believes we need something new and that it was time for someone else to come in and have a go at it. He could be right.
“I’m disappointed that he is going, but in saying that there’s a big opportunity there now for someone to come in and do something with the team.”
And, Croom’s John Galvin does not expect the players to be consulted during the selection process by the Football Board.
“It’s all down to the Football Board really. Maybe when they get it down to a couple of names they might consult a couple of the players to see what they think at that stage, but at the end of the day the decision is their’s. The final decision will always rest with them,” John Galvin said.
John Galvin hopes that whoever assumes responsibility for the senior team will be able to inspire Limerick to footballing glory: “Hopefully whoever comes in will be able to takes us that bit further forward.
“We’ve come so close that maybe someone new might be able to help us take it that little bit further, to help us get over the line. It’s a great opportunity for any manager to come in.
“We’re very close to making a breakthrough, we’re very close as a squad and we’re ambitious.
“Maybe all we need is someone new to come in and get us over the line.”
Meanwhile the Independent Appointments Committee, charged with finding a successor to Justin McCarthy or re-appointing the Cork man as Limerick senior hurling manager, are still not prepared to make any public comment on their deliberations. The committee did conduct interviews in recent weeks with those nominated for the role while it remains to be seen if Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe will pin-point their own candidate. Former Cork manager Dónal O’Grady, for instance, has been strongly linked with the role.
It now looks likely that the Limerick manager may not be ratified at next month’s (September 14) meeting of the County Board.

Brian McDonnell

A ‘new voice’ needed for Limerick football

2010-08-25T12:53:00.001+01:00

THE search has begun in earnest to replace Mickey Ned O’Sullivan as Limerick senior football manager.
The Football Board, led by chairman John Galvin and secretary Sean McAuliffe, has been tasked with identifying a candidate to bring before the County Board for final ratification.

The Football Board met on Friday night to consider their options while the rumour mill has already linked former Ballylanders coach Tom McGlinchy with the job as well as current Monaleen manager Ger Lawlor, former Limerick supremo Liam Kearns, Drom-Broadford coach Ned English and out-going Limerick under-21 manager Maurice Horan.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, the 58-year-old Kenmare man who has guided the fortunes of the Limerick senior football team for the past five years, informed Football Board officials on Thursday evening that he did not wish to be considered for a sixth successive term in charge.
Speaking on behalf of the out-going management team Mickey Ned O’Sullivan told Leader Sport that Limerick now needed a “new voice” and that he his decision to step down was in the “best interests of the team”.
“From my point of view five years is a long time to be involved with one team,” Mickey Ned O’Sullivan said.
“Only Mickey Harte (Tyrone) has been managing an inter-county team for a similar length of time.
“I want what is best for the team and what is best for Limerick football now is a new voice and a new approach. And, I hope that new voice can refresh and re-energise the team.
“I don’t think that as a management team we could have been any better this year. At the start of each year we asked ourselves how we could improve as a management team and how we could take it to the next level. And, in everything we did this year I thought we were excellent. I find it very difficult to see how we could improve on that. I hope a new appointment can take Limerick to that next level. I will miss Limerick football. Over the years I had grown to treat both the players and the rest of the management team as a family rather than a football team. The hardest part of it is saying goodbye to that.”
An emotional Mickey Ned also admitted that he was leaving a big part of his sporting life behind him.
“The players and the management were like one big family so when you’re suddenly leaving all that behind there are obvious withdrawal symptons. It has been emotional.”
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s term in charge came to a technical end when the Shannonsiders suffered a defeat at the hands of Cork in an All-Ireland qualifier on July 24 (0-16 to 1-11 after extra-time at the Gaelic Grounds), but the Football Board had been hopeful of tempting the Kerry man back for at least one more year.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, who captained Kerry to an All-Ireland title in 1975, was appointed manager of the Limerick senior footballers prior to the 2006 championship. While Limerick won the National Football League Division Four title this year the efforts of Mickey Ned’s men in the championship proved ultimately frustrating.
In five seasons Mickey Ned O’Sullivan guided Limerick into championship action on 16 different occasions. While the Shannonsiders only managed to win seven of those championship encounters Limerick proved extremely difficult to beat and narrowly missed out on winning a first Munster title since 1896 last July when they lost to Kerry in Killarney. Another undoubted highlight of O’Sullivan’s five-year term in charge was Limerick’s sensational 4-12 to 4-3 win over Meath in the 2008 All-Ireland qualifiers at the Gaelic Grounds.
“There are no regrets for me personally,” added Mickey Ned.
“I always treated my time in Limerick as part of my personal journey rather than as a destination. I feel we made amazing progress during my time in charge and I think the players feel that way too. It’s just a pity that we didn’t enjoy that little bit more success, I think the lads deserved at least a Munster title.”
In stark contrast to the management of senior hurling team, who criticised members of the 2009 hurling squad for indiscipline, Mickey Ned O’Sullivan had nothing but praise for the Limerick players.
“In my time there was not one incident of indiscipline,” he insisted.
“That’s the reality of dealing with this group of players. I would love to stay and work with the players for another year, but that would not be in the best interests of the team.
“The whole journey was something I really enjoyed. I’ve been involved in sport all of my life and I have never had such a positive experience as I did in Limerick. We did have our ups and downs, but the people we had involved on the team and with the team were exceptional. Everyone of the management team made my job easy and all I had to do really was co-ordinate.
“And, we didn’t have one spot of bother with the players. Limerick people should be really proud of that group of players, they really are an exceptional bunch of people.”
And, while Mickey Ned O’Sullivan believes that there is a bright future for Limerick he has warned administrators of the game on Shannonside that great care must be taken to develop football in the county.
“The future is bright for Limerick football. If you look at the forwards their average age is just 22. It was a great pleasure to work with the Limerick players and see them become some of the best forwards, midfielders and defenders in Gaelic football,” O’Sullivan explained.
“Limerick don’t have the same amount of players as other counties, they simply don’t have the same population of lads playing the game. So, the Football Board need to establish a conveyor belt and make sure the same message is getting through from the senior team all the way down.
“Limerick needs quality people at all levels of the game and all of those people need to be singing off the same hymn sheet. Limerick need to manage their resources carefully.
“In fairness the Football Board know that and that’s what they are trying to implement.”

Brian McDonnell

Leamy: ‘Onwards and upwards’

2010-08-25T12:52:00.001+01:00

MUNSTER number eight Denis Leamy is hoping its a case of ‘onwards and upwards’ after making a successful return from long-term injury against the Leicester Tigers.
Leamy, who had been sidelined since injuring his knee in Munster’s Heineken Cup clash away to Perpignan last December, returned in style at Musgrave Park on Friday night when bagging an opportunist try in his side’s narrow defeat to the Tigers.

The 28-year-old will continue his comeback this Friday night when Tony McGahan’s men host Aviva Premiership side Gloucester in a second pre-season friendly at Musgrave Park (7pm).
“We have a lot of things to work on ahead of the game with Gloucester,” Denis Leamy said.
“It was great to captain the side against Leicester. I am just taking it one game at a time. I will see where I am in six weeks or two months time and will reassess things then.
“I think there were a lot of positives from the game with Leicester. We came up against a strong line-up. We had a lot of lads here who are in their first few years with Munster and we also had a blend of the older players with them.
“All in all there were a lot of positives to take from the performance.
“My knee felt fine. I am delighted to get 70 minutes under my belt. Hopefully it’s a case of onwards and upwards for me from here.
“Like everyone out there I was stuck for breath a few times and my legs did feel like jelly during the long phases of play, but it was great to get that competitive playing time.
“In the days leading up to the match, I did not think about the game much. I did not want to get too anxious about it or get too worried about the what ifs. I just went out and tried to play. I am delighted to get it over me. I trust my knee know and that is a big positive.”
Munster coach Tony McGahan explained that he expected to re-introduce up to eight new faces into the squad for Friday night’s clash with Gloucester. More experienced heads will come back into the squad for the Magners League opener with Aironi Rugby in the first weekend in September while the remainder will be available for the second fixture in the competition a week later. And, coach McGahan said he was delighted with how Denis leamy’s comeback had gone.
“Denis was immense. I thought he led the side very well,” Tony McGahan enthused.
“He has been chomping at the bit to get back into rugby. Unfortunately when he got injured Denis was playing tremendous rugby.
“James Coughlan stepped in and did a fantastic job. You have young Paddy Butler and Peter O’Mahony who are coming through the ranks. David Wallace can play at eight as well, so we are well served in that area.”
Meanwhile, an X-ray on Keith Earls’ ankle injury this week has revealed no new break. Earls picked up the injury in a non-contact situation during rehabilitation work on an existing groin problem on Monday in Cork.
The utility back will need to undergo further medical examination later in the week to determine the full extent of the damage.
The IRFU has confirmed that the injury happened during training with the Munster squad, and not with the Ireland squad, who are currently involved in a 35-man camp in Belfast.
Munster lock Paul O’Connell, who was confirmed as the side’s skipper for this season once again, is expected to be to be sidelined until December due to a troublesome groin infection.
The 30-year-old is set to miss the opening half of the Magners League programme, Munster’s opening two fixtures in the Heineken Cup and Ireland’s autumn internationals against South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.
Should O’Connell return in early December his first game back could be the December 4 Magners League clash with the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park - a week ahead of the third round of the Heineken Cup against the Ospreys at Thomond Park.
Meanwhile, Munster Rugby received a boost prior to the start of the competitive season when Toyota Ireland announced that it is to extend its partnership with the province until June 2013 in a sponsorship deal worth €5.75million.
Toyota’s partnership with Munster - worth €5.75 million over the next three seasons - includes title sponsorship of senior Munster Rugby teams competing in the Magner’s League, Heineken Cup and British and Irish Cup.
The three-year deal will bring Toyota’s investment to well beyond €13 million since they came on board as principal sponsors in July 2004.

Colm Kinsella

O’Connell welcomes emerging new talent

2010-08-24T20:44:00.000+01:00

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell believes the emergence of several exciting young players during the pre-season period will instil a welcome new freshness into the side with the start of the competitive season looming large.

Munster’s young guns impressed in last Friday night’s pre-season friendly against a full-strength Leicester Tigers. And, the province’s management team will be hoping that the emerging players can stake a further claim for inclusion in the side to face Aironi Rugby in their opening Magners League fixture of the season at Musgrave Park on Saturday, September 4 when they take on Gloucester in their final pre-season friendly this Friday night (7.30pm).
Speaking at the launch of the new Magners League season at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Tuesday Paul O’Connell said the emergence of the young blood within the squad would serve to freshen things up.
“The young guys have really stepped up to the mark. It is something we need in the squad,” O’Connell said.
“We need some young blood on the pitch playing and we need some young blood around the dressing room as well. It has been a little while coming.
“The British & Irish Cup was good for them last year. Hopefully a few of these guys come in and can step up this season. They will bring a fresh voice and a fresh way of doing things.
“When we won the Magners League two years ago, the main reason we did so was because of the strength in depth in the squad. During the autumn internationals and Six Nations games, I think I am right in saying, we won all our games. That was where we won the competition.
“Hopefully the young guys coming through in the squad can contribute in a similar way this season. Last season we reached two semi-finals.
“There probably always is pressure on us to deliver trophies. I don’t think that is a bad thing. I believe it makes us better. It makes us strive to produce higher standards all the time.
“We probably got to the semi-finals last season not playing the way we wanted to. It was disappointing not to pick up a trophy last season. There will be a big focus to try and win something this season.”
Paul O’Connell is recovering from a long-term groin injury and is not expected to return to competitive action until December. The Lions captain admitted that the prolonged period on the sideline is frustrating.
“I am not a very good spectator. I struggle a bit with it,” Paul O’Connell admitted.
“It is hard when you are captain and the lads are doing all the hard work.
“You end up commenting on things. It is all well and good when you are doing the hard work with them, but when you are sitting on the sidelines watching it is hard. It will be hard, but I have to grin and bear it. I will have plenty to say. I will be opinionated.”
Munster have also been boosted by the return of Denis Leamy, Donnacha Ryan, Ian Dowling and Felix Jones from long-term injuries ahead of the start of the season.
“Last year against Perpignan away in December was probably our best performance of the season and Denis Leamy was outstanding in that game.
“It was a great lift. Then you hear about his injury the following morning and it is so deflating for everyone.
“To have him back and to see how well he played against Leicester on Friday night was a big boost. He is a real talisman for us, a leader. He is a very important ball carrier for us.”
Meanwhile Munster fans were sighing with relief on Tuesday afternoon when news broke that Keith Earls had avoided a serious ankle injury.
Earls picked up an injury in a non-contact situation during rehabiliation work on an existing groin problem, but an X-ray revealed no new break.
The outstanding utility back will undergo further medical examination later in the week to determine the full extent of the damage.
The IRFU have insisted that the injury happened during training with the Munster squad, and not with the Ireland squad, who are currently involved in a 35-man camp in Belfast.

COLM KINSELLA

Limerick FC anniversary tinged with real sadness

2010-08-24T20:43:00.001+01:00

TODAY, August 24, marks the 50th anniversary of the first-ever European Cup tie hosted on Shannonside - in 1960 Swiss champions Young Boys of Berne faced Limerick FC in front of a 10,000-strong crowd at Thomond Park and won 5-0.
Limerick won the league tite in 1959-60 and duly earned the right to compete in the European Cup for the first time. The Super Blues were pitted against Young Boys of Berne, who, tonight, take on Tottenham Hotspur in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.

While Limerick FC lost 0-5 at Thomond Park Georgie Lynam and Leo O’Reilly plundered away goals for the Irish champions in Berne when Young Boys won 4-2.
Memories of that famous event were tinged with sadness this week for senior soccer fans when the news broke on Tuesday that the historic Market’s Field, long associated with senior soccer in Limerick city, was put out to public tender by the Irish Greyhound Board.
The Irish Greyhound Board announced that it was putting the local landmark up for sale and that it had received a “number of expressions of interest in the property”.
“Now that we are about to commence a new era for greyhound racing in the city, it is the right time to formalise the sale process and move it forward,” said Adrian Neilan, CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board, speaking about the 5.35-acre site which is located in Garryowen.
Pat O’Sullivan, CEO of Limerick FC, is believed to have made a substantial bid for the property, but that it was not accepted. Pat O’Sullivan has long stated his ambition to return the club to the Market’s Field.
The Limerick FC bid for the Market’s Field still stands, but there is a real danger now that senior soccer may never return to the famous venue, a venue many fans consider to be the club’s spirital home.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Leamy: ‘I’m taking it one game at a time’

2010-08-23T10:19:00.002+01:00

MUNSTER number eight Denis Leamy is hoping it’s a case of ‘onwards and upwards’ after making a successful return from long-term injury against the Leicester Tigers.
Leamy, who had been sidelined since injuring his knee in Munster’s Heineken Cup clash away to Perpignan last December, returned in style at Musgrave Park on Friday night when bagging an opportunist try in his side’s narrow defeat to the Tigers.

The 28-year-old will continue his comeback this Friday night when Tony McGahan’s men host Aviva Premiership side Gloucester in a second pre-season friendly at Musgrave Park (7pm).
“We have a lot of things to work on ahead of the game with Gloucester,” Denis Leamy said.
“It was great to captain the side against Leicester. I am just taking it one game at a time. I will see where I am in six weeks or two months time and will reassess things then.
“I think there were a lot of positives from the game with Leicester.
“We came up against a strong line-up. We had a lot of lads here who are in their first few years with Munster and we also had a blend of the older players with them.
“All in all there were a lot of positives to take from the performance.
“My knee felt fine. I am delighted to get 70 minutes under my belt. Hopefully it’s a case of onwards and upwards for me from here.
“Like everyone out there I was stuck for breath a few times and my legs did feel like jelly during the long phases of play, but it was great to get that competitive playing time.
“In the days leading up to the match, I did not think about the game much. I did not want to get too anxious about it or get too worried about the what ifs. I just went out and tried to play. I am delighted to get it over me. I trust my knee now and that is a big positive.”
Munster coach Tony McGahan explained that he expected to re-introduce up to eight new faces into the squad for Friday night’s clash with Gloucester.
More experienced heads will come back into the squad for the Magners League opener with Aironi Rugby in the first weekend in September while the remainder will be available for the second fixture in the competition a week later.
Coach McGahan said he was delighted with how Denis leamy’s comeback had gone.
“Denis was immense out there. I thought he led the side very well,” Tony McGahan enthused.
“He has been chomping at the bit to get back into rugby. Unfortunately when he got injured Denis was playing tremendous rugby.
“James Coughlan stepped in and did a fantastic job. You have young Paddy Butler and Peter O’Mahony who are coming through the ranks. David Wallace can play at eight as well so we are well served in that area.”
Meanwhile Munster Rugby received a boost prior to the start of the competitive season when Toyota Ireland announced that it is to extend its partnership with the province until June 2013 in a sponsorship deal worth €5.75 million.
Toyota’s partnership with Munster - worth €5.75 million over the next three seasons - includes title sponsorship of senior Munster Rugby teams competing in the Magner’s League, Heineken Cup and British & Irish Cup.
The three-year deal will bring Toyota’s investment to well beyond €13 million since they came on board as principal sponsors in July 2004.
It has also been confirmed that Paul O’Connell will continue as senior captain for the coming year although the Limerick man is not expected to make a return to competitive action until December as he continues his recovery from a groin injury.

COLM KINSELLA

Search begins for new senior football manager

2010-08-23T10:18:00.002+01:00

THE Football Board, led by chairman John Galvin and secretary Sean McAuliffe, have begun the search for a new senior football manager.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, the 58-year-old Kenmare man who has guided the fortunes of the Limerick senior football team for the past five years, informed Football Board officials on Thursday evening that he did not wish to be considered for a sixth successive season in charge.
Speaking on behalf of the out-going management team Mickey Ned O’Sullivan told Leader Sport that Limerick now needed a “new voice” and that he his decision to step down was in the “best interests of the team”.
“From my point of view five years is a long time to be involved with one team,” Mickey Ned O’Sullivan said.
“I want what is best for the team and what is best for Limerick football now is a new voice and a new approach.
“And, I hope that new voice can refresh and re-energise the team,” O’Sullivan said.
“I don’t think that as a management team we could have been any better this year.
“At the start of each year we asked ourselves how we could improve as a management team and how we could take it to the next level. And, in everything we did this year I thought we were excellent.
“I find it very difficult to see how we could improve on that. I hope a new appointment can take Limerick to that next level,” O’Sullivan added.
O’Sullivan’s term in charge came to a technical end when the Shannonsiders suffered a defeat at the hands of Cork in an All-Ireland qualifier on July 24 (0-16 to 1-11 after extra-time at the Gaelic Grounds), but the Football Board had been hopeful of tempting the Kerry man back for at least one more year.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan was appointed manager of the Limerick senior footballers prior to the 2006 championship. While Limerick won the National Football League Division Four title this year the efforts of Mickey Ned’s men in the championship proved ultimately frustrating.
Meanwhile the group phase of the senior football championship will come to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday next when six games throw-in at 6.45pm. Over the weekend, in group one, St. Patrick’s hammered St. Kieran’s (4-13 to 0-12), Claughaun lost to Drom-Broadford (0-4 to 0-9) while Ballysteen got the better of Monaleen (1-10 to 2-5).
Those results essentially mean that Drom-Broadford have won the group with a game to play, that Claughaun must beat Ballysteen or hope that Monaleen get the better of St. Patrick’s to stave off their relegation play-off fears. St. Patrick’s however are more than capable of putting one over on Monaleen in what promises to be a terrific game in Claughaun.
In the intermediate championship Mungret, thanks to a 0-16 to 1-5 win over Cappamore, face Athea next Sunday at 6.45pm knowing that a win would guarantee them a play-off spot. Na Piarsaigh will be hoping Athea can do them a favour in that tie, but must also beat group leaders Mountcollins in Newcastle West to have any hope of making progress.
Na Piarsaigh drew with Hospital-Herbertstown on Friday night - 2-7 to 1-10.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Niland tackles US Open

2010-08-23T10:18:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK’S Conor Niland is preparing to take a bite out of the Big Apple this week when the Irish number one tennis star attempts to qualify for the US Open.
Conor’s prospects are boosted by recent good form which has seen Niland reach the last eight in both Russia and China recently.
Now ranked 156th in the world Niland will be required to win three matches before booking a place in the 128-strong main draw - the qualifying tournament beings on Tuesday while the US Open proper begins next Monday at Flushing Meadows.
And should Conor Niland qualify for the first round proper he will fulfill a personal dream of playing in a Grand Slam event.
The visit to New York will bring back happy memories for the Limerick man. Last year Niland beat Australia’s Joseph Sirianni (6-0, 6-4) and forced his way into the second qualifying round of the US Open - the victory represented the Irish tennis star’s first win in a Grand Slam. Conor then lost to Columbia’s Alejandro Falla, but the Limerick man will hope to re-discover the form which has seen Ireland’s most-capped Davis Cup player win five ITF Futures titles, two Challenger Tour events, reach the main draw of the US Men’s Claycourt Championships and come within a couple of points of qualifying for the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Most spectacularly of all Niland won the Israel Open in Ramat Hasharon in May and duly collected a winner’s cheque for $14,000 - following that win Conor broke into the world’s top 200 and duly became the second highest-ranked player in the history of Irish tennis after Matt Doyle.
Conor Niland will be all the more determined at Flushing Meadows since in this year’s Australian Open he reached the third round of qualifying only to be denied by Brazil’s Ricardo Hocevar in three sets.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Football Board set to tackle management issue

2010-08-18T12:35:00.003+01:00

THE Football Board, led by chairman John Galvin and secretary Sean McAuliffe, will this weekend meet with Mickey Ned O’Sullivan and have assured Leader Sport that a decision will be made concerning the management of the senior football team early next week.

Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s fifth year in charge came to an end when the Shannonsiders lost to Cork in the All-Ireland qualifiers at the Gaelic Grounds. O’Sullivan, however, is still considered hot favourite to continue as manager while the roles of minor, under-21 and junior supremo are expected to be filled as soon as the senior post is decided upon.
Leader Sport has also made contact with the Independent Appointments Committee (comprised of Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe) which is charged with the task of deciding whether to retain the services of Justin McCarthy or find a successor to the Cork man as Limerick senior hurling manager. Unfortunately, the Independent Appointments Committee are not prepared to comment on or discuss any aspect of their deliberations at this time.
The rumour mill, concerning the appointment process, has switched into overdrive in recent weeks.
One persistent rumour suggested that current Dublin manager Anthony Daly was in the running for the job. Leader Sport contacted the Clare man this week and Anthony Daly has confirmed that no one associated with the Limerick County Board has contacted him with regard to a potential role on Shannonside.
The committee conducted interviews in recent weeks with those nominated for the role while it remains to be seen if Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe will pin-point their own candidate.
It is within the remit of the committee to pin-point their own candidate and it is understood that they have identified a number of potential managers. It now looks likely that the Limerick manager may not be ratified at next month’s (September 14) meeting of the County Board.
Nine nominees were originally identified by Limerick clubs. Both John Allen and John Tuohy withdrew from the selection process leaving Dave Keane, Gary Kirby, Ciaran Carey, Leo O’Connor, TJ Ryan, Val Murnane and Justin McCarthy. Once the Independent Appointments Committee have made their decision their nomination will then need to be ratified at a full County Board meeting.
The Independent Appointments Committee has also canvassed the opinions of both the 2009 and 2010 Limerick senior hurling panels when they met with the two panels, separately, in the Charleville Park Hotel in recent weeks.
It is understood that the new manager will be offered a two or three-year term with an annual review. It is also understood that the new manager will appoint a coach, trainer and selectors, but only after consultation with the three-man committee.
While John Kiely will take responsibility for the Limerick hurling development squad (intermediate) in 2011 the under-21 hurling job is still up for grabs. Club nominations should be sent to County Secretary Mike O’Riordan before August 27 next. An appointments committee (Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan, secretary Mike O’Riordan, treasurer Owen Hayes, Na Piarsaigh’s Shane O’Neill and Doon’s John R. Walsh) will interview those nominated.
Meanwhile the current under-17 management team consisting of Adare’s Shane Fitzgibbon (manager) and selectors Mike Galligan, Frankie Carroll, Joe Hannon and George Lee will guide the fortunes of the minor hurlers in 2011.

County League
The All-County senior hurling league final will take place this Saturday evening in the Gaelic Grounds at 6.45pm - Bruree will take on Murroe-Boher in the eagerly-anticipated clash.
Murroe-Boher, considering their excellent form in the senior championship prior to suffering a defeat at the hands of Emmets, will be red-hot favourites to win this one, but Bruree are never easily beaten and will be eager to lay down a marker before they face into a relegation semi-final against Garryspillane.

Brian McDonnell

Stephen Lucey hints at a possible return to the inter-county fold

2010-08-18T12:35:00.001+01:00

IN October 2009 Stephen Lucey, although he had played 29 times for the Limerick senior hurling team, was dropped unceremoniously by manager Justin McCarthy. But on Sunday evening last the Croom stalwart admitted that if he could get “injury free” and the management situation was “sorted out” on Shannonside that he would consider returning to the inter-county fold.
After contributing to a discussion on Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Tipperary and Waterford in Croke Park on RTÉ Radio One’s Take Your Point phone-in show a text from a listener prompted the presenter, Tipp’s Damien Lawlor, to ask the proud Croom man if would consider playing for the Limerick senior hurling team again.
“I have to get injury free first,” Stephen Lucey said.
“If I’m lucky enough to get picked we’ll see, we’ll see what happens. God knows anything could happen down here (in Limerick).”
Stephen Lucey also admitted that he was impressed by the manner in which the Independent Appointments Committee - comprised of Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe - were going about their business. This trio have been entrusted with the task of identifying a manager to succeed Justin McCarthy, or retain the services of the Cork man, and former full-back Stephen Lucey is confident that they “will do the right thing”.
“Well, there’s a three-man committee in place,” Stephen Lucey explained, “and I think they have done great work and they are fairly independent-minded.
“So, I think they will do the right thing. I would be hopeful that they would be fair.”
Limerick’s Stephen Lucey also admitted that the fall-out from Justin McCarthy’s decision to drop the Croom man, among others, had been difficult to deal with on a personal level for the past year.
“Oh God, there was a lot of flak,” Stephen Lucey said.
“There was a lot of stuff that happened this year that I wouldn’t like to go into now, but a lot of hurtful stuff went on. I would just leave it at that.”
Lucey also admitted that he was lucky to have the county senior football team to turn to, but that he felt great sympathy for other players who did not enjoy such a luxury.
“I was lucky with that. It was a great honour (to play with Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s senior footballers) and we had a great set-up.
“We were close enough, but I feel very, very, very sorry for the lads that didn’t get to play.
“There’s a load of them there you know; Brian Geary and Seamie Hickey and Wayne McNamara, a load of them there that didn’t get to play.
“You know it was really, really tough for them especially for the championship matches, like Limerick versus Cork and all that.”
Stephen Lucey then concluded the segment by suggesting that he would keep an open mind in relation to potentially playing for the Limerick senior hurling team.
“I just have to get injury free, see if we’re lucky enough to get selected and we’ll take it from there”.
The comments of the former Limerick full-back has once again highlighted the fact that players like Stephen Lucey (who played 29 times for Limerick), Niall Moran (32 times) and Mark Foley (48 times) were never afforded a proper public apology/explanation for how they were treated in October 2009 when they were all dropped from manager Justin McCarthy’s senior hurling panel. Indeed, the fact that other members of the panel like Damien Reale (who played 36 times for Limerick), Brian Geary (37 times), Dónal O’Grady (27 times) and Seámus Hickey (20 times) would walk away in protest suggests that some sort of gesture is due to these players.

Brian McDonnell

Limerick FC face the mighty Derry City

2010-08-18T12:34:00.000+01:00

IT just gets better and better for Limerick FC - the Super Blues collected their third successive league success on Friday night thanks to a one-nil win over Mervue United at Terryland Park in Galway, have moved into second place and will now eagerly look forward to taking on leaders Derry City next Friday night at Jackman Park (7.45pm).
Although Limerick FC missed a whole litany of chances against Mervue United they were well worth all three points which arrived courtesy of a Shane Tracy penalty in the 51st minute.
Pat Scully’s men created plenty of goal-scoring chances in the opening half of the game.
Mervue ‘keeper Ger Hanley pulled off a magnificent save to deny Stephen O’Flynn as early as the ninth minute while Hanley was called into action once more six minutes later to save Shane Clarke’s stinging effort.
In the 26th and 27th minutes Stephen O’Flynn came close to breaking the dead-lock once more, but somehow the Mervue United goal remained intact.
Limerick FC almost paid the price for their profligacy in the 30th minute when Mervue’s Rory Gaffney got through one-on-one with Dave Ryan, but Gaffney lobbed his effort over the bar and the Super Blues’ blushes were spared.
Two efforts from Shane Clarke concluded the opening half as Limerick FC retired at the interval wondering what they had to do to score.
The breakthrough finally materialised six minutes into the second half when a blatant push on Shane Clarke presented Limerick with a penalty which Shane Tracy converted. Although Evan Connolly’s volley screamed over the Limerick FC bar in the 60th minute, the Super Blues saw out the remainder of the game in relative comfort.
There was, however, plenty of drama in injury time when Stephen O’Flynn was fouled for a second Limerick penalty and Mervue’s Tommy Walsh got his marching orders - O’Flynn took responsibility for the spot kick, but pulled his effort wide of the goal.
In the wake of the away win Pat Purcell, the 31-year-old club captain and undisputed leader of the team, explained that given Stephen O’Flynn’s determination to score at each and every opportunity for the Super Blues it would not be a good idea to tease the striker about such a miss immediately after the game.
“Stevo takes his goal-scoring far too seriously to give him a slagging in the dressing room after something like that,” Pat Purcell told Leader Sport.
“He was like a bull over it, really. Once he calms down during the week we’ll have a laugh about it, but you couldn’t say anything to him about it straight after the game.”
Although pleased with collecting three more league points Pat Purcell was disappointed with certain aspects of Limerick’s play: “We won, but we didn’t convert all the chances that we created. And, if you do that you can get caught out if you give the other team half a chance. That’s the danger. We’ve got to take our chances and put teams away earlier. You can’t allow teams to stay in a game like that. That was the only disappointing thing, other than that we played very well and it’s another three points in the bag.”
In consecutive league games Limerick FC have now beaten Athlone Town, Shelbourne and most recently Mervue United. And, it’s a measure of how far the Super Blues have come that they will enter Friday night’s game against the runaway league leaders in confident mood.
“We’ll approach it like it’s just another game,” Pat Purcell said.
“We’ve got to make sure that all our work on the training field comes out on the pitch.
“We believe that we’re one of the best teams in the division, but we also know that we’ve no divine right to win games.
“We’re in the position now that we want to be in, we want to make the play-offs, but we’ve got to keep performing, especially in the last ten games.”
The sides have met twice this season - a David McDaid goal helped Derry City to a one-nil win at Jackman Park on March 12 while Limerick FC earned a nil-all draw at the Brandywell on May 21. Derry City’s form has been mixed of late. Last Friday night they lost 0-1 at home to Cork City, a week previously they were beaten 2-3 by Monaghan in Derry.
“It should be an even enough game,” Pat Purcell added.
“Our form has been impressive recently and we have a good chance of getting a result against Derry. We’re not worried about their form; we know they’re top of the division for a reason and they deserve to be respected. But we’re a good side too so it should be a really good game.”
After two seasons blighted by injury Pat Purcell is enjoying his football and a prolonged run in the team.
Last weekend the Clare minor hurlers took on Dublin at Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final and that encounter was sure to spark memories in Purcell. In early 1997 Purcell was a member of the Clare minor hurling panel, but withdrew once training clashed with his efforts to play a major part in Park Rangers’ league and cup double. That Clare minor team went on to win All-Ireland honours, but Purcell harbours no sense of regret, he’s 100 per cent happy with the decision he made and now he’s eagerly looking forward to the title run-in with the Super Blues.
Following stints with Park Rangers, Fairview Rangers, St. Patrick’s Athletic, Waterford United and now Limerick FC Pat Purcell knows a thing or two about what means most when league points are at their most precious.
“What we need now is to find a real consistency,” Pat Purcell explained.
“We’ve got to make sure we bring the work we do on the training field onto the pitch. We’ve got to keep performing and if we do that we will be in the shake-up. Our goal all season has been to make the play-offs and for us that’s all that matters. The results are key, but we are capable of getting the results we need.”

Limerick FC v Mervue United: Dave Ryan, Martin Deady, Thomas Heary, David O’Leary, Dave Rogers, Pat Purcell, Bobby Ryan, John Sullivan, Shane Tracy, Shane Clarke, Stephen O’Flynn. Subs: Declan Cahill for David O’Leary, Thomas Lyons for Shane Clarke, Timmy Kiely for Shane Tracy.

Brian McDonnell

Leamy returns for Munster

2010-08-17T08:56:00.002+01:00

LONG-TERM injury victims Denis Leamy, Donnacha Ryan and Ian Dowling have been included in Tony McGahan’s Munster squad for Friday night’s pre-season friendly clash with the Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park (7pm).
Leamy, Ryan and Dowling join the likes of the recently arrived Sam Tuitupou and the returned Wian du Preez in the 26-strong squad for the meeting with the Premiership giants.

Back-row Denis Leamy has been out of action since undergoing a knee operation in the aftermath of his impressive display against Perpignan in the Heineken Cup in December.
Lock Ryan has been out of action since February following a shoulder operation while Dowling missed the closing games of last season with a knee injury.
All three players participated in Munster’s week-long warm weather training camp in La Manga. The squad returned home from Spain this Tuesday. Coach Tony McGahan said the camp had proved hugely beneficial ahead of the start of the competitive season.
“In terms of preparation the facility in La Manga was excellent and we managed to get in quality core rugby work along with valuable organisational matters,” Munster’s Tony McGahan said this week.
“Leicester Tigers on Friday and (the meeting with) Gloucester (seven days later) provides us with the ideal opponents ahead of the competitive start to the season.
“The game against Leicester on Friday will see the return to action of players such as Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy and Ian Dowling who missed large parts of last season through injury.
“We would also expect to see newcomers Sam Tuitupou and Wian du Preez continue their integration into the squad while the opportunity will also arise to expose some of the young talent coming through to top class opposition,” McGahan explained.
That ‘young talent’ includes the likes of Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Dave Ryan, Mike Sherry, Peter O’Mahony, who impressed in the British & Irish Cup campaign last season, Ireland Under-20 World Cup players Paddy Butler and Simon Zebo, as well as Academy newcomer Corey Hircock who has recently arrived from Bedford.
Munster v Leicester Tigers, Friday, August 20, Musgrave Park, 7pm.
Munster squad: Denis Hurley, Felix Jones, Ian Dowling, Danny Barnes, Simon Zebo, Scott Deasy, Sam Tuitupou, Corey Hircock, Paul Warwick, Duncan Williams, Conor Murray, Wian du Preez, Dave Ryan, Stephen Archer, Darragh Hurley, Mike Sherry, Denis Fogarty, Billy Holland, Dave Foley, Ian Nagle, Donnacha Ryan, Paddy Butler, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan and Denis Leamy.

Colm Kinsella

Charity Cup set to kick-off club season

2010-08-17T08:55:00.000+01:00

THE Limerick Charity Cup is due to commence next week with holders Young Munster set to begin the defence of their title at home to Nenagh Ormond.
Munsters, who are preparing for their return to Division 1A of the All-Ireland League, emerged victorious after the 85th staging of the Limerick Charity Cup last September thanks to a dramatic 11-10 victory over UL-Bohemian at Thomond Park.
A late penalty goal from the boot of out-half Alan Kingsley edged Munsters to victory at the start of a hugely successful season which also saw the Clifford Park side secure ODM Munster Senior Cup success as well as promotion to Division 1A of the league.
Young Munsters Charity Cup quarter-final tie with Nenagh Ormond is pencilled in for Tom Clifford Park on Friday, August 26.
AIL Division 2 side Thomond travel to Kilballyowen Park to face Bruff in the first of the quarter-final fixtures, provisionally scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 26.
Shannon, beaten by Young Munster at the semi-final stage of last season’s competition, make the trip across the city to face Old Crescent in the third of the quarter-finals on Friday, August 27.
Nine-time AIL winners Shannon will be anxious to make a winning start to the season having agonisingly missed out on securing a place in the AIL semi-final play-offs at the end of the regular season.
Opponents Old Crescent showed admirable grit to retain their AIL Division 2 status and the Rosbrien side will be determined to get off to a fast start in the early season competition. The last quarter-final takes place on Wednesday, September 1 when Garryowen host UL Bohs.
The semi-final draw pits the winners’ of the Young Munster/Nenagh Ormond game against the winners of the Garryowen/UL Bohs quarter-final clash.
In the second semi-final, the winners of the Old Crescent/Shannon last eight match take on the winners of the Bruff/Thomond clash.
The semi-finals are due to take place on the weekend of September 4 with the final scheduled to take place a week later.
Meanwhile two all-Limerick ties are among the highlights of the first round draw for the ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup.
Holders Young Munster have been drawn away to city rivals UL-Bohemian, while Bruff host Shannon at Kilballyowen on the weekend of September 25.
Elsewhere, Old Crescent will enjoy home advantage foe their first round clash with Cork’s Midleton while Garryowen travel to Leeside to take on last season’s beaten finalists.
Limerick’s remaining representatives in the cup, Thomond, also face a trip to Cork, this time to face Highfield.
The quarter-finals of the ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup take place on the weekend of November 6, while the semi-finals are due to be played two weeks later.
The final is scheduled to take place on December 19.

Colm Kinsella

Triumphant Na Piarsaigh face Kilmallock in semis

2010-08-16T10:10:00.001+01:00

CAHERDAVIN’S Na Pairsaigh have ended Adare’s dominance of the Limerick club hurling scene.
Amid great sunshine and celebrations in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday Na Piarsaigh ended Adare’s quest for four titles in-a-row with a 4-12 to 2-15 victory.
Three second half goals sent the champions crashing out.
But Na Piarsaigh had to save an injury-time penalty as the champions bidded to force a replay.

The quarter-final was a repeat of last year’s county final which Adare won by 17-points.
Na Piarsaigh are looking to add the senior crown to the under-21 premier title they have won already this season and that title was won with a final victory over their semi-final opponents Kilmallock.
Youngs guns Kevin Downes, Shane Dowling and Adrian Breen were among the Na Piarsaigh goalscorers and all three have already collected under-21 medals and Dr. Harty Cup medals with Ardscoil Ris in 2010.
Na Piarsaigh will be hoping that James O’Brien and Adrian Hennessy can see off injuries ahead of their last four contest.
The reward for Na Piarsaigh is a semi-final meeting with favourites Kilmallock. It will be a clash between former Clare senior hurling selectors with Tony Considine managing Kilmallock and Sean Stack coach to Na Piarsaigh.
The second semi-final will be between surprise packets Knockainey and south Limerick divisional side Emmets.
Emmets saw off the challenge of Murroe-Boher yesterday with a 2-23 to 3-13 win. Ten different players got on the scoresheet for Emmets who led by 12 points at one stage.
Aside from Kilmallock (who won it last in 1994) none of the other three have previously won the Daly Cup.
These semi-finals will be fixed by the Limerick GAA CCC this week for weekending September 12.
Elsewhere, after a busy weekend on the local championship front, many of the main championships have reached the semi-final stage.
In the newly-inaugurated County Cup the first round games were played over the weekend and in the semi-finals South Liberties will play Croom while Doon will play Bruff.
The senior hurling relegation battle is now down to four teams.
Claughaun will play Ahane and Garryspillane will play Bruree.
The two losing sides will then play off to determine who drops to the intermediate ranks in 2011.
Meanwhile the battle to see who is promoted from the intermediate championship is dominated by teams from the south division.
Ballybrown are the odd ones out and they play Hospital-Herbertstown in the semi-final. The other semi-final is a local derby between Dromin-Athlacca and Glenroe.
Players from Hospital-Herbertstown, Dromin-Athlacca and Glenroe dominate the Emmets senior team and only time will tell if this is a help or a hindrance since they are chasing glory on two fronts. The intermediate semi-finals will be played on the weekending of September 19.
The relegation battle in the intermdiate grade is down to two teams with Pallasgreen playing Tournafulla with the losing side dropping to the junior ranks next season.
Elsehwhere at the weekend the Limerick Ladies Footballers are within one game of returning to Croke Park on All-Ireland final day.
They booked their place in the semi-finals of the All-Ireland junior championship with a 2-17 to 1-3 win over Derry on Saturday evening.
Last September Limerick lost the final to Antrim but are now just 60-minutes away from another trip to Croker.
Next weekend attention switches to the senior and intermediate football championship with two rounds of action still to be played before the knock-out stages are confirmed.

JEROME O’CONNELL

Castletroy student claims silver at European Championship

2010-08-16T10:09:00.003+01:00

WEXFORD athlete Gráinne Murphy, who attends Castletroy College and trains in the University of Limerick, won a silver medal at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday.

The 17-year-old Irish swimming sensation knocked eight seconds off the Irish record in the 1500m freestyle final finishing second to Denmark’s Lottie Friis in a time of 16.02.29, cutting a further eight seconds off the Irish record set in the heats, the second fastest time in the world this year. Gráinne Murphy is the first Irish swimmer to win a medal at the European Championships since Michelle Smith de Bruin proved successful at the championship 13 years ago.
“I just kept focusing on my own race. I didn’t allow my head to wander into any of the others lanes to see what they were doing,” said a very relaxed Murphy after the race.
“I took a different approach to my race today as I did in the heats yesterday after discussing race tactics with my coach Ronald and it really paid off. It felt amazing to win a medal at this kind of meet and standing on the podium beside Lotte Friis just felt brilliant!”
Grainne Murphy’s training regime at Swim Ireland’s University of Limerick High Performance Centre is under the guidance of coach Ronald Claes and is supported by Swim Ireland and the Irish Sports Council.
On Friday Gráinne Murphy knocked an astonishing 18 seconds off her own Irish record in the heats of the demanding 1,500 metres freestyle event.
Gráinne’s time of 16.10.32 placed the 17-year-old Wexford girl as the fastest qualifier by two and a half seconds and raised Irish hopes of winning a precious medal.
Gráinne showed no ill effects from her swim in the 800 metre freestyle final on Thursday when she narrowly missed out on the bronze medal by just five-hundredths of a second. Gráinne finished her 16 lengths of the pool in a world-class time of 8.25.04, a time which rewrote the Irish record books and indeed lowered the Irish senior record by almost four seconds - an 11-second improvement that the young swimmer made to the record since she arrived in Budapest.
Gráinne began her week at the European Swimming Championships with a seventh place finish in the 400 metre individual medley on Monday.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Munster prepare to take on the Tigers

2010-08-16T10:09:00.001+01:00

THE Munster rugby squad is due to return home from their week-long warm weather training camp in La Manga tomorrow as preparations continue for Friday night’s pre-season friendly clash with the Leicester Tigers.
Since their arrival in Spain on Tuesday last the 44-strong squad have been getting in two pitch sessions each day plus one gym session in ideal conditions at a facility which Munster coach Tony McGahan has described as ‘top class’.
Each day of the seven day training camp has begun for the management with a 7.30am meeting, followed by breakfast and onto the pitch by 9.30am.
Later the players engage in a gym, an early evening pitch session as well as various organisational sessions. The day concludes for the players with swimming pool recovery at 6.30pm.
Munster’s field sessions have proved extremely popular with holidaymakers with large crowds turning up to watch them being put through their paces. The 1400-acre La Manga resort is located near Murcia in southern Spain, in a region known as the Costa Cálida, or ‘warm coast’, thanks to its mild, year-round Mediterranean climate.
The Munster squad is due to arrive home tomorrow (Tuesday) evening.
Munster face the Leicester Tigers in the first of two pre-season friendlies at Musgrave Park this Friday night at 7pm.
Munster also take on Gloucester in a second fixture at Musgrave Park seven days later.
Munster will play seven of their 11 home Magners League fixtures this season at Thomond Park
The 2009 Magners League winners Munster will face Italian newcomers Aironi at Musgrave Park in their opening fixture in the competition on Saturday, September 4 at 7.30pm.
Munster’s second home game in the League, a glamour tie with the reigning champions, the Ospreys on Saturday, September 18 will be staged at Thomond Park at 8pm.
Each of Munster’s three home fixtures against the remaining Irish provinces will, once again, be staged at Thomond Park.
These fixtures include the tie against Ulster on New Year’s Day, the eagerly-awaited meeting with arch rivals Leinster on April 1-3, 2011 and the final home game in the competition’s regular season when Connacht are the visitors on the weekend of May 6-8.
Munster will play four of their home Magners League fixtures next season in Musgrave Park.

COLM KINSELLA

Moves made to establish hurling board

2010-08-11T12:09:00.002+01:00

THE first official moves have taken place towards the setting up of a separate Hurling Board in Limerick GAA.
Last week representatives of the new break-away group met with the officers of the County Board for the first time.
A 16-man committee are behind the plans to establish the new Hurling Board - four representatives from clubs from each of the four divisions.
This group have met in recent weeks to formulate their ideas and then requested a meeting with the officers of the County Board.
Last week a delegation from the break-away group got their opportunity to put their case to the Limerick GAA hierarchy.
However, there was no mention of that meeting revealed to club delegates at this Tuesday night’s August monthly meeting of the County Board.
And, Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan declined to comment to Leader Sport about the meeting between the two parties.

The break-away group contains a number of high-profile figures within Limerick hurling - including past and present high-ranking officials, former inter-county hurlers and footballers and former members of inter-county management teams at varying levels from senior downwards.
The next moves of the County Board or the break-away group are unknown. However, if a Hurling Board is to be established a motion will need to be put before Annual Convention in December.
It is understood that the intentions of those behind the Hurling Board are to “run” all aspects of Limerick hurling - including fund-raising.
Surprisingly, there was no mention of either the recruitment process for the Limerick senior hurling manager or the Limerick senior football manager positions at this week’s County Board meeting.
There were plenty opportunities for club delegates to ask questions during the two-hour meeting in Claughaun, but nothing was asked in relation to the two on-going management searches.
It appears Mickey Ned O’Sullivan is in pole position to remain in possession of the football bainisteoir bib for a sixth season, but the hurling role is very much up in the air.
The three-man Independent Appointments Committee conducted interviews this week with some of those nominated by the clubs of Limerick.
However, there is a strong belief throughout the county that Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe could yet pin-point their own candidate.
Elsewhere, this week, John Kiely was ratified for another term as manager of the Limerick Hurling Development Squad (intermediate). Kiely will once again have three selectors- Leo O’Connor, Robert O’Dea and Richard Lanigan with Oliver Mann acting as liaison officer.
The role of under-21 hurling manager is now up for grabs.
As the two-year term of Leo O’Connor has ended, nominations are now open for a new manager. Club nominations should be sent to County Secretary Mike O’Riordan by August 27.
An appointments committee was selected at this week’s County Board meeting to interview those nominated. The five-man committee consists of Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan, Limerick GAA secretary Mike O’Riordan, Limerick GAA treasurer Owen Hayes, former Limerick hurler Shane O’Neill (Na Piarsaigh) and John R. Walsh (Doon).
It appears that there will be no necessity for an appointments committee to fill the minor hurling management. With Ger Hegarty’s term now ended the preferred choice is for the current under-17 management team to assume the role with the panel of players that they have coached in recent years.
Adare’s Shane Fitzgibbon is current under-17 manager and is assisted by Mike Galligan, Frankie Carroll, Joe Hannon and George Lee.

Jerome O’Connell

Willie Casey sets his sights on a European title shot

2010-08-09T10:17:00.002+01:00

LIMERICK pro-boxer Willie Casey has his sights set on a European title fight after he extended his record to ten wins from ten bouts.

The 28-year-old Southill man has moved up to number nine in the Euro rankings following Saturday’s win over Italian Emiliano Salvini in an eight round super bantamweight contest when he headlined a Dolphil Promotions event in Dublin’s CityWest Hotel Complex.
Now the married father of four wants a title shot against either Barnard Dunne’s conqueror Kiko Martinez or Arsen Martirosyan who clash for the vacant European title in Dublin’s National Stadium on September 11.
“I am going after which ever one wins between Martinez and Martirosyan.
“I want that European title now and they have no excuses. I’m ranked number nine in Europe so they can’t avoid me,” declared Casey after referee Emile Tiedt scored Casey a comfortable 80-72 winner.
“Will I beat either of them? It’s all on the performance on the night.
“If I fight like that ever time then no one if going to keep up with me,” said Casey.
Next up for Casey could be a September 18 contest in the Ulster Hall in Belfast.
A former Irish intermediate featherweight champion Casey is a former member of Our Lady of St. Saviour Boxing Club.
Casey’s opponents on Saturday had fought for the EBU bantamweight title last November and Saturday’s contest was regarded as a European title eliminator by Casey’s management of former Olympian and double European championship bronze medal winner Phil Sutcliffe and Don O’Leary.
As well as winning Sky TV’s Prizefighter Series in May, Casey has already fought three times in 2010.
“He was a very experienced guy and very tough, but that was exactly what I wanted,” said Willie Casey of Saturday’s Italian opponent.
“I wanted him to bring out the best in me. I could have rushed myself and tried to finish it, but I didn’t. I paced myself, relaxed myself and let the power and the shots come. I caught him with a lot of big bangs and he still survived. It was a great eight rounds - eight rounds for Kiko Martinez,” said a confident Casey.
“I did enough to win each round. I didn’t have to go all out with him. There were one of two occasions when I saw the finish and I still didn’t go after it because he was coming back with his own shots after he got caught so I had to be careful as well.
“I caught him with a few big bangs over the top, but I never followed up on the big shots. I just kept my pace and it was working for me. I didn’t need to work more,” Casey recalled of the fight.
Fresh from soaring to new heights in the boxing rankings Casey will set a world record next Saturday when he takes part in a novel fund-raising event when he participates in a most unusual boxing exhibition on top of Ireland’s highest peak Carrauntuohil in Kerry.
Casey is just one of the Irish sporting stars that are confirmed for the fund-raiser for Battens Disease - a rare neuro-degenerative fatal condition which affects babies and young children.
A boxing ring is to be airlifted to the summit via helicopter for the ‘Boxing for Battens’ event which hopes to raise funds for the treatment of Irish patients in the US.
Further information is available on www.beeforbattens.org and donations can be made via any AIB with account number 06040095 and sort code 93-63-24.
Meanwhile on the undercard in Dublin on Saturday night Limerick-based Galwegian Alan Donnellan won his second pro-fight.
Donnellan, who made his debut in May in the Yanjing Night Fight in the UL Arena, is coached by Ken Moore.
The LIT graduate in quantity surveying is a member of St. Francis Boxing Club and is coach to the LIT Boxing Society.
Donnellan was a convincing points winner over Lester Walsh of Scotland in a middleweight contest.

JEROME O’CONNELL

Determined Knockainey send Patrickswell packing

2010-08-09T10:16:00.000+01:00

EIGHTEEN times county senior hurling champions Patrickswell were sent packing from the 2010 championship yesterday by minnows Knockainey.
In the quarter-final of the Limerick’s Live 95FM sponsored county senior hurling championship Knockainey produced a thrilling 2-15 to 1-13 win over The ‘Well in a sun-drenched Gaelic Grounds.
In their ninth season since becoming a senior club Knockainey have now reached their second semi-final. Back in 2004 the All-Blacks also shocked Patrickswell who were then the defending county champions.
Knockainey now await the semi-final draw which will take place next Sunday evening after the second of the quarter-final double-bills in the Gaelic Grounds.
Next Sunday will also see a repeat of last year’s county final when Adare play Na Piarsaigh and in the curtain-raiser Murroe-Boher will play divisional side Emmets of south Limerick.
Yesterday Knockainey had two Patrick Kirby goals either side of half-time to thank for their shock result.
The Gary Kirby-managed Patrickswell were over-reliant on the free-taking of former Limerick goalkeeper Brian Murray.
The 2007 All-Star net-minder lined out at wing forward and contributed all bar four points of his side’s total.
Knockainey had heroes all over the field with Padraic Barron helping himself to four points and Liam O’Shea recording three of his own.
In the first game at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday Kilmallock were convincing 4-18 to 0-8 winners over Granagh-Ballingarry in a one-sided quarter-final.
Managed by former Clare senior hurling boss Tony Considine Kilmallock had match winners in the Mulcahy brothers, Graeme and Jake. Between them the corner forwards contributed 4-6 of the winner’s final tally.
Meanwhile in round three of the county senior football championship Monaleen won the bragging rights in their city derby against Claughaun.
In a low-scoring contest a late fisted goal from sub John Paul Strokes edged Monaleen to a 2-3 to 1-4 win.
The Castletroy side had led 1-1 to 0-3 at half-time when Eoin Keating goaled from a penalty.
Jamie Richardson had Claughaun ahead when he converted from the penalty spot in the second half, but Stokes’ goal sealed the win for Monaleen.
Elsewhere there was no giant-killing victory for St. Patrick’s when they faced back-to-back champions Dromcolllogher-Broadford.
Two goals from Limerick senior football captain Seanie Buckley went the champions on their way to a 3-14 to 1-12 win against a St. Pat’s side that are in their first season back in the top flight of Limerick club football.
Adare remain on course for a unique double. Next Sunday they play in the hurling quarter-final and are now on track for a place in the football knockout stages after their 1-11 to 0-10 over Ballylanders.
With two rounds of the group stages to be played last season’s beaten finalists Fr. Casey’s remain on track for a place in the knock-out stages following a 0-16 to 0-7 win over Pallasgreen.
Another team on track for the quarter-finals are St. Senan’s who were 1-14 to 1-9 winners over Newcastle West last evening in Askeaton.
The winners had six points from county star Ian Ryan in their second half performance after the sides were dead-locked at the interval.
Also last evening there was a shock in Newcastle West when Limerick midfielder Jim O’Donovan scored two goals to guide St. Kieran’s to a 2-8 to 0-13 win over last season’s semi-finalists Ballysteen.

JEROME O’CONNELL

Galvin urges Mickey Ned to stick with the Shannonsiders

2010-08-04T12:59:00.001+01:00

LIMERICK football supremo John Galvin has urged Mickey Ned O’Sullivan to continue at the helm for another term.

The towering midfielder has confirmed that he won’t be retiring from the inter-county scene and urged manager Mickey Ned and coach Donie Buckley to remain in charge of the Shannonsiders.
This Wednesday night the August monthly meeting of the Limerick Football Committee was to take place in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare and the position of Limerick senior football manager was to be discussed, but without making any final decision.
“I am going to give it one more lash,” confirmed John Galvin who made his Limerick senior football debut in 1999.
“I hope we are all back again the same next year.
“I know that no decision is made yet and the County Board are probably waiting for Mickey Ned and Donie to decide on their future first,” said the Croom man.
The debate surrounding the future of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan as Limerick senior football manager was opened after the heartbreaking end to the 2010 season against Cork in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
O’Sullivan and his management team had their term extended by one further season last autumn and that term has now expired.
Kerry’s 1975 All-Ireland winning captain is one of the longest serving inter-county football managers along with Mickey Harte in Tyrone and Monaghan’s Seamus McEnaney whose future is also in the balance after their qualifier loss to Kildare.
O’Sullivan was appointed Limerick manager in succession to Liam Kearns in the aftermath of the 2005 inter-county season.
“We have a management team involving about 11 people and it’s going to be a collective decision,” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan this week.
“Our term is up and it’s up to the County Board as to whoever they appoint. We have to discuss within ourselves whether we are going forward and we also want to talk to the players and the County Board.”
He added: “At the moment it’s all up in the air.
“The graph is still on the way up with this Limerick team,” John Galvin.
O’Sullivan paid tribute to John Galvin and said that his decision not to retire was key.
“Going forward John is vital for this young Limerick team because he is the spiritual leader both on and off the field and he is a vital cog,” said the manager who has served five years at the helm.

Jerome O’Connell

Allen and Tuohy withdraw their names from the race to become Limerick hurling manager

2010-08-04T12:58:00.001+01:00

THE new Limerick senior hurling manager will not be ratified at next Tuesday’s August monthly meeting of the County Board.

It is understood that the three-man Independent Appointments Committee are to commence interviews in the coming days, but it is not known how many candidates they have selected to meet in-person.
However, a nomination will not be ready to be put before the club delegates next Tuesday night when they gather in Claughaun GAA clubhouse.
A special County Board meeting could be called in the coming weeks to ratify the selected candidate as after Tuesday the next scheduled County Board meeting is September 14 - after the semi-finals of the county senior hurling championship and the new county cup.
While nine nominees were identified by the GAA clubs of Limerick two won’t be going forward for interview. Both John Allen and John Tuohy have withdrawn their names from the race
“I am not letting my name go forward,” Cork’s 2005 All-Ireland winning manager John Allen told Leader Sport as he ruled himself out of the running to become the new Limerick senior hurling manager.
“I was contacted by the Feohanagh club,” he confirmed.
“I was just told that my name was going forward, but that is very distinct from asking me if I was interested,” explained John Allen.
Allen was one of nine candidates that was initially submitted.
Limerick GAA clubs were asked to check the intentions of their nominees in advance, but it is not known if all clubs corresponded with their preference for manager in advance of submitting their names to County Secretary Mike O’Riordan.
However, the three-man Independent Appointments Committee, tasked with finding a Limerick hurling manager for 2011 could yet ignore all nominees submitted by Limerick GAA clubs.
It is within the remit of the committee to pinpoint their own candidate and it is understood that they have identified a number of potential managers some with previous All-Ireland winning experience. The names of both Donal O’Grady of Cork and Anthony Daly of Clare are two of the more prominent ‘outside’ names that are top of the rumour mill.
While the names of all nominees have been passed to the Independent Appointments Committee, they do not have to interview all those suggested by the clubs. When the committee was announced it was confirmed that Damien Quigley (Na Piarsaigh), Paudie Fitzmaurice (Killeedy) and current CEO of Dairygold Co-op Jim Woulfe were not restricted to names nominated by clubs.
Of the seven nominees that remain former manager Dave Keane and former coach Gary Kirby appear top of the list, unless the Independent Appointments Committee decide it best to extend Justin McCarthy’s tenure. Both Ciaran Carey and Leo O’Connor only have limited experience as Limerick under-21 managers and brief club management roles. Val Murnane also has limited management experience and is more noted as a coach while TJ Ryan is new to the management game after his retirement from his native Garryspillane.
The Independent Appointments Committee are looking to make a nomination for the position of Limerick senior hurling manager and their choice will then need to be ratified by a full County Board meeting.
It is understood that the new manager is to be offered a two or three-year term with an annual review.
The manager would appoint his coach, trainer and selectors in consultation with the Independent Appointments Committee.
It is understood that the Independent Appointments Committee have canvassed the opinions of both the 2009 and 2010 Limerick senior hurling panels when they met with the two panels, separately, in The Charleville Park Hotel last week.
While any reference to the senior management position is not expected at next Tuesday’s County Board meeting in Claughaun, the agenda includes a discussion on the 2010 county intermediate, under-21 and minor managements. The three out-going managers are John Kiely, Leo O’Connor and Ger Hegarty.

Jerome O’Connell

Andy Lee stretches unbeaten run to seven fights

2010-08-03T09:15:00.001+01:00

ANDY Lee has stretched his unbeaten run to seven fights.
The Limerick 26-year-old recorded his 22nd professional boxing win over the weekend in the Buffalo Run Casino in Oklahoma.

The fifth round knockout of James Cook was Lee’s seventh straight win since his only career defeat in March 2008 when he surprisingly lost to Brian Vera. The win over 32-year-old James Cook of Missouri was the Castleconnell man’s fourth knockout win out of his last seven. Middleweight, Lee knocked out Cook in the fifth round of their fight which was a comfortable evening against his completely outclassed opponent.
It was Lee’s bodywork that did the damage and a hard left hook to the body in the fifth round brought a premature end to proceedings.
The former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian had put Cook down in the fourth round (also with a left hook to the body) though the referee ruled it a low blow.
Lee was on the non-televised undercard of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights series, but the network did show brief highlights of the bout.
Lee is now set to join manager Emanuel Steward and Wladimir Klitschko at the heavyweight champion’s training camp in Austria, though there is an outside chance he will remain stateside if a possible fight in Chicago goes ahead for the Detroit-based southpaw.
The Limerick middleweight had been out of action since his win over Mamadou Thiam in the UL Sports Arena in May.
Meanwhile, 28-year-old Willie Casey steps into the ring for his tenth pro fight in the CityWest Hotel in Dublin this Saturday.
Dolphil Promotions have confirmed that Prizefighter Champion Casey will fight Italian Emiliano Salvini.
“I’m feeling in great shape for this one, in three weeks time there will be no stopping ‘Big Bang’. This is the test I’ve been waiting for and I’m ready for the step up.
“World titles are what I want so we want to pick up the pace now and start mixing it up with the ranked lads,” said Willie Casey.

Jerome O’Connell

McDowell delighted to take part in JP McManus Pro-Am

2010-07-05T10:09:00.003+01:00

THE US Open champion Graeme McDowell revealed his delight earlier today at returning to competitive golf in an ‘amazing event’ like the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort.
Moments before his 8am tee time McDowell told Leader Sport that the game’s biggest stars looked forward to taking part in the 36-hole Pro-Am which is played at a ‘great venue’.

McDowell was making his comeback to tournament play for the first time since landing the US Open in spectacular fashion at Pebble Beach Golf Club last month.
Fourteen Major champions and 13 of the world’s top 16 ranked players, including world number one Tiger Woods, are competing in the fifth JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am.
Thousands of golf fans ringed the fairways at the magnificent Pro-Am venue from early morning to catch a glimpse of golf’s biggest names showcase their talents.
The pros were joined by a host of celebrity stars who are playing in a team competition.
“It is great to be back in the golf environment. It’s my first time to play in competition since the US Open,” Graeme McDowell told Leader Sport.
“It is great to catch up with everyone, my colleagues, my peers, my friends. Meeting them again probably makes the US Open win sink in a little more.
“I love the golf course here in Adare. It’s fantastic. JP (McManus) puts an amazing event on here every five years. We love to come down here. Obviously we get a great reception from the fans and the crowd. It is a great golf course and a great venue.
“I am facing into a very busy six weeks. I play in the Scottish Open later this week and then it’s on the British Open at St. Andrew’s. I am playing five of the next six weeks. I am looking forward to getting the business head screwed back on.
“Everyone loves coming down here. It’s very relaxed. It is very difficult to come back down from the high of Pebble Beach, but you have to re-set and get ready to go again. These two days in Adare are part of the process. I feel like I am playing the best golf of my life and I just have got to get going again.”
McDowell, whose playing partners included JP McManus’ son Kieran, made the perfect start to his round when recording a birdie three at his opening hole, the 444 yard Par 4 first.
Thirty-year-old McDowell was one of a number of top Irish professionals who attracted a large gallery earlier today. Rory McIlroy and Paul McGinley also wowed the fans with some top class play.
The highlight of the day for many golf fans was reserved for lunch time when world number one Tiger Woods began his bid to win a second JP McManus Invitational Pro Am. Woods, one of a number of US-based players who jetted in overnight from the AT&T National in Philadelphia, won the Pro-Am in 2000.
The world’s top golfer will play his second round at 8am tomorrow when he tees off from the first tee in a four-ball which includes horse racing stars Tony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald.
Pro-Am host, JP McManus said he was delighted that the event provided a unique opportunity for golfing enthusiasts in Ireland and abroad to see the world’s greatest golfers compete in an intimate, friendly and challenging environment.
McManus added: “The other significant aspect of our tournament is that is primarily a fundraising event and all the monies generated go in their entirety to the nominated charities in the Mid West.”

COLM KINSELLA

Footballers target a place in All-Ireland quarter-finals

2010-07-05T10:09:00.001+01:00

THE Limerick senior footballers are now targeting a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Amid the devastation of yesterday’s Munster final loss to Kerry star midfielder John Galvin rallied his colleagues to lift their spirit for the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Limerick will be back in action on Saturday, July 24 and will have to wait for two weeks to find out who their opponents will be.
The list of potential opponents reads: Dublin, Armagh, Cork, Galway, Mayo, Down, Fermanagh, Derry, Cavan, Kildare, Wexford, Leitrim, Tipperary, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. That list of 16 will face two rounds of action before Limerick enter the equation.
“Right now it’s hard to be positive to tell you the truth,” said John Galvin, who was selected as Man of the Match for the Munster final despite Limerick’s loss to Kerry.
“I know that we are down to the last 12 in the country now and I just hope that we have learned from last year.
“We never lifted ourselves last year after the Cork game and I just hope that we learned from last year and hopefully we can pick it up,” said Galvin who finished with 1-2 in a heroic performance.
“We saw what Meath did last year after they beat us. We just have to pick ourselves up and see that we still have a huge chance of getting to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.”
John Galvin had played for Limerick since 1999 and yesterday was the fourth time that he has narrowly failed in a provincial SFC decider.
“They are all very hard to take - when you set a goal for yourself for so long and each year it is so hard to come back. It’s heartbreaking. I’m just gutted. This is absolutely gut-wrenching,” said the towering Croom midfielder.
“It’s utterly disappointing again. It’s another Munster final that I think we didn’t throw away, but one we could have won. We made an awful lot of mistakes in the first half - we gave ball away and we kicked wides. I think we should have been up another five or six points with the amount of ball we had in the first half. They went and scored 1-7 without reply in the second half and it’s very hard to win a game when a team does that. When we brought it back level I thought we were going to take it - whoever got the next score, but unfortunately they got it and then tacked on a bit at the end.”
As the wait for a Munster title stretches into the 115th year Limerick are left to rue 13 wides in a game that they dominated for long periods.
Supporters will also question what might have been if Tomas O’Se had been dismissed in the first half for any one of three different altercations with Stephen Kelly.
In the dying seconds there were calls for a Limerick penalty, but Galvin accepted that it wasn’t clear-cut.
“To tell you the truth it was 50-50,” John Galvin said.
He explained: “I caught a ball in the square and there was five or six of them around me and there was slapping, pulling and dragging. If the referee wanted to call it he could have and I would say no one would have said anything, but he didn’t call it. Maybe if it was the other end, he would have called it!”
Attention now turns to tomorrow night’s Munster junior football championship final when it’s Limerick versus Kerry once more.
Limerick are bidding for a fifth-ever provincial title at this grade and a first since 1950. Indeed, it is Limerick’s first final appearance in 47 years. The final takes place in Newcastle West at 7.30pm this Tuesday evening.
The Limerick team shows two changes from the team that defeated Waterford in the semi-final - David Finnerty comes in for the injured Darragh Woods and Robert Browne comes in for Liam Costelloe.
Limerick junior team: Paudie Ivess (Kilcornan); David Finnerty (St. Senan’s), Kevin O’Connor (captain, Fr. Casey’s), Eddie Mulcahy (Pallasgreen); Edmond O’Donnell (Castletown-Ballyagran), Brendan Teahan (St. Patrick’s), Eoin Barry (Dromcollogher-Broadford); Edmond Horan (Glin), Michael Behan (St. Senan’s); Robert Browne (Fr. Casey’s), Thomas Collins (Fr. Casey’s), Derry McCarthy (Dromcollogher-Broadford); John O’Connell (Pallasgreen), Thomas Butler (Castlemahon), Ray Lynch (Dromcollogher-Broadford).
Subs: Conor Wallace (Hosptial-Herbertstown), Timothy Begley (Mountcollins), Eoin Fitzgibbon (Oola), Liam Costelloe (Adare), Seamus Mulcahy (Pallasgreen), Wayne Enright (St. Senan’s), Michael Galvin (Fr. Casey’s), Mike Lyons (Adare) & Gary Egan (Dromcollogher-Broadford).
Elsewhere, All-Ireland honours were returned to Limerick on the double yesterday when both Monaleen and Monagea were victorious in the Peil na nOg finals in Derry.
In the All-Ireland under-14 club football championships Monaleen defeated Donegal side St. Eunan’s 1-9 to 2-4 to claim the Division Three title.
In Ladies Football Monagea were 1-4 to 1-1 winners over Dublin’s St Laurence O’Tooles in the Division Two decider.

JEROME O’CONNELL

Limerick to face Offaly

2010-06-28T10:46:00.003+01:00

JUSTIN McCarthy’s Limerick senior hurlers were this Monday morning drawn to face Offaly in the All-Ireland Qualifiers.
Limerick will have to travel to Tullamore for the tie which is likely to take place on Saturday, July 10.

McCarthy and his management team will be looking to lift morale after last week’s 13-point loss to Cork.
Offaly found themselves in the qualifiers after Saturday’s replay defeat to Galway. Joe Dooley’s men surprised many when almost shocking Galway in the Leinster semi-final two weeks ago in Croke Park.
Elsewhere in the draw it will be a meeting of former Clare team-mates when Anthony Daly’s Dublin host Ger O’Loughlin’s Clare.
If Limerick progress past Offaly they could line-up a clash with the winner from Tipperary and Wexford or the winner from the Carlow and Antrim qualifier games.
Limerick’s Saturday, July 10 clash in the midlands will be the first championship meeting of the sides since July 12, 2008 in the Gaelic Grounds.
The Faithful County were ten-point winners on that most disappointing occasion which ended the term of Richie Bennis as Limerick manager.
Offaly’s Joe Bergin hit a hat-trick of goals as they were 3-19 to 0-18 winners on an evening that saw Limerick booed from the field by the home support.
This season they sides met in the National Hurling League.
The round five tie took place in O’Connor Park in Tullamore and in what was Limerick’s best performance of the campaign, Offaly emerged 2-17 to 3-13 winners. Richie McKeogh scored two goals in that defeat and is among those carrying injuries and in danger of missing the qualifier. Limerick will also be planning without Paudie McNamara. The wing-forward and free-taker departs for Australia this week.
Also on the doubtful list are Sean O’Riordan (hamstring), Richie McKeogh (ankle), Andrew Brennan (foot) and Na Pairsaigh’s David Lynch who failed to line out for his club in their weekend defeat to Patrickswell.
Elsewhere in the Limerick club championships Kilmallock beat Doon and Bruff defeated Claughaun.
After the weekend’s action the countdown now begins in earnest to next Sunday’s Munster senior football championship final between Limerick and Kerry. As Limerick bid to end a wait stretching back to 1896 the Munster Council have confirmed that the final in Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney will have a 2pm start. The curtin-raiser will be the minor final between Cork and Kerry, which has a 11.45am start.
Ahead of the Munster final Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan is hoping that his side can go one better than last season when they almost defeated Cork in the provincial decider.
“Last year it was a big occasion to be in the final, but this year it’s an opportunity. There’s a difference. It’s an opportunity to perform. The same hype isn’t there. The lads are more mature, a year down the line and they’re better equipped than last year,” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
“The last two years we were aspiring for respect, but respect doesn’t boil the pot. At this stage we have to go a step further. You don’t get things in football because you deserve them, you get them because you take them. So, I think the lads are ready to take the next step now,” said the Kerry man.
“It’s good for Limerick football to be exposed to the Munster final again because there will be a lot of young Limerick lads watching it and they’ll be aspiring to play in the future so it’s good. It sows the seeds of future success,” O’Sullivan said.
“These lads are as professional a group of players as I’ve come across.
“They’re focused, they believe in themselves and they know that luck or anybody else isn’t going to win it for them. They’ve got to go out and do it for themselves. They know they’ve got to perform.”
Tickets for the final are available to purchase from the Gaelic Grounds from 9.30am to 5pm. Tickets for the stand cost €35, sideline €30, terrace €20, juvenile (family) €5 and juvenile (terrace) €3.
In a new initiative, tickets are also available to purchase from the Munster Ticket Van.
Today the van will visit a number of Centra and SuperValu stores throughout Limerick - Reidy’s Centra, Foynes (12 noon to 1pm), Dooly’s SuperValu, Newcastle West (2.30pm to 3pm), Garvey’s SuperValu, Newcastle West (3.15pm to 3.45pm), Ballylanders (4.30pm to 5.30pm) and The Crossroads, Pallasgreen (6-7pm).

JEROME O’CONNELL

Cregan makes hockey history

2010-06-28T10:46:00.001+01:00

Eimear Cregan has succeeded Rachael Kohler to become the most capped Irish international hockey player of all time.
Prior to last weekend’s Four Nations tournament in Germany the 28-year-old Castletroy woman needed just one more international appearance to equal Kohler’s record of 166 caps.
Eimear Cregan did so on Friday when Ireland lost 0-4 to Australia in Essen, Germany. Ireland took on the host nation, Germany, on Saturday, but lost 1-3 to the world number four ranked side.
On Sunday afternoon Eimear Cregan played for Ireland against India and won her 167th cap making the Limerick woman the most-capped Irish hockey player of all time - Ireland lost 0-6 to India.
Cregan, who is a niece of Limerick’s 1973 All-Ireland hurling winner Eamonn Cregan, made her international senior debut at the age of 19 in 2001 against Wales.
The Catholic Institute club player had amassed 50 caps by 2004 and reached the landmark 100 caps in 2007.
In the spring of 2008 Cregan was elevated to the role of Irish captain after the retirement of Linda Caulfield.
Among the highlights from her career thus far were a hat-trick against Korea in 2005 and an outstanding performance at the 2002 World Cup.
Meanwhile the make-up of an all-new Ireland under-17 girls team - which will compete at the World Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August - was confirmed over the weekend.
The Ireland under-16 and under-18 coaches, Una McCarthy and Richie Malone respectively, will assist Irish hockey’s high performance director David Passmore in the management of the side.
Catholic Institute duo Rebecca Barry and Roisin Upton and Cork Harlequins’ star Antonia McGrath will fly the flag for Munster.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Munster begin preparations for new season

2010-06-28T10:45:00.000+01:00

IRELAND might have had completed their international season just 48 hours ago, but several members of the Munster rugby squad have begun their preparations for 2010-11.
The Munster players not involved in Irish and under-20s squads assembled in Limerick earlier today to under-go fitness tests. The players are due to train in their respective centres during the week as they finish with a full squad session in Cork this Friday.
The next four weeks will see the players take part in intensive strength and conditioning sessions under the watchful eye of Paul Darbyshire and his strength and conditioning department.
Returning South African prop Wian Du Preez was due to re-join the squad today while newly-arrived New Zealand centre Sam Tuitupou was set to meet his Munster colleagues for the first time.
The senior Irish internationals - who have just returned home from their end-of-season tour to New Zealand and Australia - are due to return to action in four weeks’ time on Monday, July 26. The squad will then head for the La Manga Club in Spain on Tuesda, August 10 for a week-long pre-season training camp.
On their return Munster have organised two high-profile pre-season friendlies against top-ranking Guinness Premiership opposition.
Munster will take on the Leicester Tigers on August 20 and Gloucester seven days later at Musgrave Park.
Tickets are now available for both pre-season fixtures - both games kick-off at 7pm.
Tickets are priced at €25 for the West Stand, €20 for uncovered seating and €15 for adult terrace tickets.
Junior (under-16) Terrace tickets can be bought for €5 while a Family Pack Terrace (two adults and two juniors) is also available for purchase at just €35.
Match tickets can be bought from the Munster Rugby website, from the Ticketmaster hotline on 0818 719 300 or from the ticket office at Thomond Park.
Meanwhile the Irish international side suffered a 22-15 defeat to Australia in the final game of their summer tour at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The game saw Munster hooker Damien Varley earn his first full international cap when introduced as a second half replacement for Sean Cronin.
Irish team captain Brian O’Driscoll said many of the Irish players were ‘on a learning curve’ during the course of their three-match tour to New Zealand and Australia.
“We had a number of players earning their first caps and it was all good experience - they will take a lot out of it,” Brian O’Driscoll said.
“We haven’t managed any victories on this tour and of course that is what you are judged on.
“We wanted to put a bit of pride back into our defensive game as we let ourselves down against New Zealand.
“Although we had a couple of lapses against Australia, we were fairly solid,” he said.

COLM KINSELLA

Adare primed for the visit of the golfing world’s elite

2010-06-23T13:01:00.003+01:00

SEVERAL of the world’s top golfers, including Tiger Woods, will travel through the night from the AT&T National Championships in the USA in order to make their opening day tee times at the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am hosted by the Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort.

World number one Tiger Woods is set to defend his AT&T National title at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia over the four days leading up to the JP McManus Pro-Am which takes place on July 5-6.
With that $6.2 million AT&T National tournament set to finish up late on Sunday night (July 4) Irish time, the US golfers face a quick dash to the airport and an overnight flight across the Atlantic in order to make their tee times in Adare.
Thirty-five-year-old Tiger Woods will spend just two days in Ireland before returning back home following his second round in the Pro-Am.
Other top US professionals who are set to compete in both Philadelphia and Adare include Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Jerry Kelly and Rickie Fowler.
Thirteen of the World’s current top-16 ranked players have confirmed they will play in next month’s JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am.
They include new US Open champion Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Robert Allenby, Pádraig Harrington (2005 champion) and Camilo Villegas.
Speaking at the launch of a mobile phone app for the up-coming JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort this Tuesday afternoon JP McManus revealed that attracting the players to participate in the 36-hole event had not proved difficult.
“I am very much looking forward to the event. So far so good, we are on track. We are getting a lot of support from everybody and that is very encouraging,” JP McManus said.
“We have more people volunteering to work this year. It seemed to be easier to get the players. It was an easier sell in a lot of ways.
“I have had a relationship with a lot of the players for quite a long time now. With a lot in the early days I probably worked on the wives and tried to encourage the wives to come. The wives got the husbands to come. If the wives had a good time they would tell the other wives and then they all want to come.
“We have more applications that we can cater for. We try to have a strong a field as we can. We have a good bunch of guys. They want to help. They see what we are doing.
“There are no deductions from what is collected. I think that is encouraging for a lot of people. They feel they are playing a part in something good and positive.”
JP McManus also revealed that the Pro-Am would be the first event that the newly-crowned US Open champion Graeme McDowell would play in following his dramatic success at Pebble Beach on Sunday last.
“The Pro-Am will be the first tournament Graeme McDowell is going to play in since winning the US Open.
“We are excited about that,” JP McManus enthused.
“But you look at the leader board in Pebble Beach at the US Open, you had the likes of Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Dustin Johnson who were in contention and they are coming over to play in Adare.”
The two-day entrance cap for the 36-hole JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am can be purchased by choosing from eight different coloured caps representing Ireland, Munster Rugby and each of the six Munster counties.
At a cost of €50 each entrance caps can be purchased from the website on www.jpmcmanusproam.com until Tuesday, June 29 next or at selected retail outlets.
JP McManus said: “The encouraging part is that the numbers of entrance caps sold continues to increase day by day. We have less than 3,500 left to sell. You would be surprised how quickly they tend to go. The cut-off point to buy them on-line from the website is Tuesday next.
“The price is €50 for two days. We put it at a price we thought would be affordable. You have ten hours entertainment and your money goes in its entirety to the charity.”
Thirteen of the world’s current top-16 ranked players have confirmed they will play in next month’s event.
Joining the man-of-the-moment Graeme McDowell in the star-studded line-up will be world number one Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Ian Poulter, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Robert Allenby, Pádraig Harrington (2005 JP McManus Pro-Am winner) and Camilo Villegas. These players will be joined by a list of celebrities including film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Douglas, Hugh Grant, Kyle MacLachlan and pop stars Westlife.
More than 8,200 club golfers tried their hand at qualifying to play alongside one of the world’s top golfers in the team event at the JP McManus Pro-Am.
Eight teams qualified to play in the two-day Pro-Am from the 91 which participated in the recent Grand Qualifier held at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort.
The mobile phone app launched jointly by JP McManus and Munster and Ireland rugby star Paul O’Connell on Tuesday will allow users to download the JP McManus Pro Am website www.jpmcmanusproam.com live onto their phone.
There they will receive the most up to date information on players and celebrities attending the Pro-Am as well as live scores at the event.
The mobile phone ap can be accessed from Samsung, iphones and Android handsets.
Members of the public can purchase Pro-Am entrance caps at Gleeson Sports, William St, Limerick; Limerick Sports Store, William St, Limerick; Anthony Daly Sports, Ennis; Hennebry Sports, Tralee; Limerick Golf Club, Ballyclough; Ela Maria, Newcastle west; Adare Hotel & Golf Resort, Adare and Cummins Sport, Cork.

Colm Kinsella