Lucey primed for a return to action

STEPHEN Lucey could be back in the Limerick colours by the end of the month.
Lucey was one of the high-profile hurlers deemed surplus to requirements by Justin McCarthy, but the Croom man remains central to the plans of Limerick football manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
Lucey suffered a serious tear of his hamstring late last August when playing for his club, Croom, in the county senior hurling championship against Granagh-Ballingarry.
At the time it was expected that Lucey will be sidelined for at least six months however he is now on course to return for the start of the National Football League.
“He had a serious tear of his hamstring, but we are expecting him back by the end of the month,” confirmed Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
“Stephen knows how to care for himself because of his medical background,” explained the Limerick senior football manager.
Limerick open their league campaign with a trip to Ruislip to face London on February 7 and six days later (February 13) Limerick will host Carlow under lights at the Gaelic Grounds.
Last season Stephen Lucey and his club-mate Mark O’Riordan played both inter-county hurling and football with Limerick, however both were among the hurlers culled by Justin McCarthy for 2010.
In the aftermath of the wholesale hurling panel changes, 12 players withdrew in protest and one of those, James Ryan has now joined Lucey and O’Riordan on the football panel.
Ryan is named at centre-forward for this Thursday night’s (7.30pm) McGrath Cup game against Waterford IT. Due to the poor weather conditions, it appears unlikely that the game will take place in the Gaelic Grounds and the Staker Wallace club facilities in Kilbreedy, Martinstown are on stand-by.
Barring the injured Lucey and Thomas Cahill, Limerick will be pretty much at full-strength against WIT.
Others not involved in the match-panel are Ger Collins, Cormac Joyce-Power and Eoin Hogan - who are all committed to varying third level colleges for the McGrath Cup.
Although only six of Thursday’s selected team started against Meath in the All-Ireland aualifiers last August, it is still a vastly-experienced Limerick side.
Ballysteen’s Conor Ranahan, Fr. Caseys’ Eoin Joy and St. Patricks’ John Mullane are all handed their first starts at senior level.
It could be a busy 72 hours for Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s Limerick side.
If Limerick overcome the Waterford students, they will play Cork IT on Sunday (2.30pm) in the competition’s quarter-final in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock.
Were Limerick to advance further in the competition, their semi-final opponents would be Clare or UCC.
This Thursday night Waterford IT will have three Limerick club players involved in their panel - Jimmy Barry-Murphy & Shane Fox of Ballylanders and Richie McCarthy of Blackrock.
Limerick have won the McGrath Cup on five occasions (2005, 2004, 2001, 1987 and 1985) since the competition was inaugurated in 1981, but have not captured the early season provincial competition since the arrival of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
This season management appear to be placing added emphasis on the McGrath Cup.
The capture of silverware, regardless of its value, would provide an ideal boost of confidence for a side that is becoming the nearly team of the championship.
Promotion from division four is a must for the panel and a run of competitive games would be the preferred preparation for the NFL. Twelve months ago Limerick were shocked by UL in round one of the McGrath Cup and were subsequently slow to find their form in the National Football League and ended up being relegated to division four.

Jerome O’Connell

Muiris Gavin returns to inter-county fold

FORMER limerick senior football captain Muiris Gavin is back in inter-county football.
The Monaleen attacker retired from inter-county football after the 2006 season, but has now decided to try his hand with the county junior side this season.
Gavin is named at full-forward on the Limerick junior team to play Tipperary in the Munster championship on Sunday in Thurles (1pm).
The 32-year-old captained Limerick to the Munster senior football final and the National Football League Division Two final in 2003.
Also that season Gavin was nominated for an All-Star and was named provincial footballer of the year by the Munster Council.
Gavin played at minor and under-21 level with Limerick before making his senior debut in the 1994 championship against Kerry - he played 12 years at senior level with Limerick.
Gavin’s medal cabinet holds three McGrath Cup medals, two county senior football championship medals and one county intermediate hurling medal.
Limerick’s junior team is managed by John Ryan and along with Gavin, a number of other ex-seniors are included - Jason O’Brien and Mike Jones.
The Limerick junior team was named last night after a challenge game against Kerry.
Meanwhile the Limerick senior football team for Sunday’s Munster championship clash with Tipperary will be named after training this evening.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan and selectors will give fitness tests to defensive colleagues Shane Gallagher and Pa Ranahan before finalising their plans.
Gallagher is suffering with a shoulder complaint and was unable to line out in the team’s final challenge game against Roscommon last Thursday night.
Limerick will be without Stephen Kelly, who suffered a broken bone in his hand while assisting Shannon RFC in rugby’s All-Ireland league final 10 days ago.
For the first championship since 2005 Limerick will have the assistance of dual players Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan.
“We have a few niggling injuries as always, but we would be hopeful that everyone will make it - except, of course, for Stephen (Kelly),” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
Limerick and Tipperary had very different league campaigns - Limerick were relegated from Division Three while Tipperary were crowned champions.
Still the bookies have marked up Limerick as 10/11 favourites with John Evans’ side available at 11/10.
Ahead of Sunday the Munster Council have unveiled a new cost-saving ticket package. By purchasing a ticket package supporters will receive a €10 discount on the admission price.
The package will be available for a charge of €40 and entitle the holder to entry to the football game on May 24 and to the Limerick versus Waterford Munster senior hurling championship semi-final on June 14.

Limerick junior team: Mike Jones; David Finnerty, Ronan Kirby, Eddie Mulcahy; Stephen Fox, Ray Hayes (capt), Jason O’Brien; Mike McMahon, John O’Connell; Derry McCarthy, Pat Donnelly, Trevor Cosgrave; Michael Quilligan, Muiris Gavin, Pa Mullins.

Jerome O'Connell

Kelly ruled out of Tipp clash

SPEEDY attacker Stephen Kelly has been ruled out of Limerick’s Munster senior football championship quarter-final against Tipperary on Sunday week.
The Newcastle West man underwent an operation this Wednesday to have a pin inserted in his hand after he sustained a broken bone while playing for Shannon in rugby’s All-Ireland League final last Saturday in Thomond Park.
The sporting all-rounder sustained the injury to his right hand towards the end of the second half in the win over Clontarf.


Kelly was due to play with his native Newcastle West within hours of the rugby final, but the hand injury prevented him from lining out with the Magpies in the Limerick’s Live 95FM sponsored county senior football championship win over Claughaun.
Limerick senior football manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan has confirmed that Kelly will miss the May 24 clash with John Evan’s league champions in Semple Stadium Thurles: “We won’t know until after the operation how long exactly he will be out for, but Stephen will certainly miss the Tipperary game.”
Kelly missed last week’s challenge game against Wexford, but was expected to be in contention for a starting berth at wing-forward.
Adding to the concerns of Mickey Ned and selectors; Joe Redington and Paddy Ivess are injuries to Ballysteen defensive pair Shane Gallagher and Pa Ranahan.
Ranahan is suffering with a hamstring strain and was unable to play for his club in last weekend’s championship win over Adare. Gallagher did play in that game, but sustained a shoulder injury.
Both are set to receive treatment for the next week in the hope that they will be available for selection when Limerick announce their team after training on Tuesday night next.
“We have a few niggling injuries as always, but we would be hopeful that everyone will make it - except of course for Stephen,” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
Limerick and Tipperary had very different league campaigns - Limerick were relegated from Division Three while Tipperary were crowned champions.
Still the bookies have marked up Limerick as 10/11 favourites with John Evans’ side available at 11/10.
Ahead of the Tipperary game on Sunday week, which has a 3.30pm start, the Munster Council have unveiled a new cost-saving ticket package. By purchasing a ticket package, supporters will receive a €10 discount on the admission price. The package will be available for a charge of €40 and entitle the holder to entry to the football game on May 24 and to the Limerick v Waterford Munster senior hurling championship sem-final on June 14.
Justin McCarthy will continue with preparations for the provincial hurling semi-final with a challenge game against Cork this Saturday evening (7pm). The game will take place in Castletownroche to mark the official opening of their new club facilities.

Jerome O’Connell

Bill Doonan is the answer!

The GAA hierarchy are expecting a 10 per cent down turn in attendances in 2009 which will, of course, lead to a €6 million shortfall in income - along with the persistent drama down in Cork and a listless league thus far that makes for pretty depressing reading.
Anyway, a mate works for a Dublin-based advertising agency and he rang today for a chat. He mentioned that they had to come up with a good idea for a TV advertising campaign which they hoped would get the GAA public to come out in their droves this summer . . . well I’ve got one!
Remember Breandán Ó hEithir’s classic story (re-told in the final chapter of his seminal book ‘Over The Bar’) about Bill Doonan.
Well, Bill, a Cavan footballer, found himself working as a radio operator for the British Army during World War II. Then, all of shot like, Bill went missing from his regiment one September Sunday in 1943 when the lads were fighting the good fight in southern Italy, down Monte Cassino way.
Seeing as his comrades in arms were so fond of Bill they set off, risking life and limb, in search of the man. They eventually happened upon Bill who was perched precariously up a tree where he was successfully attempting to eavesdrop on a signal from good old Ireland which was helpfully broadcasting a commentary from the All-Ireland football final between his native Cavan and Roscommon - Roscommon won that one 2-7 to 2-2.
Sixty-six years on I don’t believe that anybody has come anywhere near matching that story when it comes to illustrating what the GAA means to so many people.
Now wouldn’t that make for a classic advert?

Brian McDonnell

2009: What happens when you stare into a crystal ball for an inordinate amount of time?

In terms of drama and black comedy 2008 has raised the bar and it may prove difficult for 2009 to match the events of the last twelve months. But, as we look into the crystal ball, we can do so with the confidence that anything, in Limerick sport at least, is truly possible . . .

January
Munster crush the Sale Sharks to advance to the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup. The FAI throws €2 million at the Market’s Field and senior soccer returns to that famous old ground.

February
The hurlers and footballers begin their respective league campaigns in rare form and just for the crack win a couple of games.

March
Árdscoil Rís stun the entire province winning the Dr. Harty Cup for Limerick and in the process beat Thurles CBS (a bunch of cocky Tipperary lads) in the final. The Eircom League kicks off, the new single-division Eircom League mind, with Limerick thrashing Shamrock Rovers to within an inch of their lives (9-0) at the Market’s Field.

April
Darren Sutherland (who obviously thinks he smells sweeter than most) takes on Andy Lee at the UL Arena. Lee makes Sutherland suffer for a while before knocking the Olympic bronze medallist into the following week. Garryowen complete an emotional year when they win the AIL Division One title beating Cork Con in the final.

May
Before hammering Leinster in the Heineken Cup final Munster beat Leinster with a last minute try to also win the Magners League. On the last day of the English Premier League season Lee J Lynch scores a hat-trick against Liverpool which helps Albion avoid relegation and denies Liverpool the title. The Limerick hurlers, as they prepare to face Waterford in the league final, come up with a devious plan: they throw that game and then surprise the Déise in the Munster semi-final - obviously they go on to beat Tipperary in the provincial decider.

June
Although Regional United win the Premier League Fairview Rangers steal their thunder winning the FAI Junior Cup with a superb 2-0 win against the all-conquering Killester United at Tolka Park. Incidentally Pike Rovers win the Munster Junior Cup as well. And, just for extra fun, the Desmond League win the Oscar Traynor Trophy for the second consecutive season.

July
Limerick’s footballing men stun the entire province and streak to their first Munster title since 1896. Conor Niland shocks the tennis world by qualifying for the first round proper of Wimbledon and then beating the highly-annoying Andy Murray. Niland is then struck down by injury in the quarter-finals when the Limerick star has Andy Roddick on the ropes.

August
The hurlers, drawn against Kilkenny after the Cats incredibly lose the Leinster final to Anthony Daly’s Dublin, beat Brian Cody’s side in a bloodbath in Thurles and happily clear the way for a Tipperary side, stung by their defeat to Limerick in the Munster final, to go on and win the All-Ireland.

September
The Limerick footballers, who celebrated a tad too much after winning their first provincial title in 103 years, are beaten by Mayo in the All-Ireland final.

October
Although Limerick have won their first Munster title since 1996 the County Board incredibly sack Justin McCarthy and the interview process begins to select a new manager. Adare win the county hurling final, again.

November
Drom-Broadford, after successfully defending their county championship, face and beat Nemo Rangers (again) in the provincial final. Adare, making up for their defeat in the 2008 Munster final at the hands of De La Salle, thrash Toomevara in the Munster hurling final.

December
After a competent season in the Eircom League Limerick 37 see off Cork City in the FAI Cup final. Andy Lee and John Duddy clash for the world middleweight title in Las Vegas. Duddy tries hard, but Lee does enough to stop Duddy in the ninth round.

Brian McDonnell