McCarthy: ‘We need to make amends’

JUSTIN McCarthy is under no illusions but that his Limerick senior hurling team have to “make amends” in 2010 for their All-Ireland semi-final collapse to Tipperary this August - the draw for next year’s Munster championship has handed Limerick a bye into the provincial semi-final, where they await either Tipperary or Cork in mid June.


The draw was made in Croke Park last week by Munster Council chairman Jimmy O’Gorman and assistant secretary Enda McGuane.
“In the Munster championship there are no easy teams,” Justin McCarthy told Leader Sport.
“Any of the teams are capable of winning a Munster championship. It is going to be a huge challenge, but it is one that we have to be ready for.
“Cork and Tipperary are two outstanding teams. Cork will be trying to regroup and this will be a big showdown for them with Tipperary,” said the Limerick manager.
“We need to make amends for this year and show where we stand.
“I felt we made a fair bit of progress this year, but that wasn’t reflected in the Tipperary game.”
On the opposite side of the draw Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford will play his native Clare in the semi-final and this is a fixture that Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds will vie with Thurles to host.
Semple Stadium will host any potential semi-final between Limerick and Tipperary while if Cork are to be Limerick’s opponents the game would be played in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Limerick last met Tipperary in the provincial championship in 2007 when Richie Bennis’ side won the final instalment of the ‘trilogy’ in the Gaelic Grounds.
The last Munster championship encounter with Cork was in Limerick in 2004 when the Rebels were 0-19 to 0-18 winners.

Gaelic football
Meanwhile in the 2010 Munster senior football championship Limerick have been handed what is perceived to be the best draw possible as they await either Clare or Waterford in the semi-final. On the other side All-Ireland champions Kerry must overcome Tipperary to set up a semi-final with Cork.
Limerick will have home advantage in the semi-final in mid-June.
At a meeting of Limerick’s Football Board this Monday night in the Woodlands House Hotel, the reappointment of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan as county football manager moved a step closer when the Kerryman was given the backing of the football delegates. Mickey Ned’s appointment for a further one-year term will now need to be rubber stamped at a full County Board meeting.
Returning alongside the Kenmare man will be coach Donie Buckley and selectors Joe Redington and Paddy Ivess.
Joining the senior backroom team for 2010 is Maurice Horan.
The former Mayo and Limerick senior footballer is to become a senior selector and manager of the county under-21 side.
Horan transferred to Monaleen in 2004 from his native Ballinrobe.
He has experience of coaching the UL Sigerson Cup team and this year was involved as a player-coach with the Na Piarsaigh side that was defeated by St. Patrick’s in last weekend’s county intermediate football championship final.
As manager of the county under-21 side Maurice Horan will be joined by selectors Niall Crowley (Adare) and John Ryan (Oola).

Jerome O’Connell

McCarthy: ‘We need to make amends for this year’

JUSTIN McCarthy is under no illusions but that his Limerick senior hurling team have to “make amends” in 2010 for their All-Ireland semi-final collapse against Tipperary last August.


The draw for next year’s Munster championship has handed Limerick a bye into the provincial semi-final, where they await either Tipperary or Cork in mid-June. The draw was made in Croke Park last Thursday night by Munster Council chairman Jimmy O’Gorman and assistant secretary Enda McGuane.
“In the Munster championship there are no easy teams,” McCarthy told the Limerick Chronicle.
“Any of the teams are capable of winning a Munster championship.”
“It is going to be a huge challenge, but it is one that we have to be ready for.
“Cork and Tipperary are two outstanding teams. Cork will be trying to re-group and this will be a big showdown for them with Tipperary,” said the Limerick manager.
“We need to make amends for this year and show where we stand. I felt we made a fair bit of progress this year, but that wasn’t reflected in the Tipperary game.”
Already the search for fresh faces is underway for Justin McCarthy, Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey.
“We will hold a series of trial games and we’ll see what new players are available.
“We will give players every chance and I’d hope that these players would respond to the challenge.”
On the opposite side of the draw Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford will play his native Clare in the semi-final and this is a fixture that Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds will vie with Thurles to host.
Thurles will host any potential semi-final between Limerick and Tipperary while if Cork are to be Limerick’s opponents the game would be played in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Limerick last met Tipperary in the provincial championship in 2007 when Richie Bennis’ side won the final instalment of the ‘trilogy’ in the Gaelic Grounds.
The last Munster championship encounter with Cork was in Limerick in 2004 while the Rebels were 0-19 to 0-18 winners.
Meanwhile in the 2010 Munster senior football championship Limerick have been handed what is perceived to be the best draw possible as they await either Clare or Waterford in the semi-final.
On the other side All-Ireland champions Kerry must overcome Tipperary to set up a semi-final with Cork.
At a meeting of Limerick’s Football Board this Monday night in the Woodlands House Hotel the re-appointment of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan as county football manager moved a step closer when the Kerryman was given the backing of the football delegates.
Mickey Ned’s appointment will now need to be rubber stamped by a full County Board meeting - joining the senior backroom team for 2010 is Maurice Horan.
The former Mayo and Limerick senior footballer is to become a senior selector and manager of the county under-21 side. Horan transferred to Monaleen in 2004 from his native Ballinrobe.
He has experience of coaching the UL Sigerson Cup team and this year was involved with the Na Piarsaigh side that was defeated by St. Patrick’s in last weekend’s county intermediate football championship final.

Jerome O’Connell

Limerick face potential re-match with Tipp

LIMERICK face a potential re-match with Tipperary in next summer’s Munster hurling championship - following the draw made in Croke Park on Thursday night (October 22) Cork were drawn against Tipperary in a quarter-final while the Shannonsiders will await the winner of that game in a Munster semi-final. On the opposite side of the draw Clare will play Waterford with a place in the 2010 Munster hurling final up for grabs.
Justin McCarthy’s Limerick men lost heavily to Tipperary in last August’s disappointing All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park while the Shannonsiders last faced Cork in a 2006 All-Ireland quarter-final which the Rebels won 0-19 to 0-18.


The Limerick footballers will be thrilled with their draw for the 2010 Munster championship. The Shannonsiders have been drawn in a semi-final and await the winners of the Clare v Waterford first round clash. Kerry will play Tipperary on the other side of the draw with Cork awaiting the winners of that game at the semi-final stage.
Limerick will be favoured strongly by the bookies to qualify for the provincial final.
The dates, times and venues for all the provincial games will be confirmed by the Munster Council in due course.
Meanwhile the Leinster hurling championship draw will see Carlow take on Laois in the preliminary round. The winner of that game will face Dublin in a quarter-final with the respective winner of that game taking on Kilkenny in the semi-finals.
On the opposite side of the draw Wexford will take on Galway while Antrim face Offaly - the winners of those games will constitute a second Leinster semi-final.
Three other provincial football draws also took place in Croke Park.
In the Connacht semi-finals New York or Galway will face Sligo or Mayo while the second semi-final will see London or Roscommon take on Leitrim.
Derry will take on Armagh in the first round of the Ulster championship while the quarter-final line-up reads as follows: Antrim v Tyrone, Donegal v Down, Cavan v Fermanagh and Monaghan v the winner of the Derry-Armagh clash.
Finally the Leinster championship quarter-finals will see Kildare take on the winner of a Louth-Longford clash, Westmeath will face the winner of Wicklow-Carlow, Laois the winner of Meath-Offaly while the final quarter-final will see Wexford take on Dublin.

Brian McDonnell

Take two for optimistic Limerick

IT’S take-two this Saturday (5pm) in Semple Stadium, Thurles for the senior hurlers of Limerick and Waterford.
This week in Limerick there is an increasing optimism that Justin McCarthy, Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey can lead the Shannonsiders into a provincial final.
One thing is for sure, the weather and the standard of hurling can’t be any worse in Saturday’s replay.


Limerick were the side that finished with the momentum in their sails in the drawn game and it is key that they continue where they left off.
Many have questioned the mental scars of Waterford after last September’s All-Ireland final collapse.
When Limerick did raise a gallop after the half time break in the drawn game Waterford looked insecure.
It is vital that Limerick ask questions of their opponents in the opening quarter and perhaps awaken the doubts that must exist in their minds.
It took Limerick until the 11th minute to open their scoring account last week and by then Waterford were three points to the good.
Let’s not be foolish, confidence is not sky-high in the Limerick camp, but if they can build on last week’s second half the bookies odds of 11-8 begin to look attractive.
There was much to admire about Limerick’s defensive display last Sunday with just two of the Waterford attack scoring from play and once Damien Reale nullified John Mullane not a single score was conceded in the second half from open play.
The second half fight back was inspired from the half-back line where Brian Geary, Mark Foley and Denis Moloney dominated.
It is perceived that Geary and Foley could be caught for pace and any change of tactic by Davy Fitzgerald will need to be countered by the Limerick management.
While the Limerick team was not available at the time of going to print, the only change from one to nine could be the selection of Moloney ahead of Stephen Walsh.
Much of last Sunday’s game by-passed midfield.
Seamus Hickey did his best to inspire those around him and covered vast areas of Tom Semple’s field, but his direct opponent Stephen Molumphy also played plenty of ball for The Decies.
Donal O’Grady and Shane O’Sullivan were absent for long periods and if the Granagh-Ballingarry man can find his rhythm for the replay, Limerick will prosper.
Attack is undoubtedly where Limerick will seek improvement. Eight different players contributed to the total of 13 wides.
There was much rotating of players in the opening half and the unit appeared to settle when James Ryan grew into his role at centre forward.
There were eyebrows raised in Waterford with the inclusion of the WIT wing-back in Limerick’s attack, but the Galbally man drove forward at every opportunity and helped to stem the dominance of Brick Walsh.
It was clear that Ollie Moran needs match practise. After missing the league with a knee injury, last Sunday was Moran’s first competitive inter-county encounter since last July and although many questioned managements persistence with the Ahane man, the 70 minutes should stand to him on Saturday evening.
Andrew O’Shaughnessy is another that always carries the hopes of the Green and White army. It is clear that ‘Shaughs’ is not high on confidence at present, but hope remains that just one breaking ball could turn his season.
In the past Justin McCarthy has been known for wholesale changes and he must have spent hours of the past week looking at the varying permutations available in attack.
Na Piarsaigh’s David Breen surely did enough to start at the edge of the square as long as his persistent hamstring injury holds up.
One half-forward line combination could see James Ryan in the centre with the Moran brothers either side.
With Breen at number 14, that would leave O’Shaughnessy, Ryan, Sheehan, Tobin, Browne and Mulcahy as options in the two corners.
Win or loose Limerick’s next appointment in the championship will be on the weekend of July 11-12 - that’s unless there is another tirlogy in the offering.

Jerome O’Connell

Turning the tide

HAS the pendulum swung in Limerick’s favour, that’s the big question?
Justin McCarthy’s men entered last Sunday’s Munster hurling semi-final as underdogs, but a stunning recovery from six points down now leaves the Shannonsiders facing this Saturday’s replay in confident mood.


While Sunday’s game in Thurles represented the lowest-scoring Munster championship game in 24 years (Clare and Tipperary drew 1-8 apiece in 1985) the replay should present supporters with a better indication of what both sides are capable of.
Limerick report no fresh injury concerns while Waterford will desperately miss talisman Ken McGrath who, due to a knee injury, has been ruled out for the next six weeks.
Limerick have taken part in five Munster championship replays since 1996 winning two, losing two and drawing one encounter while Waterford, who have taken part in five replays since 1989, have won four and lost only one.
Since the game will not be televised live a crowd exceeding 30,000 is expected in Semple Stadium - the game will be streamed live on RTE.ie.
The Munster Council have confirmed that the Limerick and Waterford replay will have a 5.00pm start in Semple Stadium and that ticket prices have been reduced by €5.
Tickets will be sold in advance for both stands while cash will be accepted on entry to the terraces.
Tickets went on sale last Monday afternoon from Ticketmaster outlets while the clubs of Limerick received their allocations on Tuesday night.
On Thursday tickets will go on public sale from the Gaelic Grounds between 9.30am and 8.00pm.
Ahead of next Saturday Limerick captain Mark Foley has called for his colleagues to ‘raise their game’ and book a Munster final place on July 12.
“Overall we would be looking for a better return from play the next day - we scored 1-8 and that won’t win any championship game for you,” admitted Adare’s Mark Foley.
“Overall, whereas it was close and exciting at times, the standard wasn’t great and you would be hoping from a neutral perspective that the quality will be better the next time.”
Next Saturday’s replay has forced the postponement of round two of the Limerick’s Live 95FM sponsored county senior hurling championship which will now not take place until late July at the very earliest.
Meanwhile the corresonding Munster semi-final between Tipperary and Clare will take place at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday (throw-in 4pm).

Jerome O’Connell

Officials expect bumper crowd for hurling replay

A CROWD of 30,000 is expected in Thurles for Saturday’s Munster SH Championship replay, but the live television cameras could be absent.


The Munster Council have confirmed that the Limerick and Waterford replay will have a 5.00pm start in Semple Stadium, but talks were taking place this Monday morning in regard to television coverage of the provincial semi-final.
RTE are already committed to two live games next Saturday evening - Mayo v Roscommon in the Connacht SFC at 5.00pm and Kilkenny v Galway in the Leinster SHC at 7.00pm.
TV3 could be an option, but they are unlikely to go head-to-head with RTE’s broadcasts, so a change of throw-in would be necessary.
Ticket prices have been reduced by €5 for the replay.
Tickets will be sold in advance for both stands while cash will be accepted on entry to the terraces.
Tickets will be on sale this Monday afternoon from Ticketmaster outlets.
On Tuesday night the clubs of Limerick will receive their allocations while on Thursday tickets will go on public sale from the Gaelic Grounds between 9.30am and 8.00pm.
Ahead of next Saturday Limerick captain Mark Foley has called for his colleagues to ‘raise their game’ and book a Munster final place on July 12.
“Overall we would be looking for a better return from play the next day - we scored 1-8 and that won’t win any championship game for you,” admitted Mark Foley.
“Overall, whereas it was close and exciting at times, the standard wasn’t great and you would be hoping from a neutral perspective that the quality will be better the next time.”
At the end of the 70 minutes the Adare man was happy to take a replay.
“You can look at it two ways - initially we were a point down with a few minutes to go and we would take a draw at that stage. We controlled the thing in the second half, but couldn’t get the scores. Waterford controlled the first half and we could have been down more and from that point of view a draw was probably a fair result,” said the influential wing-back.
“We found it hard to get scores in the finish and we will take a draw.”
A veteran of 15 championships Mark Foley was happy with the composure shown by Limerick.
“There was no need to panic - we were only six points down and that is two pucks of a ball in hurling and we were conscious if we made any improvement that we could make inroads and then we got the perfect start to the second half and controlled it from there on. Even though we were being over ran in the first half we didn’t cope too badly in that we were only down six points and it could have been a lot worse. The vital areas in hurling are where the ball lands and that is your two half lines and they were totally on top in the half-back line and John Mullane was running onto ball in space and when he gets ball like that it is very hard to stop him.”
Next Saturday’s replay has forced the postponement of round two of the Limerick’s Live 95FM sponsored county senior hurling championship which will now not take place until late July at the earliest.

JEROME O’CONNELL

A good start will be crucial

JUST over eight months after Camogue Rovers proposed Justin McCarthy as Limerick senior hurling manager, the Corkman leads his fourth county into Munster championship action this Sunday (4pm) as he attempts to bring his winning touch to Shannonside - as fate would have it Justin McCarthy will come face to face with his old charges Waterford in Semple Stadium, Thurles.


Without or without the McCarthy factor battles between the counties in 2001, 2003 and 2007 ensure that fireworks are expected when Diarmuid Kirwan commences proceedings on Sunday.
As he did throughout the league McCarthy will not announce the Limerick team until close to the weekend.
However Kilmallock pair Bryan O’Sullivan and Gavin O’Mahony have been ruled out of contention.
O’Sullivan is suffering with a hamstring strain while O’Mahony is out with injuries sustained in an incident away from the hurling field.
Mike O’Brien had the cast removed from his hand last week and trained with the team in the last week including a workout in Thurles last Sunday evening.
However the Glenroe man has very little hurling played in the last six weeks and may not be selected to start.
David Breen was another suffering with injury and although it appears he trained in the last week and played each of the league games he may not be selected with Ollie Moran starting at the edge of the square.
Another on the doubtful list was Seamus Hickey, but his shoulder injury will not stop him from lining out - with a midfield partnership with Donal O’Grady most likely.
Down in Waterford Davy Fitzgerald has concerns over John Mullane (hamsting), Richie Foley (hamstring), Gary Hurney and Shane Walsh, who both recently lined out for the county footballers in the Munster SFC.
If the Limerick team is as suspected it will include dual players Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan as well as Stephen Walsh and James Ryan, who both played Munster championship football last season.
Another in the starting team could be James O’Brien, who played with Kerry in the Christy Ring Cup last year.
Both teams have much to prove on Sunday - leaving league action aside, the last championship performance of both counties is best forgotten. While every team hopes for a good start to the 70 minutes the team that can gain an early upperhand on Sunday will begin to ask key questions regarding the self confidence of their opponents.
Waterford will no doubt seek to use their All-Ireland final loss as motivation, but likewise the qualifier defeat to Offaly and subsequent end of the Richie Bennis era hurt many in the green and white of Limerick.
It’s 75 years since Limerick were last in both the Munster senior hurling and football championship finals.
Back in 1934 Timmy Ryan captained the hurlers to glory against Waterford, but the footballers failed to Kerry.
Limerick also reached both finals in 1922, 1905 and 1895, but without success.
Sunday is all-ticket affair and tickets are on public sale for the remainder of this week from the office in the Gaelic Grounds.
The office will remain open until 7.30pm on Thursday night, while will be open from 9.30-4pm on Friday.
Officials do not expect a capacity crowd in Semple Stadium, but are urging fans to purchase tickets in advance.

PROBABLE LIMERICK senior hurling TEAM
Brian Murray (Patrickswell); Damien Reale (Hospital-Herbertstown), Stephen Lucey (Croom), Stephen Walsh (Glenroe); Mark O’Riordan (Croom), Brian Geary (Monaleen), Mark Foley (captain, Adare); Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher), Donal O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry); James O’Brien (Bruree), James Ryan (Garryspillane), Niall Moran (Ahane); Andrew O’Shaughnessy (Kilmallock), Ollie Moran (Ahane), Donie Ryan (Garryspillane).

Jerome O’Connell