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

McCarthy vows to remain at helm of Limerick hurling

JUSTIN McCarthy has vowed to see out his two-year term as Limerick senior hurling manager.
Yesterday, after the crushing 24-point defeat to Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park, McCarthy told Leader Sport that he will be at the helm for the rebuilding.


“I can see the bigger picture and there is no such thing of laying down and saying we can’t move on,” said McCarthy who is just 10 months into his reign in Limerick.
“I said that I would be down for two years and I have enjoyed every moment of it so far - there is great interest in hurling in Limerick,” Justin McCarthy said.
McCarthy and selectors Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey used 27 players in Limerick’s six championship games in 2009.
“Limerick are in transition,” explained McCarthy after yesterday’s 6-19 to 2-7 loss.
“Limerick have to look to the future and there are young lads coming through and there is not doubt that they will learn from that hardship and set back. Like all things in life, time erodes those things and next year Limerick will be back in the championship,” he said.
“They gave their all and I am not going to blame anyone - they gave their all. This was our sixth game of the championship - we won three, drew one and lost two.”
McCarthy said that he was happy with preparations and felt his side were ready to spring a surprise.
“We put in a great effort and you always think you have a chance of winning, but realistically there is a lot of rebuilding to be done. To win a trophy would be outstanding and that is the first thing,” he said.
“We came up against a very good team - we had our plans in place before the game and we thought they would work, but in fairness a few mistakes were made here and there and they capitalised and we missed a few chances. We were on the back foot after 20 minutes and by half time the game was over,” accepted the disappointed manager.
“We felt preparation was outstanding, the mood was great, fellas attitude was outstanding and we trained exceptionally well. We came up against a team that is probably two years ahead of Limerick in terms of preparation and development.
“They won two Munster championships and a National League and they are a very good team.”
With manager Justin McCarthy confirming his desire to remain in charge, attention will now turn to two of the more experienced members of the pane - Mark Foley and Ollie Moran.
“I don’t know - I will have to wait and see. After being beaten like that it’s a body blow, but I guess at this time it would be wrong to make a decision because your emotions are all over the place,” Mark Foley told Leader Sport last evening.
The thoughts of Donal O’Grady turned to the large Limerick support in Croke Park as the midfielder attempted to analyse his side’s semi-final collapse.
“We are not that bad - that isn’t a true reflection,” he said of the crushing defeat.
“I am more disappointed for the supporters than anything,” explained the Granagh-Ballingarry man.
“It’s just disappointing, that was very bad - we are terrible disappointed,” he said with bowed head.
“We can’t cod ourselves - we are behind Tipperary hurling wise, but no that much.
“We thought we had a great chance of beating Tipperary today and even our heart and our spirit would get us so far, but we couldn’t get the ball over the bar to keep in touch with them,” he recalled.
With Justin McCarthy committed to a second year at the helm O’Grady believes that there is a future for this panel: “There is a very young bunch of players coming through and I hope they stick together and Justin can bring us on another level. We have no other choice, but to pick it up because we want to be up there with the Tipperarys and the Kilkennys.”

Jerome O'Connell

McCarthy names team to face Tipp

Limerick senior hurling manager Justin McCarthy has made one change to his starting 15 for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary in Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).
Although Wayne McNamara started in the quarter-final win over Dublin in Thurles’ Semple Stadium the Adare man has been omitted from Sunday’s team with Ahane’s Ollie Moran now named at centre-forward while James Ryan has been moved to right wing-forward.


The Limerick team, which was named after training this evening, reads: Brian Murray (Patrickswell), Damien Reale (Hospital-Herbertstown), Stephen Lucey (Croom), Mark O’Riordan (Croom), Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher), Brian Geary (Monaleen), Mark Foley (captain, Adare), Donal O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry), Gavin O’Mahoney (Kilmallock), James Ryan (Garryspillane), Ollie Moran (Ahane), Paul Browne (Bruff), David Breen (Na Piarsaigh), Paudie McNamara (Murroe-Boher), Andrew O’Shaughnessy (Kilmallock).
Meanwhile Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Sheedy has also named his starting team for Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated clash. The Portroe man has made one change to his starting team with Borris-Ileigh’s Brendan Maher replacing Conor O’Brien in the starting 15. As a result of Maher’s inclusion the Tipperary defence has been re-shuffled to allow for Brendan Maher’s positioning at left wing-back - Thurles’ Padraic Maher has moved to full-back with Mullinahone’s Paul Curran switching to left corner-back.
Tipperary team: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange), Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Paul Curran (Mullinahone), Declan Fanning (Killenaule), Conor O’Mahony (captain, Newport), Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh), James Woodlock (Drom & Inch), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch), Pat Kerwick (Killenaule), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), John O’Brien (Toomevara), Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney), Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone), Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields).
The winners of Sunday’s semi-final will face defending champions and four in-a-row chasing Kilkenny in the final on Sunday, September 6.

Brian McDonnell

McCarthy rates Moran as doubtful for Tipperary clash

LIMERICK senior hurling manager Justin McCarthy rates Ahane’s Niall Moran as “doubtful” for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final clash with Tipperary in Croke Park.
The Ahane attacked suffered a broken finger earlier this summer and it is not clear whether Moran will recover in time for this Sunday’s game.
The Limerick team will be named after training tonight.


Justin McCarthy is eagerly looking forward to the game and told Leader Sport last evening that “we are expecting a tremendous challenge from Tipperary.
“We know that they are one of the best teams in the country and we realise that we will have to be at our very best to keep up with them.
“We’re looking forward to the game. Every weekend you get to play hurling is a great weekend.”
The bookies have made Tipperary, led by Liam Sheedy, hot favourites (1/5) to overcome Limerick.
Tipperary won a successive Munster hurling championship when they beat Waterford (4-14 to 2-16) on July 12 while the Premier County beat Cork in the first round (1-19 to 0-19) and Clare at the semi-final stage (3-18 to 1-22) in the Gaelic Grounds.
In three championship outings thus far Tipp have scored 8-51 and averaged an accumulation of 25 points per game and required just 12 points from placed balls in all - in five games Limerick have scored 4-76, but only average an accumulation of 17 points.
The Premier County have already beaten Cork by three points, Clare by two and Waterford by four.
In all three games however Tipperary have surrendered considerable leads and it’s a tempting to suggest that such a pattern will count against them at some stage. Against Cork Tipp only managed 0-5 in 33 minutes, against Clare they fired 0-3 in 22 minutes and against Waterford in the Munster final Liam Sheedy’s men scored just three points in 30 minutes.
Tipp and Limerick have clashed 64 times with Tipperary winning on 33 occasions, Limerick winning 21 times while these arch-rivals have fought to a stalemate ten times - in 16 of those 64 games a goal or less has separated the sides.
Tipperary and Limerick last met when the sides clashed in the dramatic 2007 Munster hurling semi-final.
That three-game saga eventually saw Limerick victorious on the back of a three-point margin in the second replay hosted by the Gaelic Grounds.
That was the first time since 1926 that a Munster senior hurling championship game required three games to produce a winner.
In the most recent meeting between the sides, during the National Hurling League on April 19 last, Limerick suffered a six-point defeat (1-17 to 1-11) in Thurles.
The last competitive meeting between Tipperary and Limerick at Croke Park took place on April 25, 1971 when the Shannonsiders won a league play-off (2-15 to 1-15) and subsequently beat Tipp by a point in the league final in Cork on May 23. The teams had also met in a round-robin match earlier in that campaign, a game which Limerick also won by 0-13 to 1-8.
Tipperary will announce their starting team this Thursday, August 13.

Brian McDonnell

Pain of relegation proved a catalyst for Limerick

THE pain of relegation in the National Football League was the catalyst for Limerick’s Munster senior football championship win in Thurles yesterday, according to manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
Management and players came under fire after relegation to the bottom tier of the NFL, but they bounced back in Semple Stadium on Sunday to book a provincial semi-final against Clare in Ennis.
“The lads knew that they weren’t that bad and they were determined to show what they could do,” explained O’Sullivan in reference to the league relegation.
“Thats part and parcel of being involved in football,” said the manager of the criticism.
He added: “You are going to get stick and you have to turn it into a positive”.
Limerick raced from the blocks and were 1-8 to 1-1 ahead at half time with Tipperary’s goal coming in injury time in the first half as Limerick dominated.
Then all went wrong as the lead was down to two points entering the final quarter.
“That was an outstanding first half – perhaps we were too far ahead at half time, the intensity begins to drop. Tipperary gathered momentum and that is very hard to stop,” surmised the Limerick manager.
“At half time the big danger is to get lads head right because we went in with a similar lead in Kilmallock in the league and within 20 minutes Tipperary had it down so we were very conscious of that.”
Unlike the league loss, Limerick maintained composure for a two-point win.
“In the last 10 minutes they upped the intensity again and showed great level heads,” said the manager.
With Limerick on the backfoot a Stephen Lucey finally opened Limerick’s account 19 minutes into the second half.
“I think that was the most important score of the second half from our point of view – he has great spirit and his lifted the team at the time,” recalled Mickey Ned.
“I thought it was an exceptionally good game if you compare it to last year in Fermoy, which was the worst game in history. It was an excellent game of football, right up to the final whistle.”
Clare now stand between Limerick and a first Munster final since 2003.
“Championship football is championship football – it doesn’t matter the opposition,” said O’Sullivan’s as he dismissed the opinion that Limerick will be favoured.
“Clare will have the advantage – they have had us in their sights for six months, while we had Tipp. They have the benefit of seeing our strengths and our weaknesses. Clare will be very tough –they have had the benefit of dissecting us and looking at us.”

Jerome O'Connell

Judgement day for Limerick

BACK in the final week of January, Mickey Ned O’Sullivan laid his cards on the table when speaking ahead of the start of the 2009 season.
As he entered his fourth year at the helm in Limerick, it was championship or bust.


“The one goal that we have this year is the first round of the championship against Tipperary,” stressed O’Sullivan, when previewing the new season with Leader Sport.
“The way it is, the only way we will be judged is on the championship”.
Almost four months have passed and its time for the Limerick senior footballers to be judged when they meet Tipperary in the quarter-final of the Munster senior football championship in Semple Stadium Thurles this Sunday (3.30pm).
If Limerick can repeat last season’s success over the Premier County, a provincial semi-final against Clare awaits in Ennis on June 7.
While defeat cannot be contemplated, if all does go horribly wrong, Limerick would enter the All-Ireland Qualifiers in round one on July 4.
Over the spring Limerick and Tipperary had very different league campaigns - Limerick were relegated from Division Three while outsiders Tipperary were crowned champions.
While Tipp emerged from the NFL on an upward curve, Limerick’s management and players were certainly under pressure. Still the bookies have marked up Limerick as 10/11 favourites with John Evans’ side available at 11/10.
Limerick have won the last two championship meetings between the sides - 2004 & 2008. While Tipp football is on an upward curve, they have not won a match in the provincial championship in six years - they’ve won just two games and drawn two from 14 Munster Championship matches in the past 10 years and have lost seven out eight qualifiers during the same period.
For Sunday’s game Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, Joe Redington and Paddy Ivess have handed a championship debut to teenager Cormac Joyce-Power. Also included for the first time since 2005 are dual players Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan, while Jason Stokes also makes a return to the inter-county scene.
The Limerick team shows seven changes from the side that lined out against Tipperary last season. In an unusual looking selection, there are many questions as to the exact line-up of the Limerick side which appears to be physically strong.
It appears that the defence will play as selected, although Shane Gallagher could be at the edge of the square in a swap with Johnny McCarthy. This duo could be key in dealing with Tipperary attacking duo Brian Coen and Barry Grogan. Further up the field it appears that Stephen Lucey will start in midfield with Jim O’Donovan - leaving John Galvin and Jason Stokes to fill the central attacking roles.
Indeed this quartet are likely to inter-change throughout the 70 minutes in an effort to maintain freshness in the middle of the park where it is critical that Limerick dominate against George Hannigan and Brian Jones.
In attack all scoring threats appear to rest on the shoulders of Ian Ryan, Ger Collins and captain Seanie Buckley.
It is key that under-21 players Ryan and Collins are kept as close to goal as possible if Limerick are to profit from a direct ball to a targetman at full-forward.
Since the league ended on April 12, Donie Buckley has had the necessary time to work with the panel on the training field. Reports from challenge games against Wexford and Roscommon were not overly encouraging, but still Limerick can and must win on Sunday.
The most basic requirment will be that Limerick match the hunger and work ethic of John Evans’ well drilled Tipperary side. Sunday’s game in Thurles will be only the third ever meeting of the sides in Semple Stadium in championship fare.
Admission is by payment at the turnstiles - adult price is €20, students and senior citizens €10. Under-16s will be admitted free of charge and all juveniles will be issued with a free flag.
Limerick’s Live 95FM will carry full live commentary with former Limerick senior football captain Tommy Stack joining Liam Aherne in the commentary box.
On the Munster GAA website, the game will be followed by a match-tracker with up to the minute updates of every score and incident.

Limerick Team: Sean Kiely; Shane Gallagher, Johnny McCarthy, Mark O’Riordan; Padraig Browne, Stephen Lavin, Pa Ranahan; Jim O’Donovan, John Galvin; Stephen Lucey, Ian Ryan, Seanie Buckley (capt); Cormac Joyce-Power, Jason Stokes, Ger Collins. Subs: Conor Ranahan, Mike Crowley, Lorcan O’Dwyer, Thomas Cahill, Kieran O’Callaghan, Bobby O’Brien, Andrew Lane, Dermot Phelan, Eoin Hogan, Gary Egan, Diarmuid Carroll, Maurice Carrig, Conor Mullane, Jimmy Barry Murphy, John Mullane.

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

Foley and Moran return to the inter-county fold

LIMERICK hurling captain Mark Foley and Ollie Moran made their first starts of the season for the county hurlers this Tuesday night in a challenge game against Tipperary.
Mark Foley started at wing-back while Ollie Moran was at wing-forward in the 2-21 to 1-22 defeat for Limerick which marked the official opening of Hannon Park in Lattin Cullen GAA club.


Mike Fitzgerald started at centre-forward in what was his first appearance in a green jersey since January’s Waterford Crystal Cup defeat to UL.
Another making a start was Damien Cosgrave at full-forward.
Limerick fielded without any of their third level students who are in the midst of their exams.
The Tipperary game came just 48 hours after Limerick returned from a two-night stay in north Antrim.
Justin McCarthy’s panel were due to play both Antrim and Down, but the Mourne men were unable to fulfil the fixture.
Ahead of the June 14 Munster senior hurling championship semi-final against Waterford, Limerick’s management have slight injury concerns surrounding Bryan O’Sullivan (hamstring) and Seamus Hickey (hand).
Next month’s eagerly-awaited Thurles clash will have a 4pm start and will be televised live on RTE.
Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford received a double boost last weekend with the return of Ken McGrath and Tony Browne to club action.
The duo played with Mount Sion in their county SHC victory over Fourmilewater.
Ken McGrath had been sidelined with a hamstring injury while Tony Browne’s fitness has been curtailed by hamstring and toe problems.
Goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy is an injury concern - he continues to be sidelined with an infected leg he sustained during a training session last month.
Meanwhile Mickey Ned O’Sullivan and his Limerick senior football management team will be keeping their fingers crossed that all their panel emerge injury-free from this weekend’s senior and intermediate club championship games.
Limerick played Wexford last Sunday evening with a near full-strength panel. Missing were Ian Ryan (in club action), Johnny McCarthy (slight leg injury) and Newcastle West’s Stephen Kelly.
Johnny McCarthy should be available for St. Kieran’s this weekend, but his club colleague Jim Donovan is also an injury concern.
Jason Stokes saw action while long-term injury victim Maurice Carrig also played for a part of the challenge game
Limerick will complete their preparation for the May 24 Munster senior football championship quarter-final against Tipperary, with a challenge game on Thursday next.

Jerome O’Connell

‘Our targets are performance related not points related’

ELEVEN weeks before their Munster championship quarter-final in Thurles, Limerick and Tipperary clash this Sunday (2.30) in the Allianz National Football League.
The dress rehearsal takes place in Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock as the neighbours meet in round three of Division Three of the NFL.
Sunday is the first of four successive weekends of league action, which will determine if Limerick can live up to the expectations of the bookies, who now make Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side as second favourites for promotion.
“Championship is a different kettle of fish,” Mickey Ned O’Sullivan told Leader Sport this week ahead of Sunday’s game.
While the sides meet on May 24 in Semple Stadium, they also met last season in the championship in Fermoy, when Limerick were 1-8 to 1-5 winners.
“Obviously we have to go out and get two league points - we will put out our strongest team available. Tipperary are in the same league as ourselves - they have some good footballers and there is always very little between the teams,” O’Sullivan added.
The Limerick manager pointed to Tipperary’s win in Cavan in the last round, three weeks ago.
“To go up north and get a result is always great for any team,” said O’Sullivan.
Limerick welcomed back Drom-B’dford’s Seanie Buckley and Gary Egan to training this week, but it is unlikely they will be considered for Sunday.
Micheal Reidy is to take some time to consider his future while Jason Stokes is to take a month off to rest a recurring injury.
Jim O’Donovan and Andrew Lane will be absent through injury on Sunday while Diarmuid Carroll is back in training after a number of months in Australia and fellow defender Pa Ranahan is due back from his travels in the next week.
Limerick’s trio of dual players; Stephen Lucey, Mark O’Riordan and Stephen Walsh will be available on Sunday.
“Our targets are performance related not points related - then again if we perform the points will look after themselves,” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan and selectors; Joe Redington and Paddy Ivess and coach Donie Buckley are to reduce the squad to championship size this week.
“I think we have increased our options. The players are coming on steadily, they are certainly fitter now - we concentrated since the Louth game on fitness.
“We have four games on the trot now, so we will lower the level in training to get through the games.”
After this weekend, Limerick will play Cavan under the lights of Breffini Park on Saturday March 14 in round four of the NFL.
On Friday, March 13 Limerick will be in Munster under-21 football championship action.
Ollie Coffey’s side play Clare under lights in Cooraclare.
The return of Bobby O’Brien from Australia has bolstered the options for a squad that will have Ian Ryan, Ger Collins, Cormac Joyce Power and Pa Mullins as the leading lights.

Jerome O'Connell

Foley and Moran return to training

CAPTAIN Mark Foley and Ollie Moran are to return to full-time training with Justin McCarthy’s county hurling squad before the end of the month.
Both have been following their own training schedule in recent months - Moran is on the road back to full fitness after a knee operation. The experienced duo are currently among a squad of 34 that are still in the plans of McCarthy and selectors; Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey.
A total of 18 clubs are represented in the squad. Kilmallock lead the way with seven players, Murroe-Boher have four, while county champions Adare have three players included.
Twenty six players have seen league action to date - Doon duo Denis Moloney and Mike Fitzgerald, Adare duo Mark Foley and Donncha Sheehan, Kilmallock duo Eoin Ryan and Philip O’Loughlin and Ahane’s Ollie Moran are yet to get competitive action for varying reasons. Limerick are back in action on March 22 when they play Galway.

Panel: Brian Murray (Patrickswell), Dave Bulfin (Mungret), Mark O’Riordan, Stephen Lucey (both Croom), Tom Condon (Knockaderry), Stephen Walsh, Mike O’Brien (both Glenroe), Brian Geary (Monaleen), Seamus Hickey, Kevin Tobin, Pat Tobin, Paudie McNamara (all Murroe-Boher), Wayne McNamara, Mark Foley, Donncha Sheehan (all Adare), Damien Reale (Hospital-Herberstown), Gavin O’Mahony, Philip O’Loughlin, Paudie O’Brien, Bryan O’Sullivan, Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Graeme Mulcahy, Eoin Ryan (all Kilmallock), Denis Moloney, Michael Fitzgerald (both Doon), Donal O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry), Paul Browne (Bruff), Ollie Moran, Niall Moran (both Ahane), David Moloney, Richie McCarthy (both Blackrock), James O’Brien (Bruree), David Breen (Na Piarsaigh), Donie Ryan (Garryspillane).

Jerome O'Connell