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

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 Both John Allen and John Tuohy have withdrawn their names from the race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

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

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