ON Wednesday October 28 last, members of the Limerick senior hurling panel for the coming season were asked, by text message, to attend a meeting at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel.
Upon arriving at the meeting, it was clear to those in attendance that some high profile names were not in attendance. Missing from the meeting were, Stephen Lucey, Mark O’Riordan, Niall Moran, Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Donie Ryan and Mike O’Brien.
Subsequently it was reported that these players did not receive a text message or indeed any notice of said meeting.
When the Limerick hurling management team and players met again on Friday the 30th at Staker Wallace’s grounds for a preliminary trial, it was clear that the players named above were not to be part of this years panel.
Since these events took place, it has become clear that the Limerick Senior Hurling manager, Justin Mc Carthy, has made a conscious decision to rid his panel of certain players. The reasoning behind the decision is yet unclear however.
This journalist did speak to Justin Mc Carthy this week, but the Cork native was not willing to go on record. In a week of poor communications within the camp, this can be taken as a battoning down of the hatches or, in a scenario more likely, there is more to come in time.
This episode is yet another blot on the copy book that is Limerick hurling. Recent years have seen Limerick wash their dirty linen in public on more than one occasion.
It is difficult in this case to see what are actually the motives on both sides. The manager of any team is entitled to name whom he likes on his team and/or panel. The players of course should be afforded some sort of courtesy if they are to be dropped. The six names that have been confirmed as being dropped are believed to be only half of the true number of departees. Indeed in the wake of drama, former Limerick captain Damien Reale has withdrawn his services from the panel too.
The big question on fans lips is, are these players gone forever? Liam Lenihan, chairman of the county board who spoke to the Limerick Post this week, claims that all players in the county who are of the inter county standard are still in contention. “The management team felt that 18 or 19 players would be held over from last season’s panel and everyone else would have to trial in November and December. I do apologise if some players are upset about the manner of the notification. That was not our intention”.
With 54 players asked to take part in the trials on Friday night, only 26 could tog out and play. If Justin Mc Carthy is to stick to his guns, more new faces are needed. If not, the returning players might just return in place of Justin.
The muddy waters remain. Were these “dropped” players cut from the panel for more reasons than hurling? Rumours are that certain players held too much power in the camp. Other tales are that Justin and Co. are just trying to freshen up a panel that needs a re-jig.
Whatever the reasons, some things never change. Limerick hurling will always be controversial and full of rumour and intrigue. It may make for column inches, but it does not make for All Ireland glory. It will be 37 years in September without an All Ireland, as any fan would tell you, they don’t care who manages or who plays. Limerick needs a title.
