DONAL O’Grady was this week appointed the Limerick Senior hurling manager for the coming season. The Cork All Ireland winning manager and player will take over the reign of Limerick hurling for the 2011 season and will be accompanied by former Limerick hurlers Ciaran Carey, TJ Ryan and Pat Heffernan.
The appointment was made this week by a special meeting of the Limerick county board after the three man selection panel of Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe put forward O’Grady’s name as their choice to replace Justin Mc Carthy.
O’Grady, the former principal of the North Monastery CBS in Cork city and member of the St. Finbarr’s club in Cork, captained the Rebels to a second consecutive National Hurling League in 1981 before winning his first Munster title in 1982. O’Grady starred in the 1984 centenary final where Cork defeated Offaly in Thurles.
The St Finbar’s club man then coached Cork in 2003 and 2004. During his two year term, O’Grady won a Munster championship and an All Ireland. Making household names of some of the Cork stars. The appointment will come as a surprise to many as O’Grady had been believed to have pulled out of the job race.
Speaking this week on the Matt Cooper show, O’Grady stated “that all players who want to play for Limerick will be available for selection. There is no old panels, there is just one panel and that will be the one named on January 1, 2011”. When asked about discipline, an issue during Justin Mc Carthy’s tenure, the former school teacher responded that, “We all like a drink from time to time Matt, but we will be putting in place some guidelines and practices and anyone who doesn’t uphold those will be dealt with internally”.
The one year deal sees Limerick now become a force once more as O’Grady is known for getting the best out of any panel of players he has worked with. The RTE pundit will hang up the microphone for a year and Limerick hurling fans will be looking forward to seeing him on the sidelines in the near future.
Football management move
In more management news, it is believed that Maurice Horan will this week be appointed as the Limerick Senior football manager to replace Mickey Ned O‘Sullivan. The former player, who took up a role as a selector last season will be joined by a new backroom team, which is selected, but yet to be announced.
Finally, this Saturday, check out Limericks Live 95FM County Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals Dromcollogher/Broadford v Monaleen @ 2.30pm in Kilmallock and Ballylanders v Adare @ 4.15pm in Kilmallock
