IT’S only one week away. Limerick v Kerry in the Munster Senior Football championship will take place on Saturday June 4 at 6:45pm in the Gaelic Grounds.
Kerry came through their quarter final last weekend with a win over Tipperary in Killarney and they will travel to Limerick looking to reach yet another Munster football final. The Limerick panel were dealt a serious blow last week, when the news came through that John Galvin would miss the entire season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
The talismatic midfielder had played in every championship match for Limerick since 2001.
Speaking this week to Postsport, Limerick manager Maurice Horan acknowledged that the loss of Galvin was a huge blow.
“John has been our leader on the field for several years now and he dominated games he played in. It is hard to replace him, but the other players on the team will need to step up now and perform. They all have to. There will be no hiding in the shadows anymore. John was the man we looked to when we needed inspiration or something special, but it will have to be someone else now”
Indeed the Limerick panel are struggling a little with niggles and knocks ahead of Saturday week’s showdown. Tom Lee, (Galvin’s expected replacement) is carrying a knock, as are Stephen Lucey, Mark O’Riordan, Steve Kelly and Jim O’Donovan.
“Kerry are a strong and economical team and we will need to be at our best on Saturday week” added Horan.
Limerick were just a kick of a ball away from beating Kerry last year in Killarney, so spirits will be high.
And what of Galvin? The Croom man informs the Limerick Post, that he will try to play some role in the season. “I hope to help out in some way this season. Carry water or something. I am not back until February, so I will help where I can. I am still and will be next season, a Limerick footballer”
