THE Limerick Senior footballers will get the 2014 season underway this Sunday afternoon when they Sligo in the opening round of the National Football League.
The reigning Division four champions, Limerick, will travel to Markievicz Park on February 2 to face Sligo in what should be a tight opening clash for both sides.
John Brudair will manage Limerick for the first time in a league game as he takes over the reigns from Maurice Horan.
With Limerick tipped at odds of 10/1 to win the Division and 15/8 to be relegated, a good start is needed by the Shannonsiders if they are to consolidate their position in the third tier of the national competition.
On the opposite sideline from John Brudair will be a new face for Sligo. Pat Flanagan is in his first season as the manager of the Connacht side. Last season Sligo finished sixth in the Division, however they only won two of their nine league and championship matches last season.
On the playing front Limerick are still waiting on the decisions of elder statesmen John Galvin, Stephen Lavin and Jim O’Donovan as to whether or not they will commit to another season in green.
With a young panel of players training with Limerick since before Christmas, the new look management team might just have a few more fresh faces in this season’s championship that they would have hoped for.
With Wexford, Roscommon and Cavan amongst the favourites to gain promotion, Limerick know that home wins and maybe one or two away wins might be needed to secure their future in this division.
The game in Markievicz Park kicks off at 2pm on Sunday and live commentary will be available on Limerick’s Live 95fm.
Limerick GAA this week was hit with the tragic news that referee Shane Hourigan was fatally injured in a road traffic accident on Monday 27 morning.
The Limerick County Board paid their respects this week with the following statement.
“Shane was one of Limerick’s premier referees and his achievements in refereeing at both local and national level were a great source pride to Limerick GAA.
“A member of the St Mary’s Sean Finn’s GAA Club in Rathkeale where he was a former player, former administrator and loyal supporter he will be remembered as a gentleman, both on and off the field. He was highly respected by players, mentors and officials for his style and diligence in refereeing.
“Our thoughts, prayers and sympathies are with his mother Helen, wife Maire, son Shane Jnr, brothers, sisters, extended family and large circle of friends. He will be sadly missed.
Ar dheis De go raibh a hAnam dílis”
The GAA world was rocked once more on the same day when young Scariff lad Barry Nash (18) was killed in a separate road accident.
Barry was from Scariff and was an All Ireland minor handball champion. He came from a family known for its great support of handball and Gaelic Games. His father, James, is a member of the Munster Hearings Committee.
Limerick Panel for game versus Sligo:
Padraig Browne, (Fr. Casey’s) Micheal Brosnan, (Dromcollogher/ Broadford) Seanie Buckley, (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Captain, Ger Collins (Monaleen) Iain Corbett (Newcastlewest) Mike Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh/Castlemahon) Eoin Hanrahan (St. Patrick’s) Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s) Tom Lee (Ballylanders) Colm Moran (Monaleen) John Mullane (St. Patrick’s) Johnny McCarthy (St. Kieran’s) Derry McCarthy (Dromcollogher/Broadford) Garrett Noonan (Dromcollogher/Broadford) Danny Neville (Ballysteen) Seamus O’Carroll (Cappagh/Kilcornan) Lorcan O’Dywer (Pallasgreen) Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen) Pa Ranahan (Ballysteen), Mark Riordan (Croom) John Riordan (Fr. Casey’s Ian Ryan (St Senan’s Vice-Captain) Brian Scanlon (Gerald Griffin’s) Mike Sheehan (Fr. Casey’s) Darragh Tracey (St. Kieran’s)
