A PROVINCIAL club competition to run in tandem with the Munster Senior Hurling Championship in 2024 has been suggested by a five-time All-Ireland medal winner with Limerick.
To keep interest alive for non inter-county players next Spring and early Summer, Doon’s Darragh O’Donovan told the Irish Independent: “You could have a serious club league going on the weekends of inter-county championships, where there’s something to motivate club players. If lads aren’t making the 26 for their county, they’re sent back to play for the clubs in these league games.
“Maybe they’re on a Saturday or Sunday morning, say Limerick are playing Tipperary in Thurles on the Sunday afternoon and Patrickswell could be playing Thurles Sarsfields at 11 o’clock that morning.”
He continued: “At least there’s a connection there, and it’s not getting lost, and there’s some kind of motivating factor behind it. The GAA need to sit down and get the thoughts of the players.
“A lot of surveys are done and they’re lip-service exercises rather than sitting down and meeting players and seeing what they have to say. I see it with our lads in the club and it’s really not working for them. They’re just not motivated.”
Added O’Donovan: “It’s hard for lads to stay motivated, we (in Doon) lost a lot of lads to America. It’s finding that healthy balance. I know it’s in the initial phase of it (split season), but it’s a big challenge to get it right.
“For an inter-county player, the season actually never really ends. Everyone is on the about the split season and I think there’s a lot of propaganda around it.”
Meanwhile, two-time All-Star hurling goalkeeper Joe Quaid has been ratified as Limerick Senior Camgoie manager, a position he previously occupied a decade or so ago.
Quaid’s coaching ticket includes Willie Banks, John Murphy and Fiona Godfrey, while James Johnston is on board as a selector, Ray Ryan as Mindset Coach and Donie Browne as Kitman.
