Allen steps down as Treaty boss

Limerick hurling captain Donal O’Grady is confident the county board will make the right choice sourcing a replacement for departed manager John Allen.

The Cork man’s decision not to continue in charge of the Munster champions was announced at last night’s board meeting but O’Grady has faith a capable replacement will be found.

“It’s a big appointment,” he said. “We’ve had a huge turnover of managers in Limerick in the last decade or so, but the transition from Donal O’Grady to John Allen was seamless and that really helped us.

“They were both excellent modern managers, very hands-on and hopefully the next man will carry that on. It’s up to the three-man committee now to find someone but they’ve done well since the committee was set up. They’ve made two good appointments so we’ll leave that job to them and focus ourselves on just trying to get on the panel!”

O’Grady acknowledged the demands placed on Allen must have played a part in his decision. “It’s tough to travel up and down so much,” he said. “The way modern-day management is, when he wasn’t with us he was probably watching DVDs of games, communicating with selectors and county board liaison officers.

“We’d have loved to have seen him stay on, but all of that takes its toll, it’s nearly a full-time job these days.”

And, while the centre-back held out hope the St Finbarr’s clubman would reverse his call, O’Grady’s gut instinct was that he would leave.

“I suppose I had a slight inkling,” he said, “but as time went on after the All-Ireland semi-final I was hoping maybe there might have been a re-think. He didn’t say anything to us after the Clare game but he was very down and disappointed.

“I suppose he had a lot going through his mind. He didn’t say 100% that he was gone then, but at the same time he didn’t say he was staying on either.

“He did a great job, we’re all very grateful for what he did.”

Meanwhile, Liam Dunne was last night re-appointed Wexford senior hurling manager for a two-year term.