A rare mea culpa. In pronouncing, before it started, the new Munster Hurling Championship the Best League in the World, it turns out, in hindsight, that I was grossly understating things. I was selling it short.

As HawkEye readily admit, few if any other sport challenges their score detection technology more than hurling.

Richie Bennis contends the roar that greeted the Limerick players as they ran out for the 2007 All-Ireland final spooked them.

Richie Bennis has no doubts when asked which Patrickswell team this current side remind him of.

The last man to lead Limerick to an All-Ireland hurling final believes one crucial commodity is holding the county back from a return to that elite level — consistency.

Cian Lynch was an 11-year-old whippersnapper at the time but the impression lasts. 

Shane Dowling sympathises with supporters who will miss out on tickets for Sunday week’s Munster final.

Richie Bennis and Mark Foley are keeping their fingers crossed Páirc Uí Chaoimh will tonight be chosen as the venue for Limerick’s Munster final meeting with Cork on July 13.

The Ger Loughnane Cancer Challenge dominates the Clare GAA scene this weekend as the former All-Ireland-winning boss attempts to raise €40,000 to improve facilities for patients and their families at hospitals in Limerick and Dublin.

Disappointment, dismay, that was the prevailing feeling in Limerick with the news of the shock resignation of joint senior hurling manager Donal O’Grady.

Limerick’s double setback at Croke Park last Sunday rendered further ammunition to a theory supported by many on Shannonside, that national headquarters has a jinx on their teams.

Centre-back Wayne McNamara is one of the most experienced players on the Limerick team to face Clare in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final in Croke Park tomorrow, a panel member since 2007. That year, managed by Richie Bennis, Limerick reached the final but were overwhelmed by a whirlwind Kilkenny start and left to save face – which they did – in the following 60 minutes.

One of Limerick’s longest-serving hurling fans is hoping divine intervention can procure a win for the Treaty men in Croke Park against Clare in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final on Sunday.

Dropping Greaves a brave call

DONAL O’GRADY refused to be drawn on his future as Limerick senior hurling manager following yesterday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final defeat by Dublin.

YOU can watch a tape of the 1973 All-Ireland hurling final celebrations on YouTube.

FORMER Limerick boss Richie Bennis insists all the pressure is on Dublin in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.

LIMERICK secretary Mike O’Riordan has hinted the county board will ask Donal O’Grady to reconsider his plans to step down as senior hurling manager this year — regardless of Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final result against Dublin.

A FAMILIAR face will stand between the posts for the Cork hurlers tomorrow.

LIMERICK last night took on the mantle of European City of Sport for the coming year, the first Irish city to be accorded the honour.

LIMERICK hurling legend Richie Bennis believes the appointment of new manager Donal O’Grady will ‘automatically heal the wounds’ created by this year’s standoff on Shannonside.

LIMERICK legend Richie Bennis has launched a stinging attack on county board chiefs on Shannonside.

UTGOING Limerick boss Justin McCarthy has secured a nomination for the position of the county’s senior hurling manager despite a controversial two-year reign in charge on Shannonside.

LIMERICK GAA chiefs last night had received four nominations for the position of county senior hurling boss ahead of today’s deadline for submissions by clubs across the county with former playing legend Gary Kirby the only confirmed candidate after being nominated by his club Patrickswell to succeed Justin McCarthy.

EX-LIMERICK captain TJ Ryan last night launched a fierce defence of Limerick’s embattled hurlers, insisting they’re not unmanageable. However, the Garryspillane man said there’s only one resolution to the crippling dispute – Justin McCarthy’s resignation.

JUSTIN McCARTHY last night defiantly vowed to remain as Limerick hurling manager despite increasing pressure to step down.

The Limerick hurling saga is set to drag on for another week following the postponement of tonight's specially-convened Limerick County Board AGM and the first County Board meeting of the year.

FORMER Limerick hurling manager Richie Bennis has insisted Justin McCarthy’s style of coaching “doesn’t suit” the county’s needs.

FORMER Limerick hurling manager Richie Bennis believes current boss Justin McCarthy must take a huge chunk of blame for the crisis which has gripped the county.

FORMER Limerick hurler Ollie Moran has blasted Justin McCarthy’s decision to cut 12 players from the 2009 panel describing the development as ‘shameful’.

Limerick's Ollie Moran has retired from intercounty hurling at the age of 33.

LIMERICK hurling veteran Ollie Moran last night called time on his 12-year intercounty career at the age of 33.

A WARTS ‘n all new book on Limerick hurling which has raised hackles in official circles will be launched next week by county hurling sponsor JP McManus.

AS I made my way from Croke Park yesterday I met a number of people, from different counties, and all were saying more or less the same thing – “shocking match, you won’t have much to write about.”

HE’S BACK in Croke Park for another All-Ireland hurling semi-final, this time with a different team, but driven by the same enduring passion for the game which has literally dominated his life for close on half a century.

OLLIE MORAN doesn’t want to end his career without winning at least a Munster hurling championship medal.

WE HAD the Haka in Croke Park on Saturday as more history was made at Jones Road with the arrival of the famous All Blacks. Unfortunately, I had to miss the game as I was honouring a commitment to attend a very special function in the Hospital Herbertstown club in Limerick.

Justin McCarthy is to be appointed as the new Limerick senior hurling manager at a Co board meeting on Tuesday.

Tony Considine has pulled out of the race to become the next Limerick hurling manager.

Tom Ryan has announced his withdrawal as a candidate for the position of Limerick senior hurling manager, as well as putting a halt to his threatened legal action.