Limerick Board seeks date change for match

THE Limerick County Board has sought a change of date for their first round Munster SFC clash with champions Cork on May 25 due to demands on their dual players.

The Shannonsiders are in Munster SHC action against Waterford or Kerry in their championship opener seven days later and there is concern about the pressure on four dual players.

As a result the Limerick Board has asked Munster Council to bring the football game forward by two weeks, to May 11. It is understood Cork County Board officials are in agreement.The winners are due to play Clare in the semi final on June 15.

Ironically, hurling star Brian Begley has been named at full forward on the football side to face the Banner County in the opening round of the McGrath Cup on Sunday while another hurling colleague John Meskell is named at corner forward.

Earlier this month, the Limerick County Board rejected reports a ban on dual inter-county players ever existed.

Dual player Stephen Lucey said the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. “It was never an issue with me anyway,” he said.

“I played for the two teams last year, went with the footballers when I had a chance, played for the hurlers when I was asked,” he said.

Lucey acknowledged that Eamon Cregan was opposed to dual status, but there was never any ban in place.

Meanwhile, the Limerick County Board has taken steps to arrest the slide in standards and spectator interest at the senior hurling championship by completely revamping the competition for 2003.

The new format is to have eight teams in section A, and a similar number in section B. The A championship will consist of the top eight teams divided into two groups of four each, and the other eight will then play in the B championship, also in two groups of four.

The top three in each of the A sections will gain entry to the quarter finals, to be joined by the winners from each of the B divisions.

LIMERICK v Clare, McGrath Cup: S. O’Donnell; M Riordan, P. Windle, T. Stack, S. Lavin, S. Lucey, AN Other; J. Stokes, AN Other; C. Mullane, M. Gavin, S. Kelly, M. Reidy, B.Begley, J. Meskell.