Limerick legend Carey quits

FORMER captain Ciaran Carey has quit Limerick on the eve of their All-Ireland hurling qualifier against Kerry at Tralee tomorrow.

Thirty-one-year-old Carey, a three times All Star, walked out of Wednesday’s training session in Kilmallock when it was leaked to him that he would not be figuring in the starting line-up for Tralee.

“I heard the news in advance of the official announcement. I felt very angry, but did not discuss my omission with the manager or selectors. I believe that I still have a lot to contribute to Limerick and to hurling in general. Hurling has been my life and I desperately wanted to be involved for the remainder of this season. Unfortunately, management saw things differently.”

When asked if he would consider returning to the squad, he replied that as things stood he was seen as surplus to requirements: “I will be getting in touch with the county board officers to explain my position to them.”

He added: “It’s a sad day for me. I didn’t plan to go out like this, I believe there was another year in me even after this year. I know my own body, know my own fitness, and I feel I still had a role to play on the field, but obviously the selectors feel otherwise, as is their right of course, so I was left with no choice.

“I love hurling, love the green-and-white, always felt proud and privileged pulling on that jersey. I’ll miss the game, will miss the supporters too, and I’d like to thank them for their support over the years. I wish the team every success for the rest of the year, and I hope they get plenty to shout about.” Carey has been involved with Limerick seniors for 13 years.

Meanwhile, Waterford GAA chief Paddy Joe Ryan believes that, if the county can overcome Cork in Sunday’s Munster final, they could go all the way to All Ireland glory.

The Deise chairman, in his ninth year in office, described Cork as “the ultimate test”, more difficult than meeting Kilkenny, the All Ireland champions.

Ryan rates Cork on a par with Kilkenny, he said that he would be more fearful of the rebels than of the reigning All-Ireland champions.

“In many ways I see Sunday as the biggest obstacle. If we surmount it, then perhaps that All-Ireland title will follow.”

He said those who try to devalue Cork’s performance in the semi-final defeat of Clare are doing the Leesiders a major disservice.

“Six days after that defeat Clare came out against Galway and in a cracker of a contest lost by just a single point. That’s how good Cork are in my book. That display was no flash in the pan”, he said.

The Deise chairman confesses to being an optimist by nature, and he doesn’t accept that they are the kind of underdogs on Sunday which the bookmakers and most neutrals are making Waterford out to be.

“But we intend to put a spanner in the works”, he said.

Meanwhile he has confirmed that all 19,000 stand and terrace tickets allocated to Waterford for the game have been sold.

“We could, in fact, have done with another 5,000 or more, and I have never known such a ticket demand for a Munster final,” he said.

Cork GAA officials announced yesterday that terrace tickets will be made available to voucher holders at Páirc Uí Rinn tonight at 9 o’clock for Sunday’s Munster hurling finals. The board stresses that only voucher holders can be accommodated.

Tickets for tomorrow’s Dublin v Derry football qualifier are on sale today from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand from 11am to 8pm.

Tickets are also available from Ticket Master and the GAA website at www.gaa.ie.

The GAA emphasise that there will be no tickets on sale in Clones tomorrow on the instruction of the gardaí. For this reason, nobody without a ticket should attempt to access Clones.