Limerick bosses urged to tackle hurling decline

WITH JP McManus’ gift of €5m easing the financial pressures, the Limerick County Board are now asked to tackle what is claimed to be an alarming decline in the standard of hurling within the county.

Limerick have not won a senior All-Ireland title since 1973, the year that McManus’ life long friends Eamonn Grimes and Pat Hartigan starred.

Were it not for the county’s senior and under 21 footballers, Limerick would have no further interest in this summer’s championships.

There was severe criticism from delegates at this week’s County Board meeting at the level of performances at minor, under 21 and senior grades, with one delegate having claimed that Limerick hurling was going nowhere.

Chairman Pat Fitzgerald agreed that the minors and U21s, who had been expected to deliver this season, failed badly.

There was particular criticism of the U21s, who struggled to beat minnows Kerry by three points, before being hammered by Tipperary in the semi- finals.

Another delegate claimed the senior team management made mistakes.

Board officer Johnny Walsh said: “We learned here from requests for transfers this evening that 25% of our senior panel are off to play in America for the next 60 days.

“Where does that leave their clubs in the local championships and county team managements?”

He called for the setting up of a task force.

“We have reached a situation where football standards have improved dramatically and hurling is in serious decline.”

There was also a call on the County Board to intervene in the dual player row. However, the chairman said that hurling boss Padjoe Whelahan was unlikely to have a change of attitude.

TV pundit Pat Spillane was taken to task for remarks made during last Sunday’s drawn Munster senior football final.

He was accused of adopting a negative stance on Limerick’s performance. Football Board chairman Owen Hayes said: “We are fine sportsmen, we are not a dirty team, yet we were slagged off by Spillane.”