Limerick GAA delegates to question County Board chiefs over unrest

GAA delegates in Limerick will table a series of questions shortly to County Board chiefs on the recent spate of rumour and innuendo following the hurlers’ disappointing senior and U21 Championship performances this season.

Normally, the August meeting at the Claughaun GAA clubhouse is, because of the holiday season, a quiet affair but there is advance warning that business will be busier than usual on Tuesday week. County Board officers acknowledge there is a good deal of unrest throughout the county and will want to allay fears for the future.

Heading the questions list will be the alleged lack of discipline in the senior panel.

Also, it is understood that some clubs will be suggesting that dual player status should be ended.

Hurling manager Dave Keane had indicated that his job was made all the more difficult because of the unavailability of players, a reference perhaps to Brian Begley, Conor Fitzgerald and Stephen Lucey’s involvement with the senior football squad.

Others are expected to seek a change in the bye law which allows fixture postponements for clubs with players involved in county panels, claiming it holds up domestic competitions. With football boss Liam Kearns having brought Limerick to Division 1 of the League for the first time, he is entitled to insist on full availability of players for the meetings with Tyrone, Armagh, Cork, Kerry, Galway, Dublin and Westmeath when the season kicks off in February

His hurling counterpart Dave Keane, conscious of Limerick’s luke warm season, will likewise want to get 2004 off on the right footing and, like Kearns, is likely to seek total commitment from those who up to now had divided loyalties.

One of the reasons why previous hurling manager Eamonn Cregan quit was because of the county board’s stance on dual players, allowing them to play both codes.

Incidentally, while Kearns has told the county board he wants breathing space before making a decision to commit himself to another season in charge, it is expected he will continue in office.

Meanwhile a small number of Stand and Hill 16 tickets have been returned by Co Boards for Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Football Championship quarter final double bill at Croke Park. They will be on sale today from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand in Croke Park from 11am, while stock. Tickets for Monday’s double-header will be on sale from 11am to 7pm today and tomorrow.