Whelahan will continue quest for ‘intelligent hurlers’
Whelahan raised eyebrows by including veteran Pat Heffernan in an extended Limerick squad, after an absence of eight years.
Whelahan is looking to the Blackrock (Kilfinane/Ardpatrick) player to add experience to his young squad, but admitted that when he first saw him recently, he wasn’t impressed.
“In our first trial game, he played at full-back, and I wasn’t impressed with him,” Whelahan explained.
“But we tried him at full-forward the next day and he really stood out, more for his intelligent distribution than anything else.
“Any time he won the ball, if he had no opening himself he was always looking for an outlet. That’s what I’m looking for, intelligent hurling.”
Since his surprise appointment a couple of months ago, the hugely successful Birr club manager, who also had several successful seasons at underage with Offaly, has been trawling the county for talent.
“I met with the county board after the Patrickswell/Clarecastle Munster club championship game and told them that I wanted to give every decent player in Limerick a chance.
“We ended up with a list of 206 names, held two trials every Saturday for three weeks in various venues around the county, Kilmallock, Bruff, Hospital - seventy players per Saturday.
“We finished up with a final trial in Claughaun last Saturday, four hours, and from that we’ve picked this panel of 49, which will be whittled down again before the League starts.
“We’ll be doing three nights a week for nine weeks from January 2, which will bring us to the end of February. By then we’ll be in a position to name the panel for our first League game, against Cork.
“So far, everything has been done in a very professional manner. Declan Nash, Damien Quigley (fellow selectors) and all the backroom team are well organised and everyone is working together.”
One veteran recalled, several others omitted, including Timmy Houlihan, last year’s keeper, and play-anywhere Eoin Foley (though that exclusion does not rule them out of contention for a future call up). Included in the extended training panel - a host of new names.
“There are 25 fellas there who have never played for Limerick before, young lads, early 20s, all with a bit of size too.
“I’m only going with those who are giving a full commitment, and that’s what I’m getting from these new lads, a terrific response. They’re as tough as nails, some of those trial games were as hard as anything you’ll see in the championship.
“One thing I always like to have, especially at county level, is a big panel, because you never know when you’ll be left short.
“So far so good, and already people in Limerick are looking forward to that Cork game.”
Veteran Stephen McDonagh has given a commitment to continue for one more season at least, as has Ciaran Carey, but injuries ruled out Brian Begley, Brian Geary, Conor Fitzgerald, Jack Foley, Mark Keane and Clement Smith.
With these still to come into the frame, the next cut will see a lot of disappointed hurlers Shannonside.
In the meantime, a poll conducted among all 69 GAA clubs in Limerick by the Limerick Leader newspaper showed that 74% of officials were in favour of allowing soccer and rugby to be played at Croke Park.
Club chairmen were asked for their views on the issue and all but two voiced their opinions. Fifty-one of the officials said “yes,” and 16 remained adamant that the stadium should remain shut to other sports.
There was overwhelming support for the opening of Croke Park in the city division, with 72% in favour, and in the more conservative west of the county, 67% had no objection.
However, county board chairman Pat Fitzgerald said that the matter would be debated at the February board meeting.
Football board chairman Owen Hayes earlier this month called for the opening of Limerick’s revamped Gaelic Grounds to other codes to help alleviate the huge debt.
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