‘We are expecting a battle royal,’ says O’Connor

KERRY Under-21 coach Jack O’Connor acknowledges the threat Limerick pose in tonight’s Munster football championship first round tie at Newcastlewest (8 pm).

“The success of their seniors is bound to rub off on the county’s other teams,” said O’Connor. “And with home advantage, we are expecting a battle royal.

“Limerick have been working extremely hard with their football at underage level and they are beginning to reap the rewards. Their present senior team is a product of a highly successful under 21 side of the late 90s.

“With both counties due to meet in the senior final next month, it should add a bit more bite to tonight’s game. Our preparations have gone reasonably well, and our team is well balanced.”

It comes as no surprise to O’Connor, who coached Coláiste na Sceilge to a hat-trick of Corn Uí Mhuirí titles, that former pupil Declan O’Sullivan has graduated to the county senior team.

“That was always on the cards. I could see from an early age that he had all the necessary attributes to make it to the top. He was magnificent for us at colleges level, and hopefully he will do the business for us tonight.

“Apart from Declan, we have a couple of other exciting forwards, but they are only as good as the supply of ball that comes their way. For that reason, midfield is going to be the key area.

“If we win our share of possession out there, Colm Cooper and Declan Quill should get the scores to win the game for us. I feel Limerick will be under a lot of pressure playing at home and we hope to capitalise on that.”

Limerick face a mammoth task. They have never beaten Kerry at this level and have suffered some heavy

defeats along the way.

Limerick coach Billy Lee is hoping the success of the seniors will boost the confidence of his side: “While we include only one regular senior player, Stephen Kelly, we do have a number of senior panellists who will be keen to show what they can do.

“Football is at an all-time high in Limerick and we hope to capitalise on that. There will be no shortage of support for us, but Kerry are coming with a very talented team and we’ll have to be at our very best to beat them.”