Internal pressure forced Whelahan departure
With the County Board executive deciding last night to convene an extraordinary meeting of the clubs to elect a successor without delay, former defender Pat Herbert emerged as a possible successor, along with UL coach Ger Cunningham.
Herbert, a candidate when Whelahan was initially appointed, confirmed his interest in the position yesterday.
“I probably want it even more now because of what has gone on since,’’ he said.
“The team has been going downhill in the last while. No Limerick man wants to see that.”
Herbert, from the Ahane club, is a Dublin-based Army officer. Confirming he was happy to let his name go forward, he pointed out that some clubs had already been in touch with him.
Whelahan, who managed the Offaly seniors when they lost sensationally to Antrim in the 1989 All-Ireland semi-final and led Birr to four All-Ireland club titles, formally opted out on Wednesday, under a degree of pressure from the County Board. They had wanted an immediate decision from him about his future, whereas he had hoped to delay it until tonight.
Selector Declan Nash also resigned, but last night decided to stay on, along with former star Joe McKenna, until a new management is put in place. McKenna had been the team’s liaison officer last year but came in as selector after Damien Quigley opted out. Both Nash and McKenna are members of South Liberties, which is the home club of racing magnate JP McManus.
Commenting that he had “honestly thought he could do something” with the team, Whelahan admitted yesterday that the issue of dual players had created a difficulty for him.
Just as it had for Eamonn Cregan (who was followed by U-21 manager Dave Keane, for a year) it proved highly controversial. Whelahan made it clear that any player who played football would not be part of the hurling team. This ruled out Conor Fitzgerald and Brian Begley Stephen Lucey, who were in any case sidelined by injury.
He said last night that if he was with Limerick for another five years he wouldn’t have changed his mind on the policy.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio yesterday, Whelahan gave mixed signals about the influence of team sponsor JP McManus behind the scenes.
Asked why he had resigned, he replied: “A new sponsor came in, JP McManus. I think a bit of pressure was on. I am not saying it was him. I met him last Friday week. He is a very nice man. I shook hands with him and we had a great chat.
“There was a lot of pressure coming on and that pressure came on the players. We were not winning games and they weren’t playing well,’’ he said.
He added they had done no hurling training because of the lack of floodlit facilities.
Against a background of rumours about a fall-out with team members, Whelahan insisted he “never had a moment’s trouble” with the players.
Interestingly, though, he said he found it “frustrating” working with a trainer for the first time.
“In the role I was playing as manager I was restricted at this time of the year. Dave Mahedy is a very good trainer but that was the only thing I was not comfortable with. I was never involved with a trainer before and I got a bit frustrated now and again.’’
Herbert said he would love a chance to take over the county. He is known as a strict disciplinarian, and did a marvellous job in saving Ahane from relegation a few seasons back - and then bringing them to a county final appearance against Adare the following year.
“The players and supporters are disappointed with how Limerick hurling has been going. If anything can be done at this stage to arrest it, it should be done,” he said.
“There are only eight or nine weeks to the championship and it is a very short period to turn it around. But it’s a challenge I would relish.”
Informed sources in the county say Herbert enjoys considerable support for the position, with one saying, “I would expect him to be the next Limerick manager.”
Speculation that Roscommon footballer Frankie Dolan could be on the point of transferring his allegiance to Westmeath has been ruled out as premature. Dolan recently parted company with Roscommon boss Tommy Carr and it is understood he won’t be involved with the team this year.
There has been speculation since of a possible move to Páidí Ó Sé’s Westmeath, which could result in him teaming up with cousin Dessie in attack.
However, according to Westmeath team sources no contact has been made with the player.
DECLAN NASH has decided to continue as a Limerick hurling selector, along with Joe McKenna, until a new management is put into place.
Following a meeting of the County Board Executive last night, it was announced that the two outgoing selectors would act on an interim basis, along with a county board officer until a meeting of the clubs on Tuesday night.
At that meeting the Board executive will be putting proposals in relation to the management to the county committee for ratification.
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