Coaching style ‘doesn’t suit’ Limerick’s needs
McCarthy guided Limerick to this year’s All-Ireland semi-finals but the Shannonsiders suffered a humiliating 24-point defeat against rampant Tipperary at Croke Park.
Bennis said: “I don’t think Justin’s style of coaching suits Limerick. He may be a good coach and I won’t query his credentials because he did well with Waterford but they have a different style of hurler.”
Bennis added: “There wasn’t a sadder Limerick man than me when Tipperary gave us that hiding. The Tipperary players weren’t even happy beating Limerick that way.
“Normally we’d have a slag about matches but they didn’t gloat one bit; they were nearly apologising.
“Outside of Tipperary this year, we ran Kilkenny the closest (2007 All-Ireland final) when they only beat us by seven points.”
Bennis took over during the 2006 championship when Joe McKenna vacated the Limerick post following a heavy defeat against Clare in Ennis.
But Bennis revealed: “I know for a fact that the county board never wanted me in. At the time I came in, I relieved them of a situation and we did fairly well.
“Public opinion forced them to pick me for the next two years, with the possibility of a third year which I didn’t get.”
Bennis continued: “The future doesn’t look rosy for Limerick hurling. Rugby is on a high and that’s a big problem that has been self created because there is no reason why Limerick hurling shouldn’t be on a high.
“We have a coaching programme but the coaching is not being done.”
