Treaty legend Kirby leading race for top job

LIMERICK GAA chiefs last night had received four nominations for the position of county senior hurling boss ahead of today’s deadline for submissions by clubs across the county with former playing legend Gary Kirby the only confirmed candidate after being nominated by his club Patrickswell to succeed Justin McCarthy.

But a leading county board official last night revealed that the future intentions of McCarthy, whose two-year term ended after the All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Offaly in Tullamore earlier this month, were unclear.

McCarthy would not be drawn after the loss to Offaly on whether he would seek to be re-appointed. But even if his name is not submitted to the Limerick county board by this evening’s 5pm deadline, McCarthy could still be interviewed for the post as it is within the remit of the three-man sub-committee that was appointed last week to select the new manager, to interview candidates that were not proposed by Limerick clubs. The committee is comprised of former Limerick players Damien Quigley (Na Piarsaigh) and Paudie Fitzmaurice (Kileedy), and Dairygold chief executive Jim Woulfe. It is understood that the committee held separate meetings this week in the Deerpark Hotel in Charleville with the 2009 panel, and the squad that competed in the league and championship campaigns this season. It is also understood that the 2009 players at this meeting again reiterated their opposition to working with McCarthy.