Horan dismisses notions Treaty are an ‘old panel’

LIMERICK’S new football manager Maurice Horan has countered any suggestions that describe his team as an ageing side.

After Mickey Ned O’Sullivan brought down the curtain on five years at the helm last season, it might have been expected that a number of the older players would also step aside.

Five of the team that won the 2000 Munster U21 title played some part in the extra-time qualifier defeat to Cork last summer. However, Horan — a selector with O’Sullivan last year — has not lost a single player to retirement since taking over last October.

He has been encouraged by the hunger shown by the more established figures to make another attempt at winning a Munster title.

“It’s not an old panel,” said the Mayo man. “I don’t think there is anyone older than 31 in the panel. There’s a kind of a misconception about the team. Some people think it’s older than it really is.

“There are a lot of fellas around the same age like John Galvin, Stephen Lucey, Stephen Lavin, Jim O’Donovan, Mark O’Riordan... all those fellas. The backbone of the team. None of them have any notions of retiring.

“There hasn’t been a fall-off even though Galvin has been playing football for Limerick for 11 years and Lucey has been around a long time. A lot of those lads are around from the Liam Kearns’ era and they’re great footballers.

“We have to bring in new people and as under-21 manager last year I’ll be looking at bringing in some of those lads. Hopefully, it’ll be a nice blend of experience and youthful exuberance.”

Horan is grateful for the legacy left by his predecessor O’Sullivan who nurtured the likes of Ian Ryan and Ger Collins.

“Mickey Ned has had a brilliant influence on Limerick football. He brought through new players and ran a very tight ship.

“He brought in Donie Buckley, a fantastic trainer, as well. He came so close to winning two Munster titles but unfortunately just missed out. But he got Limerick playing great football and was a great facilitator and co-ordinator. It was a very happy camp under him. It’s just a pity he didn’t get over the finishing line.”

As a new manager with little or no time to prepare his players for the pre-season competition, Horan could be forgiven for counting his blessings that Limerick aren’t out in the McGrath Cup until Sunday week, when they face the winners of Cork and Waterford IT.

However, he is desperate to get going in his first senior inter-county job.

“We were dying to get back out onto the pitch. We’re lucky in a way because this time last year when I was involved as a selector we were hit with bad weather.

“We had it over the Christmas this time and we were able to get back out onto the pitch come January 1st, which was great.

“It’s all about keeping going. It’s obviously new, Mickey Ned was there for five years. We’ve brought in a few new players and we’ll give them a run in the McGrath Cup. We can’t wait to get up and running and playing matches.”

Horan has already pinpointed parts of Limerick’s football where he believes there is room for improvement.

Buckley’s boots are big ones to fill but he will be ably assisted by former Nemo Rangers’ manager Ephie Fitzgerald.

“We have areas we’re going to target this season. We won’t be fine tuning things just yet; we’re just trying to get everybody fit and used to Ephie our new coach. Things will be run a bit differently.”

In contrast to a number of other managers who’ve voiced their discontent, Horan isn’t too perturbed by the introduction of 26-man panels.

“We’re stuck with a lot of injuries at the moment so it won’t be too bad,” he said about the new rule. “When we get everybody back fully fit it’ll generate a bit of competition in the panel.

“I’m not sure about the general consensus among other managers but I think it’ll be good to increase competition and see who’s going to make the 26. That’s still a lot of players and it’s very rare you’re going to have 30 players fit. It’s not a bad number, really, 26.”