‘A bad day for Limerick’

LIMERICK U21 manager Leo O’Connor has hit out at Saturday’s Central Council decision to alter the structure of the Allianz Hurling Leagues next spring.

After triumphing in last April’s Division Two decider, Limerick were poised to battle with the elite counties in 2012 but must now prepare for a campaign in Division 1B instead.

The news filtered through to the Limerick camp before their U21 semi-final against Galway on Saturday and O’Connor feels the decision will stifle the development of some of the country’s brightest young talents.

“The Limerick seniors spent 12 months trying to get up to Division One hurling and there was a decision made in a boardroom on Saturday evening to put us back in Division 1B.

“Is that good enough? Young guys there tonight have worked really hard at increasing the intensity and pace of their game, and that’s what we’ve all been trying to develop in them.

“We were looking forward to playing the Corks and Kilkennys next year in Division One.

“That’s how we see how these guys are developing and it’s ultimately against those teams that you’ll be judged. Limerick are a county with a lot of young players and something like that decision has a very negative effect on that. It’s a bad day all round for Limerick hurling.”

Despite the defeat by Galway, O’Connor is hopeful Limerick can impact on this grade next year with 11 of their side still eligible for the U21 ranks.

But he insists they cannot afford to rest on their laurels after a season that delivered provincial silverware.

“There are 11 of them underage next year and this is a huge lift for them. “We had a good year and we need to drive forward now to the next level.

“Limerick hurling is on its way back when you look at everything that happened this year. But it’s a long road back and it’s disappointing from our viewpoint what happened there tonight.”