Carey and Allen top the list as Limerick set to name new boss

LIMERICK’S new hurling manager is set to be ratified in time for next Tuesday’s county board meeting.

County secretary Mike O’Riordan said the independent appointments committee’s work was expected to be concluded in the coming days.

The three-man group of Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jimmy Woulfe will inform county officials of their recommendation later this week.

“Jim Woulfe is out of the country from next week for a few weeks so I would say things will be happening sooner rather than later,” said O’Riordan.

“Damien Quigley came on as a substitute for Na Piarsaigh in the county final on Sunday and I’d expect they will come back to us later in the week.”

O’Riordan said he had heard the committee had sought the opinions of the players in their process to nominate an individual for the position vacated by Donal O’Grady last month.

Former Cork boss John Allen, who previously succeeded O’Grady, and outgoing selector Ciarán Carey are believed to be the leading candidates for the position.

Meanwhile, both Ballygunner and De La Salle could face fines arising from their fractious Waterford SHC semi-final on Sunday.

The county board won’t act until they receive referee Michael Wadding’s report.

However, it has emerged senior board officials negotiated with mentors from both sides at the interval break to ensure that the teams would not leave their dressing rooms simultaneously for the second half.

That intervention was preceded by an explosive first half in which there was a melee involving players, substitutes and team officials following a third-minute red card for De La Salle’s Paidi Nevin.

Chairman Tom Cunningham pledged that if the referee’s report contains matters that merit an investigation, then that is what will happen.

“Believe me there will be no sweeping of anything under the carpet, and I would be confident we will have the cooperation of both clubs who have always been fair and constructive in their dealings with this board.”