O’Connor anger at losing Limerick job

FORMER playing star Leo O’Connor has admitted huge disappointment after losing his job as Limerick U21 hurling manager.

O’Connor, who served three years in the position, was surprisingly overlooked by county board officials for another term in charge, with John Fitzgerald ratified as his successor last night.

O’Connor took over in 2009 and made significant progress during his spell at the helm, guiding the Shannonsiders to a first Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 crown since 2002 earlier this year.

Limerick defeated Cork in an epic decider at the Gaelic Grounds before narrowly losing to eventual champions Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“I’m disappointed and so are my selectors Pat Donnelly and Pat Davern,” he said.

“I took the job 10 to 12 weeks before we played Clare in 2009. In that time, we had to get panel together and a team training. It was very hard in that time and Clare beat the living daylights out of us but that team went on to win the All-Ireland. In 2010, we were beaten by Clare at the Gaelic Grounds, when Darach Honan scored a goal in the last minute.

“But we beat Clare this year below in Ennis and beat Cork in the Munster final. We lost to Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final but we came within a hair’s breadth of a team that went on to win the All-Ireland final by ten points.”

O’Connor, who hurled for Limerick seniors from 1989-1994, added: “It’s a disappointment. People still talk about that [2011] Munster final to this day. I’ve no issues with John Fitzgerald whatsoever but I’ve done the hard graft, played hurling with Limerick and been involved for the last 20-25 years.

“If I’m guilty of anything, it’s of wearing my heart on my sleeve because I’m passionate about Limerick hurling and it’s terribly disappointing to lose the position as manager.”