Bemused Ryan feels good name attacked

Former Limerick senior hurling manager Tom Ryan has accused Shannonside officials of “character assassination” as they prepare to overrule his proposed appointment as the county’s new intermediate hurling team boss.

A sub-committee headed by county board vice chairman Pat Heffernan had put Ryan’s name forward for ratification. But Limerick’s management committee voted against this move and the divisive nature of the issue led to the abandonment of the November 28 board meeting, when clubs pushed for a vote on the matter.

Last week, a meeting between members of the board executive and Heffernan’s sub-committee ended in stalemate. But Limerick top brass have moved swiftly to call a special meeting in Claughaun tomorrow evening at 8pm, where they will ask delegates to back their decision not to appoint Ryan while also putting forward a new appointments committee to find the next intermediate manager.

Ryan is now hoping that clubs demand answers.

He fumed: “They have me buried — I’m lying in state now at the moment and they’ll apply the finishing touches.

“They have no concern about my good name and are quite happy to trample me into the ground with the power they have. This has been the trend — character assassination by the people who were empowered to pick a manager.”