Limerick install O'Grady and Ryan as joint-managers

Donal O'Grady and TJ Ryan are back in charge of the Limerick senior hurling panel, having been ratified at a special County Board meeting in Claughaun tonight.

The pair have been given a two-year term to build on the work done by their predecessor John Allen, who last summer led the Shannonsiders to their first Munster SHC title since 1996.

O'Grady was previously Limerick's manager for the 2011 season with Ryan one of his selectors. Back then, they had the task of blending together the members of the 2009 panel who refused to play under Justin McCarthy with the newer players who lined out for Limerick in 2010.

With O'Grady in charge, they won the National League Division 2 title and reached the quarter-finals of All-Ireland Championship where they lost out to Dublin.

A five-man selection committee - comprising of Mike O'Riordan, Donal Morrissey, Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Wolfe - proposed the new management team and there was no opposition to the appointment of O'Grady and Ryan from club delegates at the meeting.

The joint-managers will have the assistance of Na Piarsaigh's Paul Beary and Mark Lyons from Kilmallock as selectors, with Lyons continuing as the squad's strength & conditioning coach. A third selector may be appointed at a later stage, 'if required by the management'.

While O'Grady had returned to his TV and radio punditry roles in recent years, former Limerick forward Ryan, who played in the 1994 and 1996 All-Ireland final defeats, managed the county's Under-21s this past season and has also worked with north Cork club Kilworth.

Limerick's new managerial duo already know what their first competitive fixture will be - the Waterford Crystal Cup draw has taken place, with Limerick at home to IT Tralee in the preliminary round on Sunday, January 12. The winners will face a trip to All-Ireland champions Clare a week later.