IT MAY be a little too soon to start talking about redemption for last summer’s championship, but Limerick won’t lack motivation when they welcome All-Ireland champions Cork to Newcastlewest on Sunday – even if it is only for a quarter-final of the McGrath Cup.
July 24th, 2010: Cork, diverted into the qualifiers by Kerry, are struggling to shake off beaten Munster finalists Limerick. A late penalty from Ger Collins and a point from Conor Fitzgerald bring Limerick level, forcing extra-time. Cork regain a slight edge and win by two points, and the rest is All-Ireland history.
That defeat brought the curtain down on Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s mostly unlucky reign as Limerick manager, and even though former Limerick player and selector and Mayo native Maurice Horan is now in charge, the events of last July won’t easily be forgotten – and will certainly rise Limerick on Sunday a little more than Cork.
In fact, the All-Ireland champions aren’t due back from their team holiday in South Africa until tomorrow, and will thus field a largely development team on Sunday, just like they did in the first-round win over Waterford IT.
Only two members of Cork’s All-Ireland winning panel lined out on that occasion, Alan O’Connor and Kevin McMahon, although that didn’t stop them from running out convincing winners, 0-19 to 0-5.
Sunday’s game marks Horan’s first competitive encounter in charge, and although he has lost the services this season of forward Pádraig Browne and sub goalkeeper Conor Ranahan, he has still named a strong 15 for Sunday, including six members of the team that fell so narrowly to Cork last July; defenders Johnny McCarthy and Pa Ranahan, John Galvin at midfield, and forwards Seánie Buckley and Ian Ryan.
Meanwhile Meath’s defeat to UCD in the O’Byrne Cup on Tuesday night has set up a tie against Kilkenny in the O’Byrne Cup Shield this weekend. That game is moved from Sunday and is now fixed for 7pm on Saturday evening in Páirc Tailteann, Navan.
Ronan Steede, who starred with the Galway minors in 2009, has signed a nine-month trial with Victoria club Grovedale.
