Liam Kearns in the frame for Limerick job
LIAM Kearns could be set for a return as Limerick senior football manager.
The man who guided the fortunes of the Limerick senior footballers from 1999 to 2005 is one of six nominations to succeed Mickey Ned O'Sullivan, who replaced Kearns in the autumn of 2005.
Since he departed Limerick, Liam Kearns spent two seasons in charge of Laois.
At present, Kearns as been lined to the vacant Galway position after the departure of Joe Kernan. Next Monday night is the deadline for nominations for the Galway position and only time will tell if Kearns' name will be on the shortlist.
Kearns' name was among the six nominated by this Wednesday night's deadline when the Limerick Football Committee met in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.
However, Football Committee officials also have the remit to source a manager from outside the short list of six.
Also in the running is former Clare senior football manager John Kennedy and former Tipperary senior football manager Tom McGlinchey.
Kennedy was also nominated for the Limerick position back in 2005, when Mickey Ned O'Sullivan replaced Kearns.
McGlinchey was also previously linked to the Limerick role, when he was suggested as a replacement for O'Sullivan after the end of his fourth season in charge.
The man who led Tipperary to a 2002 Munster final appearance was coach to the Ballylanders side that won the 2007 County SFC title.
McGlinchey coached Ballylanders for three seasons but departed last winter. This year he was physical coach to the Smith O'Briens senior hurling team in Killaloe, where former Irish rugby captain Keith Wood was also part of the management team.
The three remaining nominees are John Cummins, John Brudair and Maurice Horan.
Galbally native Cummins is a former Limerick footballer and in recent seasons has served as a selector with John Evans in the Tipperary senior football management.
Maurice Horan has also played with Limerick. He also played for his native Mayo and this season was Limerick under-21 manager and a selector with Mickey Ned's management.
The sixth candidate is John Brudair.
He has managed Dromcollogher-Broadford to back-to-back Limerick SFC titles.
Meanwhile, the search for the new Limerick senior hurling manager has reached the end of its second month. It now appears likely that the Independent Appointments Committee will not have a nomination ready in time for the September 14 meeting of the County Board - rumours still suggest Cork's Donal O'Grady as the front runner to succeed Justin McCarthy as manager.
Referee suspension
A six-month suspension has been sanctioned for a Limerick GAA referee. Leader Sport understands that this most unusual decision was taken by the South Board following an incident in a divisional championship game in July. Following a brief altercation between the match referee and a player, the South Board launched an investigation.
The disciplinary committee made a recommendation to the South Board and a 24-week suspension was sanctioned for the referee and a three-month ban for the player.
However, as of this Wednesday morning, the referee in question was still to receive official confirmation of his suspension. While the suspension was sanctioned over a week ago, the referee was still eligible to officiate last weekend due to the lack of written confirmation.
Gaelic Grounds
Limerick County Board officials have expressed their disappointment after Croke Park overlooked the Gaelic Grounds as a venue for this month's All-Ireland under-21 hurling final.
Officers of the County Board had made representations to host the September 11 All-Ireland under-21 final between Tipperary and Galway, but this Monday Croke Park officials confirmed that the game would be played under floodlights in Semple Stadium in Thurles on the Saturday evening.
This decision has left local GAA officials fuming and up in Galway they are equally unimpressed.
On Monday night Galway hurling officials called a meeting with the management of the county's under-21 side and it is understood that yesterday they made an official request to Croke Park's management committee of the CCCC to have the venue changed. Galway have nominated Limerick's Gaelic Grounds, O'Connor Park in Tullamore and O'Moore Park in Portlaoise as alternative venues.
The All-Ireland under-21 hurling final has shared a billing with the All-Ireland senior camogie final in recent seasons, but this September the All-Ireland senior, intermediate and junior camogie finals will all be played on September 12 in Croke Park.
GAA officials made a decision earlier this year to move the under-21 decider out of Croke Park and in May fixed the final for Tipperary's Semple Stadium.
"This was done with a view to playing future finals in Semple Stadium.
"It just so happens that Tipperary happen to be in this year's final," said the GAA's communications manager Alan Milton.
Galway GAA officials had written to Croke Park after winning their semi-final clash against Dublin, and Tipperary overcoming Antrim, calling for the final to be played at a neutral venue.
Limerick can meet all the criteria of Semple Stadium in terms of a more than adequate capacity and floodlights.
"The under-21 final would have been a great dry-run for October 23's International Rules series in the Gaelic Grounds," Limerick secretary Mike O'Riordan said.
"Of course we are disappointed. We had hoped that the final would be fixed for Limerick. It was an ideal opportunity for a big game to be played in Limerick," said the full-time secretary.
Aussie Rules
Limerick football duo John Galvin and Johnny McCarthy have been included in Anthony Tohill's preliminary panel of almost 50 players for next month's International Rules Series. The Croom and St. Kieran's man have been listed by the Derry man in his initial panel, which did not include players from Dublin, Cork, Down or Kildare.
Last weekend Galvin was involved in a training session at Carton House in Kildare, but McCarthy was unable to attend due to club commitments.
Tickets are on sale for the first test between Ireland and Australia in Limerick's Gaelic Grounds on Saturday, October 23. Tickets, priced as €25 for the Mackey Stand, €20 for the uncovered stand, €15 for the terraces, are available from ticketmaster outlets and online.
All-Ireland Sevens
It's a quiet weekend on the local GAA scene in Limerick, but five different clubs will take part in the annual Meteor Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Sevens on the eve of Sunday's All-Ireland senior hurling championship final between Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Recently disposed Limerick SHC champions Adare are in group eight along with Kilruane McDonaghs (Tipperary), Eire Og Corra Choill (Kildare) and Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary).
Croom will play All-Ireland Club Champions from '06, '08 and '09 and All Ireland Sevens winners in '04 and '08 Portumna, led by Joe and Ollie Canning. Also in group four are Eire Og Annacarty-Donohill of Tipperary and Rapparees-Starlights of Wexford.
In group five Murroe-Boher are paired with defending champions Moycarkey Borris (Tipperary), Carrigtwohill of Cork and Lorrha-Dorrha of Tipperary. Patrickswell will face Bride Rovers (Cork), Portroe (Tipperary) and Blackwater-St Brigids (Wexford). The fifth Limerick side are Granagh-Ballingarry and then will play Killenaule (Tipperary), Ballinhassig (Cork) and Shelmaliers (Wexford).
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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