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McCarthy forced to make five changes to his starting team
JUSTIN McCarthy has handed out debuts to three players for Saturday's All-Ireland Qualifier against Offaly.
McCarthy and Brian Ryan, Liam Garvey and John Tuohy were faced with a number of injuries ahead of the game in O'Connor Park in Tullamore at 7pm. They were already faced with making two changes from the side that lost to Cork in the Munster championship due to the emigration of Paudie McNamara and suspension of Sean Herlihy. Now, full-back David Breen, wing-back Sean O'Riordan and midfielder Andrew Brennan are all ruled out due to injury. Into the team come Lorcan O'Dwyer and Nicky Quaid, who both made their debuts when introduced as substitutes against Cork. Making their first appearances in championship hurling will be Cian Hayes, Daniel Moore and James O'Brien - all three are under-21 players.
Indeed, six of the starting team will be in action next Wednesday night when Limerick face Clare in the Munster under-21 championship.
"It's a huge game there is no doubt about that. It's winner take all, if we don't win we are out and if we win we go to the next step.
"We realise what is involved and we are very conscious of it and we have to be very positive about the whole thing. It's a huge challenge against a team that is after having two very good games against Galway and are in form, but I think we have made progress and I'm happy that we are going in with the fight frame of mind particularly," said Justin McCarthy this week.
O'Connor Park in Tullamore will host a double-header with the Offaly footballers taking on Waterford at 5pm followed by the hurling clash which won't be shown live on TV. If Limerick progress past Offaly they would be back in action the following weekend against either Tipperary or Antrim.
This week Justin McCarthy quashed rumours that financial rewards were his motivation for remaining in charge.
"I will never be bought. No body will ever buy Justin McCarthy and money would never come into it," Justin McCarthy told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland this Wednesday.
"There is no way that is happening - I can guarantee you and tell you straight out, down the middle," he said when questioned about financial rewards.
"I do it with a heart and a half because I am a hurling person and I have a love for Limerick, I've connections in Limerick and because I'm a hurling man and I feel there's something can be done and thats my way forward and my thinking," he said of his turbulent stay in Limerick.
If Limerick lose to Offaly on Saturday McCarthy's two-year term would be up, but Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan has already stated that there will be then a review process when the championship run is complete. However, it appears that McCarthy is ready for another term in Limerick.
"I gave a commitment to the County Board, who interviewed me for the job, that I would stay for two years. I'm not one to walk away from things when I see something that can be done and if I can do it with the energy and enthusiasm and the experience that I have, I was always going to play my part in order to put Limerick hurling in a new sort of an era coming through to have new thinking and new ideas - so I wasn't going to walk away from that.
"I am a hurling man through and through - my track record in hurling and my interest and love of hurling is absolutely endless," said the Cork man.
Were McCarthy to remain into 2010, he insists the door is open for players to return.
"The door is always open. The door isn't shut on anybody, but people have to realise that there are rules and regulations. You must have somebody in charge."
Limerick team: Tadhg Flynn (Ahane), Kieran O'Rourke (Bruree), Cian Hayes (Kildimo), Shane O'Neill (South Liberties), Lorcan O'Dwyer (Pallasgreen), Bryan O'Sullivan (Kilmallock), Paul Browne (Bruff); Thomas O'Brien (Patrickswell), Daniel Moore (Monagea); James O'Brien (Na Piarsaigh), James O'Brien (Bruree), Nicky Quaid (Effin); Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock), Anthony Owens (South Liberties), Richie McKeogh (Kildimo). Subs: Barry Hennessy, Steven O'Connell, Edward Kiely, Sean O'Riordan, Dean Madden, Cathal Mullane, Peter Russell, Alan O'Connor, Des Kenny, Mark Deegan, Andrew O'Connell, Michael Noonan, David Lynch, Andrew Brennan.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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