Ger Loughnane has indicated that he is ready to resume hurling management at senior level. The man who took Clare to two All-Irelands in the 1990s has been associated with the vacancy in neighbouring Limerick since Pad Joe Whelahan's controversial resignation last week.
Loughnane, now an analyst on the Sunday Gameand a newspaper columnist, had previously ruled out any return to intercounty management outside of his own county. But it's nearly five years since he stepped down as Clare manager and he says that he is now feeling refreshed.
"Up until recently I wouldn't have given it any thought," he said. "It took me so long to thaw out after the Clare job and get my enthusiasm back. I took over the school team the year before last and we've won two championships. It's funny how the engine revs up and I'd say that I'll be back with a senior side next year - club or county."
Asked whether he would be interested in the Limerick position or if anyone had approached him about it, Loughnane declined to comment beyond outlining the conditions on which he would accept any appointment.
"If I did go back the only way I'd ever do it would be on the same conditions that I did the job in Clare.
"In other words I'd have to have complete control because that gives you complete responsibility and means you can't blame anyone else. If I sank after that it would be my fault and no one else's."
He also said that he didn't subscribe to the general pessimism about Limerick's prospects. "I wouldn't be downbeat. The most important things with any side are: the central line of the team, playing to a pattern and playing with spirit. It's amazing what you can achieve after that. I hope that Limerick can get themselves sorted out. It would be great for hurling if they did."
The task facing whoever takes over the Limerick team is quite different to that which Loughnane had on his hands 10 years ago in Clare when he took charge of a group of ferociously committed players who had won nothing at that point.
Conversely Limerick are only three years after completing an All-Ireland three-in-a-row at under-21 level. Ever since there has been a perception that many of the players lack the hunger to submit fully to the levels of commitment necessary even to get to the starting line at elite senior level.
Tonight the Limerick County Board meet to consider the options for the hurling management. Speculation is that the meeting will only decide on an interim appointment. Both of Whelahan's selectors, Joe McKenna and Declan Nash, have agreed to stay on and will be part of any interim management team.
McKenna, together with former county hurler Pat Herbert, is a front-runner for the post of manager but tonight's delegates, who have ultimate responsibility for the appointing of senior team officials, are expected to ask for more time before making a long-term decision.
Board chairman Denis Holmes said that the executive planned to put a proposal before the meeting, but declined to reveal what they had in mind but the feeling within the county is that a temporary replacement will be proposed allowing for some soul searching before the fourth manager in less than three years is appointed.
