LIMERICK WILL take a couple of days to consider their response to the GAA’s rejection of the proposal to restore the eight-county Division One to the hurling league but newly appointed manager John Allen has said he is hopeful his team will be involved in the 2012 competition.
Contacted about the county’s threat to withdraw from the league if the six-county format was persevered with, Limerick chief executive Mike O’Riordan said no decision had been taken and clarified the question of the boycott.
“What was said in relation to withdrawing from the league was that it would be an option. It was never stated that we would withdraw. We’ll review the whole scenario in the light of the (Central Council) meeting and see how it affects the county.”
Limerick and Wexford have been most vocal among the eight counties, who would have formed next year’s top division had the format not been changed – having last season gained promotion and avoided relegation, respectively, only to be excluded from the new Division One A.
Allen, the former All-Ireland winning Cork manager, said that the matter had been raised in his discussions with Limerick officials prior to being offered the manager’s job in the county.
“We did mention it but I suppose we were waiting to see what the results of last night’s (Tuesday’s) meeting were first. I’m just appointed and can’t speak for the Limerick county board but I’m not happy with the way the league’s going to be structured next year. I’d have preferred if it was kept the way it was, given that Limerick had secured promotion.
“It’s a drawback. You’re depending on winning Division One B to get a chance of playing in a semi-final of the league in order to play one of the better teams in Division One A. The maximum you can get is two extra matches. It’s a decided disadvantage.”
Wouldn’t playing in no division be even more of a disadvantage?
“Of course it would be but I hope that doesn’t happen. I haven’t discussed it seriously with them but I would hope that doesn’t happen.”
Looking at the year ahead Allen, who said the number of talented young players in Limerick as well as the additional time afforded by his retirement from teaching, were the main drivers in his decision to take the position, said that he didn’t feel the inter-county game had changed hugely in the past five years.
“I don’t. The physicality that Kilkenny brought to the 2006 final is still at that level. That was the first final where there was a huge ferocity about the game in recent times and we saw in the past three finals, particularly 2009 and ’10, a ferocious intensity that’s now common at the very top. We have to match that.
“I spoke to a very well-known former Cork player recently and he reckoned that the skills are suffering. I’m not sure I agree with that. The game has changed but it’s evolving all the time. The game is faster now and it’s certainly a better spectacle now. Players are stronger and fitter and the execution of everything is 100 times faster than 25 years ago.”
He also said that he would like the rules on the close season to be reviewed. “To expect a team that’s been out of action for five months to be ready for the league after a few weeks’ training in January isn’t right.
“Common sense doesn’t come easy to some people. We need to mind the players who are involved in under-21 and Fitzgibbon but there are other players who aren’t doing anything but need to be doing a bit.”
He added that his aim for 2012 is firmly trained on the Munster championship clash with holders Tipperary. “Obviously the focus is on Tipperary who we meet in the first round of the Munster championship but we would aim to qualify from Division One B.
“But the main target is that we would have the best 15 available in May for the Tipp game. That will give an indication of where we’re at.”
