Limerick selectors to stay on

GAA: Declan Nash and Joe McKenna have agreed to stay on as county hurling selectors in Limerick, at least on an interim basis. The news emerged from last night's executive meeting to consider the procedures for appointing a successor to Pad Joe Whelahan, whose resignation as manager was announced yesterday.

This latest development was a shock given that earlier yesterday Nash had declared that he too would be stepping down, but last night's meeting was told that he had reconsidered his decision.

"Declan Nash has said that he is willing to come back," said county PRO Denis Carroll after the meeting. "He and Joe McKenna, plus an officer of the county board, will take over the team on an interim basis until next Tuesday night's meeting of the county board at which proposals for a new manager will be put for the approval of the clubs."

Asked whether McKenna and Nash would be remaining on as selectors with the new management team, Carroll said that the decision was for the clubs to make, but that "it is likely that their names will be put forward".

He also said that the identity of the county officer who would act as an interim selector hadn't yet been decided.

Carroll said that the county executive would be liaising with the clubs over the next few days to expedite the process of appointment. A recent bylaw in Limerick provides for the clubs to advance proposals for and sanction any management appointments.

But the executive, according to Carroll, is "hopeful" that the clubs will co-operate in resolving the issue at next Tuesday's county board meeting.

The name of Pat Herbert has emerged as a strong contender for the management of the county hurlers. A member of a well-known hurling family from Ahane, Herbert - who played for Limerick in the All-Ireland final of 1980 - was a candidate when Whelahan was appointed 18 months ago.

An army officer in the Curragh, he is just back from a tour of duty with the UN and has since been helping out with Kildare club Confey. He also had some coaching success with Ahane, taking the club to a county final.

"I went for the job 16 months ago when Pad Joe got it," he said yesterday. "I wanted it then, and I probably want it even more now because of what has gone on since. The team has been going downhill in the last while, and no Limerick man wants to see that."

"If I can help in any way I will be happy to do so. The players and supporters are disappointed with how Limerick hurling has been going. If anything can be done at this stage to arrest it, it should be done. There are only eight or nine weeks to the championship and it is a very short period to turn it around. But it's a challenge I would relish."

Meanwhile, Whelahan has explained in a number of interviews the reasons for leaving the position after a disappointing start to the league season.

He mentioned the dual player issue, which saw several such players opt for football when told that they could no longer play both games.

He also told RTÉ television news that he had been "uncomfortable" working with trainer Dave Mahedy, simply because it was the first time he had collaborated with someone in that manner in the preparation of a team.

On local radio in Limerick he pointed out that had the opening matches of the league been against Down and Antrim rather than Cork and Tipperary, his fate might have been different.

Former manager Eamonn Cregan, who approached Herbert about helping with the team's preparations three years ago, ruled himself out of any further involvement, but said that it was important that a new manager should be familiar with hurling in the county.

"There's a lot of names being mentioned who wouldn't even know the players," he said. "At least what happened happened in March. It's early in the year and Limerick were missing about six players starting that match (against Tipperary) and a county like Limerick can't afford that.

"I don't believe all is lost. The feeling is down, but sometimes out of a controversy like this springs something positive. Back in 1972-73 we had a crisis when our physical trainer Joe McGrath was let go and a number of players pulled out of the panel.

"But when they returned there was a tremendous spirit and by the end of the year we had won the All-Ireland."