Donal O’Grady steps down as Limerick co-manager

Donal O’Grady has stepped down as joint manager of the Limerick senior hurling team over a statement attributed to him and co-manager TJ Ryan that was made at a recent meeting of the county board.

Ryan and the rest of the management team will remain in place for the defending Munster champions.

Having managed the county in 2010 and 2011, O'Grady returned to Limerick last November after John Allen stepped aside from the post.

A statement sent to the Irish Examiner newspaper late on Sunday night outlined the management team's grievances with the county board.

It read: “Limerick hurling co managers TJ Ryan and Donal O’Grady sought an immediate meeting with county board officers when certain statements at a recent board meeting appeared in the press.

“One such statement informed the meeting that the co-managers ‘apologised for the abysmal’ displays during the league at a previous league review meeting.

“This statement was simply untrue.

“Furthermore the co-managers were appalled and alarmed that such statements would be made as they completely undermined the efforts of the players who had worked tremendously hard over the winter to advance the cause of Limerick senior hurling.

"The co-managers sought a retraction of the 'apology' statement and clarification of other statements at this joint meeting between the officers and managers on April 11 (three days after the board meeting). At the outset of this meeting chairman, Oliver Mann, admitted without issue, that no apology was ever tendered to the officers by the management.

“It was decided to issue a statement on the Limerick GAA website the following day withdrawing the untrue statement, while clarifying others. This did not happen.

“Ten days have elapsed since. No clarifications and no retraction of the untrue statement have been made public as agreed. As no official retraction or clarification was published, national press coverage has continued to report the untrue statement, which has further undermined the management and playing panel.

“Donal O’Grady wishes to state that regretfully at this point in time he has no other option but to step down forthwith from his position of coach and co-manager.

“The chair of the board and the players and other members of the management team have been informed. As upcoming fixtures are in place, TJ Ryan will continue in his managerial role in the interim, in the interests of continuity.”

Limerick missed out on promotion from Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League, finishing runners-up to Cork and losing their quarter-final clash to Galway.

They open the defence of their Munster title against Tipperary on Sunday June 1st at Semple Stadium.