GAA: The Limerick County Board announced last night a temporary management team - that reports suggest may include team captain TJ Ryan - would be recommended tonight to guide the county's senior hurlers through the remainder of the championship. Manager Joe McKenna and coach Ger Cunningham resigned after Sunday's humiliating 17-point defeat to Clare in Ennis.
This is the fifth Limerick hurling management team to crumble in four years. Cunningham has said he stepped down over the players' refusal to adopt the style and tactics the management attempted to impose.
"They are a good-enough team to recover, but the brand they are playing at the moment will not get them out of trouble," said Cunningham yesterday. "They must change the traditional style of hurling they are playing, which is to just get the ball and hit it.
"We all know hurling has changed dramatically in the last five years. Limerick haven't had success playing the same brand of hurling in over 30 years.
"That was the question I asked. As a Limerick man it was a very difficult decision to have to make and I hope we get out of trouble and that somebody comes in that they listen to. The players are there, but when they cross that white line sometimes they seem to forget the game-plan. That was my only reason for stepping down."
Limerick PRO Denis O'Carroll denied a dressing-room rift during the half-time interval contributed to the resignations of McKenna and Cunningham.
Yet sources have claimed goalkeeper Brian Murray did not return for the second half after a row over inadequate cover in defence. It appears the disagreement centred on the substitution of Brian Geary after 25 minutes. Geary, a defender, lined out at centre forward against Clare.
Cunningham admitted, without being specific, substitutions had an effect on the collapse against Clare.
"There are hundreds of reasons (for defeat). Everyone noticed the changes and they were probably a huge factor, but mental preparation has not been there. I don't know if the players were mentally prepared for the game and an awful lot does depend on this aspect.
"Things have not gone the way I would have liked. I believe there is a certain way hurling should be played. I have relayed that to the players, but for some strange reason - whether it is my fault or the players, I'm not sure - we just haven't managed to get that message across. It's worked with other teams I've trained in the past, but not in this case."
Cunningham guided Newtownshandrum to the All-Ireland club title in 2005. "The players' discipline has been very good. I have to commend them on that. Probably, they might not have understood what I was trying to do, or whatever. It's been going on for a while."
Liam Lenihan is the only member of the management team to remain on as a selector, while trainer Dave Mahedy is still considering his position. This makes Lenihan the obvious favourite to become manager, on an interim basis, but veteran Ryan is also set to be offered a role in team selection.
The death occurred in Limerick yesterday of Michael Herbert, who won a NHL medal with Limerick in 1947 and who played during the Mick Mackey era. A former TD for East Limerick and later a MEP, he cut short his hurling career after suffering a serious head injury playing for Ahane.
Limerick Merry-Go-Round
Eamonn Cregan - 1998 to 2002
Stepped down after a disagreement with the Limerick County Board over dual players.
Mossie Carroll - March 2002
A selector under Cregan, Carroll had the job on an "interim basis" for a short time before Cregan and the county board smoked a peace pipe.
Cregan - April to summer 2002
Whole management team resigned after defeat to Cork in the qualifiers.
Dave Keane - 2002 to 2003
The three-time All-Ireland under-21-winning manager was a natural successor to Cregan, but tensions in the camp led to the Corkman's departure after just one campaign.
Pad Joe Whelahan - 2004 to 2005
Similar problems to Cregan regarding the dual-player issue. After a six-point defeat to Tipperary in February, 2005, Whelahan knew the writing was on the wall: "Things aren't going that well and we're worried about our performances. We're very low at the moment."
Joe McKenna - 2005 to 2006
Lost to Tipperary, after a replay, in Munster, and Kilkenny in the 2005 All-Ireland quarter-finals. After a 13-game unbeaten run, again fell foul of Kilkenny in the league final and then Tipperary in the championship. Then came Ennis.
