Limerick Post Sports Blog all the sports not fit to print

Limerick Out Foxed in Munster Final

Saturday the 24th of July is the date set for the last set of qualifiers and Limerick will enter the back door as losing provincial finalists, which means that Seanie Buckley’s led men are now in the last 12 of the Sam Maguire hunt.
The talk before the game was that moral victories were now useless to Limerick football. Several players on the team have now lost four Munster football finals. Close is never enough. Particularly when you have to wait 114 years for a chance. Speaking after the game, Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan was confident his players would bounce back, “This Limerick side is now a serious outfit and we know we can beat anyone. We showed here today that last season was not a fluke. You always know that these lads will never lie down. They have tremendous character and they will be back”

Cold spell could lead to burn out

In an unprecedented week of weather, there appears to have been little sport on the fields and courts of Limerick and Ireland. The cold snap, which has seen temperatures slump to as low as -12 degC, has seen a backlog of fixtures pile up for all sports. With pitches frozen to depths of over 30cm, the thaw might take longer than expected. All rugby games were called off last weekend as were all Junior soccer and GAA fixtures too. Indeed it was funny to notice the lightness of the Sunday papers as there was little to report. Even talk radio shows had to resort to playing music as sporting events, unlike the snow, were light on the ground.
The questions facing clubs and their hard working and frozen groundsmen now, is when and where are they going to get these games played. With hundreds of sports’ seasons now in full flight, the problem now appears that some players might get burnt out, after such a freeze.
The main aim for athletes now is to ease themselves back into action. Granted, we all feel like getting back in the full swing of things, but doing too much too soon might just have us all back on the couches again.
With games and training so badly needed, the most vulnerable people are kids. Most kids these days play several sports. The problem of mixing and matching is always there for players and parents alike. Now though, with everyone backed up, the fear is that too much will be asked of some. There are symptoms to look out for, such as Chronic muscle and joint pain, Weight loss and loss of appetite, Increased heart rate at rest, Decreased sports performance, Fatigue, Prolonged recovery time, Lack of enthusiasm, Frequent illnesses, Difficulty completing usual routines, Decreased school performance, Personality or mood changes, Increased anger or irritability and Sleep disturbances. The only treatment for burnout is rest.
So, when the pitches thaw and the gear is on again, make sure you are aware of your fitness level after the break and make sure to build back up to a healthy level.
We need you all in the future.

Stokes the only change for Limerick

Jason Stokes, the one change for Limerick this weekend

Limerick football manager Mickey Nickey O Sullivan has made one change ahead of this Saturday nights All Ireland football qualifier against Meath. Jim O Donovan has failed to shake off a back injury ahead of the game and his place goes to Drom/Broadford star Jason Stokes. Stokes will partner John Galvin in a midfield which will need to dominate for Limerick to win. Some experts had claimed that Conor Mullane might get the call, but Stokes is in now and the pressure is now on him to deliver the form which saw his star for Limerick for several years. The game itself is on in O Moore Portlaosie tomorrow (Saturday) and the throw in is at 7pm

Strewth!!! The Aussies aren’t coming

News greeted us all today that the AFL/GAA compromise rules series is cancelled this year. Is there going to be no end to this recession demoralising effects. Even sport is being affected now. Limerick County board chairman Liam Lenihan expressed his views in this release. . .

"It was great disappointment that we were directly informed late Tuesday night by GAA President Christy Cooney, that the International Rules Series has been deferred until 2010.  The first test between Ireland and Australia was due to take place in the Gaelic Grounds on October 24th and was to be the focal point of a citywide weekend long celebration of the GAA’s 125 year history to date.  It was also earmarked as the official event to mark the switching on of the new floodlighting system in the Gaelic Grounds.  While it is of course a major blow to all those involved, both to the Limerick GAA community and from a local business perspective, we have to move forward and take comfort that we have been a personal guarantee from President Christy Cooney that the event will take place in Limerick in 2010.  The challenge now is to build on the enormous support we have already received from both the local public and private sector and ensure that the 2010 event is as big and bold as it can be.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been working on the ground since last year to first, secure the event and then to put together what would have been a spectacular programme of events, particularly our own officers and volunteers in Limerick GAA, our Local Media, Shannon Development, Limerick Coordination Office and Limerick City Council.   Moving forward, it is our intention to explore all possibilities with regard to how best we now mark the unveiling of the new floodlighting in the Gaelic Grounds and we hope to be in a position to formalise this in the coming weeks.”

So, the Aussies are delayed coming over. Any ideas as to how we should launch the floodlights. The 1994 team against the 1996 team? The 1973 team against today's side? Or maybe the usual GAA way of opening things. A meaningless match between Limerick and (insert county name here of some side not even back in full training yet). I have faith in Limerick GAA though. It must be all this semi final and qualifiers business and I think that something good could come yet. Munster Rugby maybe? Only messing. The ideal offer would be for Limerick to play someone like Tyrone and or Armagh. Or even, dare I mention it, Limerick hurlers versus a GPA All Star selection and Limerick footballers against a GPA team of similar ilk. We'll have to see.

Limerick Football Team for game versus Louth

LIMERICK SF TEAM V. LOUTH, NFL 01/02/2009 IN DROGHEDA @ 2.30PM
Sean Kiely, Padraig Browne, Johnny McCarthy, Lorcan O'Dwyer, Stephen Lavin (Captain), Stephen Lucey, Eoin Hogan, Thomas Cahill, John Galvin, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Mike Crowley, Ger Collins, Stephen Kelly, Maurice Carrig, Ian Ryan.  Subs: Conor Ranahan, Shane Gallagher, Stephen Walsh, Dermot Phelan, John Marsh, Mark O'Riordan, John Cooke, Cormac Joyce-Power, Philip Corrigan.

NFL debuts for Eoin Hogan (Na Piarsaigh), Jimmy Barry Murphy (Ballylanders) & Maurice Carrig (Ballysteen)