UNLIMITED HEARTBREAK ,,,,,,, Inside story on Limerick Hurling .

[Bing Crosby .]

This is groundbreaking stuff .  I'm on my second read of it .

Long overdue .

[orangeman]

Sounds like a great read alright ! A WARTS 'n all new book on Limerick hurling which has raised hackles in official circles will be launched next week by county hurling sponsor JP McManus.



The new book claims that a post-match drinking session in Charleville by members of the senior hurling panel was the catalyst which led to the end of goalkeeper Joe Quaid's senior hurling career. It also contains trenchant criticism of members of the county board, most notably by former manager Tom Ryan who derides board members and former All Star hurler Gary Kirby, who believes the board wanted to get rid of himself and Richie Bennis after the defeat to Kilkenny in the 2007 All-Ireland final.

'Unlimited Heartbreak: The Inside Story of Limerick Hurling' by Galbally man Henry Martin is a no-holds- barred account of Limerick hurling which reveals bitter internal feuds between senior team management and county board officials and lifts the lid on the drinking culture which blighted the future prospects of several of the members of the successful U-21 three-in-a-row team.

According to the book, much of the fury vented by delegates the night Dave Keane was removed as manager of the Limerick senior hurling squad in 2003 surrounded a drinking session in Charleville on the night of the first round league game against Cork in 2003. Joe Quaid travelled on the Limerick team bus for the final time.

"We stopped in Charleville for a few pints and they were organising house parties and having a singsong on the bus. I was sitting beside the driver at the front of the bus and said, 'I have enough of this. If after being beaten the way we were today makes them want to sing, I don't want any part of it," says Quaid in the book.

Corner-back Stephen McDonagh, a Bruree man, was unaware of the session for some days.

"I had come home to milk cows so I didn't know what went on til the following Tuesday or Wednesday night. There was apparently a drinking session in Charleville, which happened. The story went around that there was a bottle on the bus," McDonagh explains.

But according to Dave Keane, however, "drink wasn't an issue".

"You have to put it in context – it's an amateur sport and they are young lads who are winning matches. We got three years from a core of the same players. To me, we didn't lose any match because of drink," he says.

All-Star Gary Kirby meanwhile, a selector during Limerick's last All-Ireland final appearance in Croke Park in 2007 exposes the fractious relationship that existed between the county board and the management group team – with his uncle Richie Bennis at the helm – following the defeat to Kilkenny.

"People don't know what we had to put up with from the county board. They didn't want us there in 2008; it was obvious by their reaction towards us. I'd say they nearly wanted to get rid of us after the 2007 All-Ireland," Kirby states.

However the author, Henry Martin has strongly defended his approach.

"Any Limerick hurling fan who claims to be a genuine hurling fan will want this book," the Galbally teacher and author told the Limerick Leader. "I'm not looking for any plaudits. There would be no book without the contributions of these people. These people are key," he continued. With the book only hitting shelves this week, Mr Martin agrees that it is far too early to get to gauge how controversial the book will be. So far, he says, the feedback has been positive. "Stephen McDonagh rang me to say that he couldn't get to bed on Saturday night. Frankie Carroll is also pleased with it and Tom Ryan is highly impressed," he said.

* Unlimited Heartbreak: The Inside Story of Limerick Hurling, published by The Collins Press, is available from bookstores at €19.95. The book launch is at the Cú Chulainn Bar, Patrickswell on Saturday, October 10.

[corcaioch]

Good read from Mr. Martin.

[Bing Crosby .]

This guy posts under the username  South Limerick Referee over on  AFR .  He apparently cares not that he unlike the rest of the people on there is not anonymous . I admire his young pluck for being responsible for a great publication but by Jesus does he know how to bore a person . The youngsters on there flock to his feet to share in his wisdom . He has seriously outgrown his username . Very tiresome indeed .

[Minder]

He seemst obe in bed with AFR in some way, the book is supposed to be very good and I intend to get it this week but some of the praise and reviews it got on AFR are reckoned to be way over the top.

[Bing Crosby .]

It certainly is a cosy relationship and thats one sure thing . A fantastic book all the same though . It's a pity the Limerick players seem to have taken their inspiration from it arseways .

[Silky]

It's on my christmas list for Santy.

[Ash Smoker]

This is groundbreaking stuff .  I'm on my second read of it .

A masochist! 

I reckon I'll be receiving 3 or 4 copies of it as Christmas presents.

[Bing Crosby .]

Justin Mc survives 70 votes / 54  votes at tonights meeting ia Ballyagran .

[slow corner back]

So where now for Limerick if Justin has survived the vote. Does he plough on into the new year with a depleted panel and use the league to blood some youngsters?

[Bing Crosby .]

So where now for Limerick if Justin has survived the vote. Does he plough on into the new year with a depleted panel and use the league to blood some youngsters?

Yes  S C B  that is exactly what is going to happen . Hopefully all concerned can put this all behind them now .

I for one am pleased that the manager has received the majority of the support from around the county clubs .

The players were out or order throughout this whole process , they need to re-examine their stance now and go back to what their suppose to do and that's play hurling .

There is ample time for Limerick to go forward this year and thereafter under Justin .  New players along with those who walked have a fantastic opportunity to blaze ahead now with all this nonsense behind them .  I strongly urge the players to return to hurling .

[INDIANA]

So where now for Limerick if Justin has survived the vote. Does he plough on into the new year with a depleted panel and use the league to blood some youngsters?

Yes  S C B  that is exactly what is going to happen . Hopefully all concerned can put this all behind them now .

I for one am pleased that the manager has received the majority of the support from around the county clubs .

The players were out or order throughout this whole process , they need to re-examine their stance now and go back to what their suppose to do and that's play hurling .

There is ample time for Limerick to go forward this year and thereafter under Justin .  New players along with those who walked have a fantastic opportunity to blaze ahead now with all this nonsense behind them .  I strongly urge the players to return to hurling .

I would now fear for the future of Limerick hurling. They are going to be hammered in the NHL- then relegated and with the rise of Munster Rugby face possible extinction and end up in the backwaters of the Christy Ring for many years to come.

It doesn't matter who is at fault. This isn't Cork where you have 200 clubs and you'll always pick players up from. Limericks 2nd tier players are way way below inter county standard. Hurling can't afford to lose Limerick and it will under this arrangement.

the players may be at fault but Limerick are heading for the abyss and a Mexican stand off is not the way forward.

[IolarCoisCuain]

I would now fear for the future of Limerick hurling. They are going to be hammered in the NHL- then relegated and with the rise of Munster Rugby face possible extinction and end up in the backwaters of the Christy Ring for many years to come.

It doesn't matter who is at fault. This isn't Cork where you have 200 clubs and you'll always pick players up from. Limericks 2nd tier players are way way below inter county standard. Hurling can't afford to lose Limerick and it will under this arrangement.

the players may be at fault but Limerick are heading for the abyss and a Mexican stand off is not the way forward.

Well said Indiana. We hear a lot of chat about promoting hurling. While all this old blather is being spoken about Christy Ring Cups and Nicky Rackard Cups counties who are outside the top three but have rock solid hurling traditions are struggling, and struggling badly. Clare, Limerick, Offaly and Wexford. They're all on the slide. And rugby will soak up players, especially in Limerick (and it's eating into Tipperary too, from what I hear). The problem is bigger than Limerick alone. Grim stuff.

[Silky]

Justin should have packed it in. He doesn't need the hassle and God knows some of those players don't deserve him.

[orangeman]

Eamon Cregan and Ger Loughnane were in yesterday's peper saying that Justin should step aside for the good of Limerick hurling,regardless of the rights and wrongs of the situation.


Not sure Ger would have seen it like that if he were in Justin's shoes right now ??.