Mickey Ned O'Sullivan has described Limerick football coach Donie Buckley as "the best in the country". The Shannonsiders are back in the Munster SFC final for the first time in five years, and O'Sullivan believes Buckley has been the driving force behind their recent revival. "The reason we're competing boils down to one man who won't say a word to you (the press): Donie Buckley. He's the coach, and in my opinion he's the best in the country. He has enormous respect from the players and my two selectors, and he has done great work the last two years," the Limerick manager said. "But there are a lot of other people: there is the medical backroom, there are the guys in charge of equipment, they are here every night; the guys in charge of stats, the water guys. If one of those don't perform you're going to go down. I'm only the coordinator but if you ask me to pick out any one, I'd say Donie Buckley. I don't like picking anyone out, but the players will say that as well." The decision to invite dual stars Stephen Lucey and Mark O'Riordan back into the fold has clearly paid dividends for Limerick this year, and O'Sullivan now admits that he was wrong to enforce a football-only policy in previous seasons. "When I came first, I was probably a bit hot-headed and I wouldn't play ball that way," the Kerryman said. "But you have to be realistic. I would pay tribute to Justin McCarthy in the way he handled the dual situation. I discussed it with him and he gave me all the reasons why it wouldn't work. But he said he'd try it for a month and I never heard from Justin since, which was great because there was a mutual respect. "The player hadn't to be burned out and we were both sympathetic to the player. It has worked to date, and I'm the only beneficiary in it. Justin isn't; he'd much prefer if they weren't playing football, but I mean having the likes of Stephen and Mark O'Riordan on a panel, they've been there and done that, they've played at the highest level in hurling. Their attitude is important." Tweet

Most Read Stories