Murray quits Limerick

Limerick keeper Brian Murray

24 November 2009

Limerick's hurling crisis deepened last night when goalkeeper Brian Murray became the latest player to withdraw from Justin McCarthy's squad.

The 2007 All-Star's departure means that just 10 of the 2009 squad now remain, which leaves under-pressure manager McCarthy with fewer players than ever to work with.

Already, Damien Reale, James Ryan, Wayne McNamara, Seamus Hickey, Brian Geary and Donal O'Grady have withdrawn their services in protest at McCarthy's decision to leave stalwarts Mark Foley, Niall Moran, Stephen Lucey, Donie Ryan and Andrew O'Shaughnessy out of his squad.

Despite the withdrawals, McCarthy last week received the backing of the county board to continue as manager and is pressing ahead with further trials on Friday. Club delegates won't have an opportunity to discuss the crisis again until county convention on Friday, December 7.