Back to the future for Quaid
August 27, 2010Underage hurling in Limerick and the future of the county as a major hurling power has never been more questioned and indeed in the spotlight so much in one season. Everyone has had there say, both at local and national level but while often conflicting opinions offer spice to heated conversation most for there part will not have or will want to have an input in raising the stock of this proud Treaty county. Former Limerick senior hurling goalkeeper Joe Quaid is one though who has stepped forward into the firing line and the taught of building for the future doesn't phase the Feohanagh native. "It was Tony Roche (Chairperson of Bord Na Nog) that asked me to get involved, ah it was a good time when you are going in at u14's at least another manager hasn't had them, it's a great opportunity to get the raw talent in and work with it, that's the main reason I got in."
Indeed the current county Under 14 hurling manager returns to Waterford this Saturday morning to familiar ground. For the former Limerick senior goalkeeper it's been a twenty four year absence but the surroundings of Walsh Park hold some vivid and refreshing memories. "I was there at the Tony Forristal with Limerick in '85 and again in '86." Commented the former All Star. "I remember Cork beat us in the final in 85, and in '86 we just didn't qualify for the finals. Dave Clarke was prominent in '86 but I just can't remember who else was on that team, I played for the Limerick minors in '89 and I think I was the only player to play senior afterward."
It's been the Limerick tale for many years and Quaid points to the huge drop out of our finest players at underage level as being the main problem for not producing top grade interconty teams "we lose kids from 14 to 18 years, we need to sit down and ask why? Is it that we are not treating them well enough? Is the proper coaching system not in place? We are as strong as what's out there at this age and we will be going to Waterford with no qualms or inhibitions, were going down to compete and down to win as every other county will."
Joe Quaid is joined in management by All Ireland minor and under 21 medal winner Don Flynn of Killedy and prominent underage coach Ray Ryan from Murroe/Boher and he pulls no punches in stating that this management team is there for the long haul "So far its been a huge learning curve me, our attitude to the game and the way we played it had to change, when I came in I made a statement that this would be the best prepared team to leave Limerick this year, so far we have lived up to that and the long term view is to get theses lads to minor and get as many of them playing minor as possible." And Joe is quick to add "there is no point in winning the Forristal and getting beat in the first round of the Munster championship in four years time, that will defeat the purpose of what were trying to do."
The squad has been preparing diligently now for some time and have come along way since the first gathering at the trials in early March in which 140 players turned out in Martinstown. When broached about the players ability Quaid was very forthright in proclaiming that the standard of hurler we have in Limerick is very high "Players came with a very high level of skill and a great brand of hurling we just had to hone that so we sat down and looked at the template of the way hurling should be played, it has to played low to the ground and up in the air and we've worked on that a lot and also on the physicality side of the game." True to the style that has defined successful Limerick teams through the decades this management team have worked on that physical element and ensured that it helps aid the teams hurling and use it to good effect as has been proven in recent challenge games "Kilkenny soaked it into us in our last challenge game but afterward it was them that was saying to us that we were so physical, Dublin the same." And combining this with the theme of togetherness has left this crop of 24 players undefeated facing into next Saturdays asset test in Waterford "we've tried to work on team play, get the individual stuff out of it and to fair that's been a problem in Limerick down the years, they (this current u14 side) have been working together and as a team really well." Preparation games against two Cork divisional sides, Tipperary, Laois, Kilkenny, Dublin, Galway and earlier games with Monaleen in preparation for there assault on Feile earlier this years have completed the games programme for this squad in anticipation of the group games against Waterford, Cork and Wexford next Saturday.
"Id just like to say thanks to Paul Byrnes of Dawn Milk/Golden Vale for his invaluable help and assistance to the side, and to Limerick county board and Bord na Nog, everything we have asked of them they have fulfilled, and don't get me wrong I would be the first the criticise boards and have been in the past, but let me say these lads couldn't do enough for us or the team, they have absolutely outstanding in every way."
It has been a journey for Joe Quaid & his management team one which has just begun and that they have ambitions of following all the way through to its final destination wherever that may be and whenever that will be. There is no doubting that the effort so far has been unbelievable from everyone which is evident by the way the manager exudes confidence and positivity with every statement and this team is travelling not in hope but in anticipation of capturing honours in Waterford but Quaid's opinion differs with how success can be really measured "the Forristal is not the be all and end all, once we go down as prepared as we can be, and compete that's what were looking for, there has been huge goodwill toward the whole thing, every kid got a fair chance, fellas are getting picked for there hurling, there is no politics, no parish allegiances, were honest with the kids and there honest with us, and if we perform we wont be that far behind this weekend."
It may have taken Joe Quaid twenty five years to return to Waterford for this famous hurling weekend, a lot of Limerick teams have risen and fallen since the last time he stood between the sticks in Walsh Park as an under 14, he returns however with the next generation of Limerick's finest and with the great hope for the future of proud hurling county. This team is enshrined with the great attributes that Quaid had as a player and will be defined by his lavish style and whole hearted approach and like him in his heyday that winning mentality is at core of this teams values. Who dares to dream……
The Limerick under 14 hurlers will play three games next Saturday in Walsh Park in Waterford city with first against the host county at 12.20am. Cork and Wexford will provide further opposition throughout the day for Limerick and should they progress, the final will await them on Sunday lunchtime at 12.30am in Walsh Park.
By Ger Downes
Limerick chasing first Sonny Walsh title
The second crop of the 24 best Limerick players at this age will compete also in Waterford on Saturday. Declan Murphy (Hospital/Herbertstown), Ger Sheehy (Newcastle-West) and Joe Roche (Ballybrown) will lead Limerick into the Sonny Walsh tournament as they hope to annex that title for the first time for Limerick in this the second year of the competition. The Limerick side will be based at St Saviours GAA club, Ballybeg in Waterford city with Cork, Clare and Wexford standing in there way. The prize for victory is a final place on Sunday morning in Walsh Park at 11.30am.
By Ger Downes Tweet
