Limerick Under 16's face mighty test in Tipp
August 27, 2010Carmody, who won a national league with Limerick in 1992, is joined this year again in management by former Limerick senior hurler James Moran (Ahane) and Denis O Carroll (South Liberties). Warm up games against Clare, Galway, Cork and the most recent against Waterford have all taken place since the exams finished in late June and Carmody reports a good mood coming from the camp "Training has been going very well, there had been great effort and a good bond in our team. Obviously the fact that the lads have been together in the Development squads of the City/West and South/East means that they all know each other very well."
So really what are Limerick chances this Saturday, well Carmody is very frank in his assessment "The development squads didn't perform as well as they should, despite massive preparation being put in which has stood to and brought players on enormously, but I know that experience will stand to the lads, it was huge for them, but were very hopeful of doing well." He is quick to add "Championship hurling proves everything, you know what you have when it is over, but I am looking at players that are well capable of making it through to the highest level, as a county were on the right road, we have some great players coming through."
So how have the three man management team gone about preparing this Limerick squad "The game we play is often too slow, we don't move the ball as quick, our players have poor habits and that comes from the game being restricted at club level, we need to get games flowing again and not the stop start nature we currently have, players can develop if the game flows." Speaking with such a passionate hurling man as Carmody, would always lift your spirits as there is no doubting the love the man holds for Limerick and the game as is evident when he speaks "We have worked with players on making the best decisions when in possession, speeding up the striking and there first touch while encouraging them to go hell for leather in our training games."
This present squad is crowded stars of the future but the manager stress that this is a huge 24 man effort "I wouldn't heap praise on any player or players we have had a very committed panel all through and its been different squad members that have shone everyday we have played".
The Limerick under 16's had hoped to finish there game preparations with a challenge against Cork on Sunday last but unfortunately the fixture didn't materialise, but Carmody and his management team have been encouraged by the showing of there side against Waterford in the last week "It was the first game we had all our team together, before that we had been missing players and trying things out so we weren't on the favourable side of results, the game against Waterford which we won was top notch and we were very pleased after it".
Indeed the Patrickswell native is very coy in not putting any pressure on his young guns "Look, Tipperary are the barometer at this level, they are always strong at underage, we will just worry about ourselves and get our house right, but let me say we are good enough, were expecting a to have a good tournament and are very hopeful of doing well" he concluded.
Limerick will be stationed in the Clonoulty/Rossmore GAA grounds, in Clonoulty village near Thurles town and have been drawn in a group with Tipperary and Antrim. Limerick's first game will be at 10.30am when they take on Antrim and they will play there second game at 12.30 against Tipperary at the same venue.
They will have to secure two victories to make it through to the tournament cup semi finals on Saturday evening at 4.30pm.
The finals of the tournament will be played in Thurles on Sunday with the Shield final at 11am and the Championship final at 12.30am.
By Ger Downes Tweet
