Tom Ryan's appointment as Limerick's new intermediate hurling manager has been blocked by the County Board's executive officers.

Ryan - who guided the Shannonsiders to Liam McCarthy Cup deciders in 1994 and '96 - was the choice of a five-man selection committee but the top table vetoed his appointment on Monday night.

The Limerick Leader reports that they did, however, give the thumbs up to U21 manager Ciaran Carey and his backroom team which includes Ryan as a selector.

"I am really, really shattered - I am in personal shock," Ryan told the local newspaper.

"I'm so disappointed - not for Tom Ryan but for Limerick hurling. This was only a minor role but I had great expectations for the job.

"A lot of work had already gone into it with the selection committee and I had a great team of selectors organised - some high calibre hurling people."

Ryan had lined up Pat Howard, Jimmy Carroll, Tony Roche and Don Flynn to get involved with him.

"This was about Limerick hurling, not Tom Ryan. I wanted to try and get players ready for the senior players. A good inter-county team needs a pipeline and that's what I wanted to do."

The Ballybrown man won't let the Intermediate snub put him off working with the U21s.

"I have to move on. I don't want to get into any arguments and I will accept the decision of the board.

"I will work away with the U-21s and continue to do whatever I can do for Limerick hurling. With the U-21s, we have to try and upgrade players and find new players." Tweet

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