Bennis: 'I was let down'

July 17, 2008

Limerick manager Richie Bennis
Richie Bennis has revealed that there were serious breaches of discipline in the Limerick hurling camp this year that went unpunished. The Limerick manager has hit out strongly at a group of players whom he claims regularly went drinking after training. He made the startling revelations in the wake of last Saturday's disastrous All-Ireland qualifier loss to Offaly at the Gaelic Grounds. "I accept the blame and hold my hands up, but I think some players let me down," he said. Bennis, who is eager to continue as manager for another term, stressed that the players were fully committed to training but "let themselves down" by socialising afterwards. "To me, it appears this year at least six or eight players treated it as a social event, coming to training on Tuesday and Thursday nights - they broke their hearts in training and then they went drinking. "I heard the rumours and it is quite possible a few of the players were drinking and they played accordingly. I put my hands up and maybe I should have seen that." He added: "I am annoyed with the performance, but we didn't go out to perform like that. It does disappoint me - I showed faith in them and it was not returned. It's hurting me big-time." The future of Bennis and his selectors Gary Kirby, Bernie Hartigan, Tony Hickey and Anthony O'Riordain will be discussed at the next meeting of the Limerick County Board on Tuesday, August 12.

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