SFC QUALIFIER LIMERICK v KILDARE:Mickey Ned O'Sullivan doesn't believe his Limerick charges are getting the credit they deserve but reckons they will in time, writes Gavin Cummiskey
WE PUT in a call to Mickey Ned O'Sullivan yesterday. Missed him but (and this is a rarity for an intercounty manager) he was back on to us within the hour.
Without much warning Limerick are threatening to become the story of the championship.
The unknown filly that bolts up the rails when everyone else is focused on the front runners.
Mickey Ned has charted many a championship path and the Kerryman seems comfortable with the media eye finally turning its gaze to his patch.
After three years of round-tripping from Kenmare, only now is Limerick football being afforded any plaudits. It is, of course, a results-driven business.
The 1-8 to 1-5 defeat of Tipperary back in May was roundly labelled the worst game of football in years. It even lent credence to the Munster Council decision to seed Kerry and Cork to ensure they only meet in the provincial football final.
"Some called it the worst game in living memory but I thought it was a good game," said a temporarily perplexed O'Sullivan.
Cork were devilishly fortunate to get out of the Gaelic Grounds on June 15th with a one-point victory - thanks to late goals from Graham Canty and Daniel Goulding.
This was the same day Paul Galvin's vocal cords refused to take orders from his brain so the Limerick performance was largely ignored. In fairness, the history books will forever record it as yet another late escape by Cork.
"Cork were supposed to be very bad that day," says Mickey Ned, and you can picture him pouring fuel on the flames. "We played all the football for 70 minutes that day but lost our concentration for three minutes."
He has a point though. That John Galvin - trumpeted by O'Sullivan as the game's best midfielder - lorded it over Nicholas Murphy and Alan O'Connor that day was taken as a malfunctioning Cork duo rather than the veteran's greatest hour.
Then came the dismissal of All-Ireland contenders Meath last Saturday evening - a result that continues to reverberate. It ended the intercounty careers of Graham Geraghty and Darren Fay and Colm Coyle's tenure as boss.
That they led by a surreal 20-point margin with 20 minutes to play became an indictment of Meath ineptitude rather than proof of Limerick excellence.
"Every time we win the opposition have collapsed. Every time," says O'Sullivan.
"We understand that it takes a while to gain respect at this level. People will call it a Meath collapse but we are fighting to change the perception of Limerick football. We wanted to ensure they reached their potential before we departed (the current management tenure is up next time they lose)."
Nineteen-year-old Ian Ryan registered five points against Cork. That he added an astonishing 3-7 against Meath will only increase the speculation that the prodigy is bound for Australian Rules. Ryan has already attended trials but O'Sullivan is confident the teenager will remain at home to complete his teaching-college studies. They have certainly unearthed a gem.
"We bought him into the panel at the end of last season. This is a very mature young man . . . (the growing hype about him) is just water off a duck's back.
"He is still completing his football apprenticeship. He knows he still has a lot to learn. A very bright, young man - I expect him to finish his three years at Mary Immaculate."
Either way, the secret is out. Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney will employ his best man-marker to snuff out the Ryan threat on Saturday back in the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick have enjoyed the breaks when it comes to home draws, yet the provincial system is hardly tilted in their favour. At least the continued march through the qualifiers keeps the focus on the ongoing separation of Cork and Kerry until the Munster football final.
"Hopefully they will revert to an open draw," continues the Kerryman. "The so-called four weaker counties will try to make it happen. We have to play Cork and Kerry to win Munster. Now we know we can catch one of them but it is very hard to catch the two of them off guard."
That is a debate for another day.
Since Mickey Ned took this job in 2006 one eye has been constantly fixed on this season. He removed the driftwood first in year one. Then he began to mould the incoming group of talent into men capable of coping with the strains of summer football.
"We wanted to bring some respectability to Limerick football before we leave. The bottom line is next Saturday as no Limerick team has ever gone to the third round of the qualifiers. They would love to play in Croke Park. To go where no Limerick football team have gone before."
No better man to show them the way.
GAA Fixtures
Today
Munster IHC Final - Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 7.30pm, P Casey (Waterford).
Tomorrow
Leinster Under-21 HC Final - Offaly v Kilkenny, Tullamore, 7.15pm, A Stapleton (Laois) Live TG4.
Saturday
All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers, Round Two(extra-time if necessary) - Donegal v Monaghan, Ballybofey, 5pm, R Hickey (Clare), Live RTÉ 2; Tyrone v Westmeath, Omagh, 3pm, P Hughes (Armagh), Live TV3; Limerick v Kildare, Gaelic Grounds, 7pm, S Doyle (Wexford); Laois v Down, Portlaoise 7pm, D Fahy (Longford).
Tommy Murphy Cup Semi-finals(extra-time if necessary) - Antrim v London, Casement Park, 7pm; Wicklow v Leitrim, Aughrim, 3pm.
All-Ireland JFC Final- Dublin v Roscommon, Portlaoise, 5pm.
Christy Ring Cup Semi-finals(extra-time if necessary) - Westmeath v Derry, Mullingar, 5pm; Mayo v Carlow, Castlebar, 3pm.
Christy Ring Cup Relegation Play-Off(extra-time if necessary) - Armagh v London, Parnell Park, 3pm; Roscommon v Meath, Mullingar 1.45pm.
Nicky Rackard Cup Semi-finals(extra-time if necessary) - Monaghan v Louth, Rooskey (Monaghan Town), 3pm; Sligo v Fingal, Markievicz Park, 3pm.
All-Ireland MHC Quarter-final- Tipperary v Antrim, Mullingar 3.15pm.
Camogie: Senior Championship- Tipperary v Wexford, Semple Stadium, 2pm, F McNamara (Clare); Galway v Dublin, Killimor, 2.30pm, J Morrissey (Tipperary).
Sunday
Ulster SFC Final Replay- Fermanagh v Armagh, Clones, 3pm, M Deegan (Laois).
All-Ireland SHC Quarter-finals(extra-time if necessary) - Wexford v Waterford, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2pm, J Sexton (Cork), Live RTÉ 2; Clare v Cork, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 4pm, D Murphy (Wexford), Live RTÉ 2.
All-Ireland MHC Quarter-final- Wexford v Galway, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 12.15pm, T Ryan (Tipperary).
Camogie: Senior Championship- Kilkenny v Cork, Tom Ryall Park, Kilmanagh, 3.30pm, É Bowne (Tipperary).
Women's Football: All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier, Round One- Armagh v Waterford, St Loman's, Mullingar, 4.15pm, J Murray; Down v Meath, St Loman's, Mullingar, 6pm, L McDonagh.
