Jarlath Burns clarifies Declan Hannon comment about Limerick backroom team and defends All-Ireland ticket prices
Burns was speaking on RTÉ radio this morning when he stated that Hannon’s comment about there being 53 people on the Limerick backroom team was taken up wrongly. He clarified the comment by saying that Hannon included the Limerick panel of 37 in the number.
“I did clarify that with Paul Foley the Ard Comhairle rep from Limerick because I knew he didn’t mean that,” Burns said on Morning Ireland.
“I can tell you if you’re a captain up there… I’m often standing beside them and I know how nervous they can be.
“There aren’t 53. I can reassure people around the country if you are trying to get up to that level it’s not… I think it’s 37 on the panel and 16 on the backroom, so he looked at the whole family all as one, 53 people.”
Meanwhile, Burns also defended the GAA’s decision to increase the price of All-Ireland final stand tickets to 100 euro.
“It was a very big move for us to go to three figures, but remember, it’s the first time since 2018 we’ve changed (prices). It’s only the second time since 2011.
“We all know where inflation has gone, but I think our members understand that 83% of everything we earn is ploughed right back into the game,” he said.
All-Ireland hurling championship permutations
Preliminary QFs (Saturday June 15th)
The provincial third place qualifiers meet the Joe McDonagh finalists.
Laois v Wexford, Portlaoise
Offaly v Cork, Tullamore
QFs (June 22/23)
The beaten provincial finalists meet the victors of the preliminary QF.
Dublin v Offaly/Cork
Clare v Laois/Wexford
Semi-finals
Limerick are on the Dublin/Offaly/Cork side of the draw with Kilkenny on Clare/Laois/Wexford side.
If Wexford and Cork were to reach the semis, then due to repeat pairings being avoided, this will change, with Wexford playing Limerick in the semi-final and Cork to play Kilkenny. Otherwise, it will be as above.
Tailteann Cup quarter final draw
Get set for a big Leinster and a big Ulster clash in the quarter finals of the Tailteann Cup. The games take place next weekend, with the first team named having home advantage.
Saturday/Sunday 15/16 June
Kildare v Laois, Venue TBC due to Newbridge re-construction
Sligo v Limerick, Markievicz Park
Fermanagh v Antrim, Brewster Park
Down v Wicklow, Páirc Eslter
Declan Hannon thanks Limerick’s large backroom team
Limerick’s six-in-a-row winning captain Declan Hannon hailed his team-mates, the Limerick supporters and their backroom team after their triumph.
“We’ll see ye in Croke Park in four weeks time,” he said.
Thankfully, he decided not to name all of the backroom team of 53.
Hannon said he ‘wouldn’t name them all’ when thanking Limerick’s ‘backroom team of 53 people,’ before giving a special mention to manager John Kiely and his coach Paul Kinnerk.
Watch the full speech here.
Donal Óg Cusack hails Limerick’s greatness
Limerick are six-in-a-row Munster champions are defeating Clare by 1-25 to 1-20 in the Munster final. Gearoid Hegarty scored a crucial goal for Limerick ten minutes into the second half and while Clare rallied, the champions never looked back from there.
Afterwards, Donal Óg Cusack said that the team are only getting better.
“The most impressive thing about it is them getting better every year. That’s where the real glory is for Limerick.”
Throw-in delayed for Munster final delayed by 30 minutes due to power outage
Limerick-Clare now won’t throw in until 4.30, due to a power outage in Thurles.
“Unfortunately, we had a serious power outage in Thurles and that affected the stadium as well,” said Munster council rep Dermot Lynch on RTÉ.
“We made the decision to delay the game 30 minutes in the interest of health and safety. ESB are in touch to get it back up and running.”
“Everything has been affected. There was a total outage all over Thurles. We’ve it isolated now to the stadium,” he added.
Liam Sheedy and Donal Óg Cusack discussed the issue on The Sunday Game.
“The PA or the big screen or hawkeye isn’t really health and safety,” said Sheedy. “We need the full context. But it is very unhinging for players and management. It is unnerving.”
“Having come out and having to go back in, it is unhinging,” he added.
“You’d prefer to understand the full situation before you comment on it,” said Donal Óg Cusack.
“We we were hearing that the players were leaving the dressing rooms because there were no lights.
“From a players and management point of view, you speak about the unexpected. It’s all part of the challenge of being a high-level player. This is one that is never spoken about, but you have to be able to deal with it.”
“This is where the characters shine through. And fundamentally, it’s the same for both teams.”
Anthony Daly says Saturday was one of Dublin’s ‘dog days’
Dublin capitulated on Saturday evening, losing the Leinster final to Kilkenny by sixteen points. They conceded an early goal to Eoin Cody and were never in the game from there.
Anthony Daly was on the end of some trouncings like this one when he was Dublin hurling manager and speaking on The Sunday Game, he explained the inconsistency that continues to dog the counties hurlers.
“I remember sitting down one day after Kilkenny had hockeyed us in Portlaoise.
“Dotsy (former Dublin hurler David O’Callaghan) sat down beside me, he just said ‘it’s them stripey fellas (Kilkenny),” he said.
“Funnily enough, we beat them the following year so you can’t give up.
“I’ve been beaten more than that in a Munster final and two years later we won an All-Ireland. I think Micheal (Donoghue) is a good guy, they’re a good management and I think they should be backed.
“Look, this is bringing back nightmares to me now in lots of ways,” he continued.
“I was Micheal, looking up at that scoreboard, checking if the clock was near sixty, how much more torture was there to go through, that kind of thing,” reflects Daly.
The Clare man said that the leaders on their team have to try and turn things around.
“There’s no way out of it only lads and leaders on the team have to front up and say this can’t keep happening to us. And really lead it.
“Drive it in training. There’s no other way out. Either give up the hurling altogether or drive it on. Pick it up. They’re a young enough team.
“They’ll be totally written off (in the quarter final), what’s to lose? Go and have a cut and completely empty yourself.
Draw for All-Ireland preliminary hurling QF
All-Ireland preliminary QFs
Laois v Wexford, Portlaoise (Winners play losers of Clare/Limerick in QF)
Offaly v Cork, Tullamore (Winners play Dublin in QF)
Johnny Kelly says Offaly will celebrate Joe McDonagh win
Having won the Joe McDonagh Cup on Saturday, defeating Laois by 2-23 to 0-26, Offaly’s reward is a clash with Cork in next Saturday’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter final against Cork. The Faithful hurlers will only have six days to recover but their manager Johnny Kelly says they will none-the-less celebrate their triumph.
“Sure, we might bring them to Birr,” he said of the Cork game.
“We’ll see. Look, it’ll be a great occasion. And Cork are absolutely outstanding. I know what happened in the league [Cork beat Offaly by 27 points] and it’s going to be a difficult week,” he said.
“The reality is that these guys are on a high, they’re going to have a few beers tonight, they’re going to have a few beers tomorrow and now you’re facing into the third-placed team in Munster.”
It was a great week for Offaly hurling, having won the All-Ireland under-20 title last Saturday.
Keep up to date with all the weekend’s GAA action here.
There’s a Super Sunday in store with Limerick taking on Clare in the Munster hurling final.
Clare have lost the last two deciders to their near neighbours but will be hoping to turn the tide at the third time of asking.
Limerick are going for their sixth Munster title in a row but Clare haven’t won one in 26 years.
Clare have a full strength squad to pick from though there is uncertainty surrounding the role that will be played by Tony Kelly.
He’s only played a bit-part role in the championship to date due to an ankle injury and though he is named on the bench, he is expected to be parachuted into the starting line-up by Brian Lohan.
Limerick don’t have a full deck of cards to play with, with Seamus Flanagan joining Peter Casey on their injury list.
Sean Finn also misses out with Darragh O’Donovan coming back into their match-day squad for the first time this year.
See the full starting teams here.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Darragh Lohan; Cathal Malone, Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy, Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Mike Casey, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; Will O Donoghue, Cathal O’Neill; Gearóid Hegarty, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, Cian Lynch. S
We’ll bring you all the action right here. There are also a few Tailteann Cup games taking place today.
Sunday fixtures
Sunday 9 June
Munster SHC final
Limerick v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 4.00 – RTE
Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals
Antrim v London, Corrigan Park, 2.00
Laois v New York, Laois HIre O’Moore Park, 12.30 – GAAGO
