Follow advice and go Heathrow. McGovern Park is a grand ground, good facilities and topping supporters.
Thereās a mini-catch with your plans thoā - itās a hoor of a pitch for flooding and water retention. Every year for the past 4/5 an NFL game gets called off Sunday morning.
He hasnāt had an injury free run in years. Youāre right that back to his best he would be a big addition. Heās beginning to show a bit of form again but has a ways to go yet.
An impact sub
Not at full fitness and with the bones of a year of hurling behind him, Iād want him out there if I was a Limerick fan
If he gets back to the level heās capable of then yes.
Iāve always liked Downes, but the fact is that heās only ever played one decent championship game for Limerick - against Waterford almost 7 years ago. He may be worth a shot but Iāll be surprised if he starts in next yearās championship.
Likewise, Graeme Mul - another stalwart, has flattered to deceive over the last 4 years. Saying that he doesnāt get good ball in is futile - he gets plenty of it and is either unable to win it or is wasteful when in possession. His finish is gone and, unfortunately, his effectivness for Limerick has gone with it.
Iād love to be proven wrong on both fronts, but I donāt think I will be.
I was at the Munster Club final. In fairness to Downes, he looked sharper then Iāve seen him in a long time
He was brilliant in the county final as well
He did for 20 minutes when moved to centre-forward against a club team. The county final was a non-event as Kilmallock were septic.
As I said, Iād like to see him do well butI donāt see it happening.
Bit of a harsh assessment on both fronts. Downes has been in and out with injury, think he had a year out after his debut. Then Allen kept him back as an impact sub in 2013, he made an impact in every appearance. He had a disappointing year in 2014, started like a train in the wexford game and hit a few wides from handy shots and Ryan took him off, still think Ryan should have waited til he scored a point to sub him. Was no use against kk then, confidence gone, massive loss. More injuries costing most of another two seasons. No doubt he hasnāt fulfilled his early promise but heās only in his mid 20s, thereās still time.
Mulcahy has been a good player for us for years. His ball winning ability is underrated, heās a great guy to get out in front and win a ball, including overhead. I think he falls down on outcomes when he gets on the ball, often bottled up and turned over. Casey far better to make a score or draw a foul or get a pass away. Other players have overtaken Mulcahy too. Still would absolutely keep Mulcahy involved, heās still a good player and his speed is a serious attribute to make an impact.
It was only at the end of the munster final when moved to centre forward I thought he might be back. Heās too static at full forward for na P. Revelled in the space at centre forward, na P should keep him there.
Iāve always liked Downes, but I think heāll find it very difficult to make it into contention for a starting place for Limerick. Heās a player who needs to be playing these types of games and plenty of league time, I would think. He has the raw attributes- pace, power, aerial ability, goal threat. What has always killed him is his decision-making. Itās grand when they all go over but he has an awful tendency to just take potshots from anywhere. His shot selection has always been a weakness, and heās had serious disruptions to his intercounty career for various reasons. Very harsh to say heās only had one good game for Limerick, I thought he was very good against Tipperary in 2014 but he has had plenty of days where he hasnāt lived up to his potential and I think heāll struggle to get a starting position for Championship.
Iād have more hope for Mulcahy, I donāt think weāre awash with corner-forward options and he does have serious ability. Iād be one of those that would say heās been hung out to dry by our half-back line & midfield in recent years. Our use of the ball was absolutely septic last year (and even worse in previous years) and Mulcahy is one of those who is going to look even worse in those situations. But if we are going to continue to just drive aimless ball into the forwards, there is no point in using him as more than an impact sub.
If he has use to Limerick Iād agree that itās at centre-forward. Nash wonāt do there and Morrissey hasnāt the legs. Kiely plays a game that needs big ball winners in the forwards, hence the placing of Hegarty up there. Cian Lynch would be an ideal candidate in a different game plan, but I donāt see that plan changing.
Iād have Casey and Cian as our corners. 14 is up for grabs with Dowling my preferred choice. Nash, Tom Morrissey, Hegarty, Reidy and Flanagan will see game time here too.
Inexperienced Cork team in general, big names on the bench.
Tim OāMahony at centre-back is an interesting one; looked a very dangerous forward for their U-21s this year.
Pile in on Limerick if even money is still available
Even FFS
Obviously thatās a much stronger-looking Limerick team but these pre-season tournaments are a bit of a lottery even then.
Whoever has been hurling more in recent times, sharper in the poor conditions, will probably win.
Even ???
