Johnny Murphy named as new senior football squad captain

Johnny Murphy has been installed as captain of the Limerick Senior Football team – he was the choice of county champions Ballylanders at a specially convened meeting at the outset of the week.

A previous member of the county set-up, Murphy accepted an invitation to rejoin the squad following-on from this team’s marvelous display in easily winning out the domestic championship for a third time, and the first since 1999.  There was a time in recent years when Murphy and his older brother Danny, the inspirational Bally’ captain in ’07, were regulars on the county team.

Another sibling, Jimmy-Barry Murphy (20), is a student at Waterford Institute of Technology and is viewed as another front-runner for county duty this year.  Also likely to a member of the squad for the upcoming Allianz National Football League Division Three campaign is Kieran O’Callaghan, who shone like a beacon  in the outgoing club championship, most notably in the landslide final triumph against Dromcollogher/Broadford.

Dual-player Stephen Walsh is also part of manager Mickey ‘Ned’ O’Sullivan’s plans.

Meanwhile, Limerick’s longest-ever serving full-back Paddy Ivess (Kilcornan) has been named as replacement to Billy Aherne of Fr. Casey’s as a team selector.  As an outstanding peformer at the highest grade, Ivess represented Limerick in parts of three decades, the 1970s, ‘80s and 90s, winning a number of McGrath Cup Senior Football Final medals, along with playing in the memorable 1991 Munster Final against Kerry at Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium.

The Bruff-based member of An Garda Síochána was also selected for inter-provincial duty with Munster on a number of occasions. 

Of late, Ivess has been to the fore in the training and preparation of several club teams, including his native parish that captured the west championship after a long gap in the Autumn past.  “I’m looking forward to this new role immensely,” Ivess commented.  “I view it is a personal challenge and a challenge for Limerick to make shapes in all competitions, particularly the league and the championship.”

Trainer/selector Cian O’Neill has also opted-out since last year and his successor will be announced in the coming weeks.

The new season for Limerick begins at Kevin Long Memorial Park, Feenagh on Sunday next (2pm) when IT Tralee are visitors in the McGrath Cup.