GAA Ballpoint - McNamara aims to step up to senior class

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Written by Mal Keaveney

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Paudie McNamara is one of bucketful of Limerick players hoping to use this year’s Intermediate Hurling Championship as a stepping-stone to a return to the flagship senior setup for 2009.

Paudie McNamara. Picture: Keith Wiseman

A promising U21 county performer only a short few years ago, the Murroe/Boher full-forward was quickly promoted to the senior panel by then manager Joe McKenna but his time at the top was only short-lived. “I was part of the panel for a while in 2006, but it didn’t work out. I tried again this year and it was a similar case but there’s always next year and this current good run by the intermediates isn’t doing my chances of a recall any harm whatsoever,” he commented.

“A lot of us are in the same boat, hoping to make this Summer pay in terms of stepping-up to the next level for next year, which is good in that competition for places is very, very hot.”

In Limerick’s two outings to date – against Clare and Tipperary – McNamara has more than held his own but next Saturday in the All-Ireland showdown with Kilkenny at Semple Stadium, Thurles (3.30pm), McNamara and his fellow forwards will have to become nippy forwards to better a tight-policing Cats rearguard. McNamara has hit 1-5 in his two matches this year, but nothing like the scoring return of Kilkenny’s Paddy Hogan (4-4 against Galway in the semi-final alone).

“He’s only one player, but one that will have to be watched like a hawk. The real thing though is to believe in our own ability and we have picked-up big scores ourselves in this championship, not to mention the 26 or more practice games that we have played as part of our preparation for this competition, stretching all the way back to February or March. A lot of work has happened with us behind the scenes and nothing has been left to chance for this match, or any other along the way.”

Added McNamara: “This is the one last chance that we have to put some pride back into Limerick hurling, after a disappointing year compared with the happenings of only a year earlier. There has been plenty of back-slapping already around us but all of that is only six inches from a kick in the a*** and we are all only too well aware of that. Everything has been going so well for us to date and it would be a huge pity if that was to change next Saturday.

“On paper, it looks a fierce difficult challenge against the top hurling county in the country but they have to crack sometime.”

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