Limerick: Whelahan out
Limerick hurling manager Padjoe Whelahan has stepped down.
Whelahan met the county board last night while the players trained, and then met the players, who backed the embattled Offaly native.
Whelahan insisted he was not forced to step down and that the county board and players had given him full support. He said he never had a problem with any player in Limerick.
He referred to some pressure for results following the sponsorship deal with financier JP McManus, but said he had no personal problem with McManus. "He's a very nice man. I met him last week and shook hands with him," he said.
One of Whelahan's selectors, Declan Nash, also stepped down.
Limerick have opened their league campaign with two defeats in which their displays were less than encouraging.
Amid rumours of strife within the county board and player disharmony, the Shannonsiders were trounced by All-Ireland champions Cork on the opening day of the league and lost by six points to Tipperary last weekend.
Limerick native Ger Cunningham, who guided Cork side Newtownshandrum to All-Ireland club honours last year, has been tipped as a potential successor to Whelahan, as has Tony Considine, a selector in Clare's two All-Ireland wins in 1995 and 1997.
