Foley to play for Limerick tomorrow

Seán Moran talks to Mark Foley about the incorrect reports he hadwithdrawn from the Limerick side

Limerick hurling captain Mark Foley has emphatically denied he won't be playing for the county in tomorrow's Allianz National Hurling League Division One B match with Offaly. It had been reported on RTÉ yesterday evening that the player had withdrawn from the side.

"I don't know where all of this is coming from," Foley said last night. "I haven't spoken to any reporters about it and I'm definitely playing. I only heard about this when I came off the training field tonight and can't for the life of me figure why someone would have said that about me."

This concludes a week of controversy for the Limerick captain who mid-week was rumoured to be going to resign his captaincy and even his place on the panel. This was denied by the county board - although the player himself declined to comment - and he was selected, albeit at centre forward as opposed to his usual position of wing back where he is a former All Star and Young Player of the Year. Foley denies he was ever going to walk away.

"That was never on the cards in the first place," he said. "There were maybe a couple of things that may have given people that impression but no one ever consulted me or verified it with me.

"I've trained Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week. On Monday I was injured and left early to get the shoulder looked at. Then there were stories that I'd walked out of training or that I'd left Thurles on Saturday (after the league defeat by Tipperary) and gone straight home."

He similarly denies his position on the team became a bone of contention. Best known for his outstanding performances at wing back, Foley started intercounty life in the forwards and played there for a spell under Limerick's last manager Eamonn Cregan. It is well known he has a strong preference for the half-back line.

"I'm happy to play there (centre forward). It's early in the year yet. My main focus is to get back into shape and to be honest I don't mind where I play at this time of the year. When the championship comes obviously I have a preference."

The rumours of Foley's dissatisfaction are, however, grounded in substance. He was unhappy at a lack of discipline among younger players, some of whom are alleged to have gone drinking after the NHL defeat by Cork. While not wishing to discuss any differences he has with team-mates in public the captain acknowledges he has had discussions with the manager.

"There was never anything I wanted to go public about. You'd have issues but you'd sort them out. It's a matter between me and management and they were more than willing to listen to me."

Limerick are under new management with Dave Keane having succeeded Eamonn Cregan this season. Keane had established an extraordinary record at underage, leading his adopted county (he is from Cork) to three successive All-Ireland under-21 hurling titles and making Limerick only the third county to achieve that feat. Since taking over Keane has made no secret of his belief in the long term and has brought substantial numbers of players into the senior panel. The step-up has proved difficult with both league matches to date having been lost.

This weekend's match is particularly important because for the top three sides in each of the first divisions there is the promise of an extended hurling season, which will bring them within touching distance of the championship. For a team in development the extra exposure would be invaluable.

Having lost to Cork and Tipperary Limerick need to start winning and should they lose tomorrow it will in all probability signal the end of the county's chances of phase two hurling.

Keane is a neighbour of Foley in Adare and the last few days have been difficult for both men. "This has caused a lot of distress for me and and my family," said Foley, "and I would prefer if this was all over."

Meanwhile in a statement issued last night Limerick County Board chairman Pat Fitzgerald said he was very angry at the report on RTÉ radio and television news, suggesting Foley would not be turning out for Limerick against Offaly.

The report was totally untrue and Foley and the county board were not contacted for comment before the report was broadcast. Fitzgerald said he had been with Foley at last night's training session at UL and that the captain was more determined than ever to play in this crucial league game against Offaly.