Ryan criticises forwards

TOM RYAN, the Limerick manager, is obviously going to give his forwards a dressing down when training resumes, the likes of which they are unlikely to forget.

"Our forwards could not hope to win an All Ireland with a display like that," Ryan said with obvious concern. "They were inept and were only going through the motions. If anyone has the idea that this was some kind of practice match for us they would only have to look into our dressing room. Our fellas are drained."

Gary Kirby was quite candid: "Mentally we knew we were going to qualify for the All Ireland final but we cannot be quite satisfied the way we played. Without degrading Antrim in any way, we felt comfortable. Anyway we have eight forwards in the squad looking for six places and that in itself cannot be a bad thing considering the way things went for us today."

Kirby, who was yet again Limerick's top scorer with nine points, had two stitches inserted in his chin. "We expected a hard game but I never felt we were going to lose. I enjoyed my battle with Sambo (Terence McNaughton). He is a nice guy and a clean player."

Tom Ryan said: "The problems we had with the forwards earlier this year returned there today. We will have a great deal of work to do but we will do it."

Significantly, Ryan said that Ger Hegarty was on the road to recovery. "Only for the likes of Ger (Houlihan) and Mark Foley who kept us going we could have been in serious trouble, I am certainly glad we have it over us.

"We went in for exhibition stuff but it was not going to work against solid hurling by Antrim. Full credit to our backs who regularly came under all sorts of pressure. We had to take two balls off the line and then we were lucky that an Antrim goal was disallowed. The guy ran too far with the ball but it was a tremendous shot to the net."

Dominic McKinley, the Antrim boss, considered his team's effort to be a worthy one and showed great spirit: "I would like to stay on in the job. My two year term is up but I will carry on if I am so appointed," He said. He praised his backs and said: "A few breaks up front could have made the difference.

Terence McNaughton said: "I'm sick. There is so much pride in this team that any defeat is hard to take. I am 16 years playing in the championship." McNaughton claimed that they had been called part time hurlers by Wexford's manager. "Where have they been for 19 years," he says.

Later the Wexford manager denied ever calling Antrim part time hurlers. "What are part time hurlers anyway," said Liam Griffin.

"With a bit of luck we could have won," said McNaughton. "We can challenge as good as anyone and in terms of skills the gap is closing fast. It is no disgrace to be beaten there by a few points today. Cork were beaten by 16 points by Tipperary. Why are they not saying that they should stay out of the championship."