Clare bridge can be crossed

Tomorrow's AIB Munster club hurling semi-final between Sixmilebridge and Patrickswell should inject further excitement into what has already been an eventful year for Limerick hurling.

During the past 12 months, the county team was overhauled by Eamonn Cregan, enjoyed an encouraging league and gave a reasonable account of themselves against All-Ireland champions Cork.

In September, the under-21s won the All-Ireland and, last month, county champions Patrickswell added to the mood of renewal with a replay win over Tipperary's Toomevara.

The Limerick team is quite a young collective with only Gary Kirby and Anthony Carmody into their 30s, Ciaran Carey on the margins and the rest averaging early 20s.

Kirby's scoring has been spectacular, a bit too spectacular for a county hoping to replenish its playing stock, although he now lines out at centrefield rather than on the 40 or further afield.

"I'm happy enough playing out around the middle of the field. And when you're happy, you play well."

Former Limerick manager Tom Ryan emphasises the importance of his former captain. "He has been a huge factor in Patrickswell's success and in the Munster campaign so far. Last week he scored 1-8, it's not unusual for him to score that.

"It reminds me of talking to a man in Kilkenny back in the 70s about a Leinster final against Wexford. `Of course we'll win,' he said, `Won't Eddie Keher score 112?'

"Gary keeps himself well and he's a great old competitor. With all his scoring, it's easy to forget his contribution from play, he's a great worker. He's the main link in Patrickswell's progress."

Bubbling under the surface of the acclaim greeting Kirby's feats is the speculation about his possible return to the inter-county arena and the circumstances in which he departed it.

"He retired himself," according to Tom Ryan. "He wasn't dropped, but he wasn't getting a lot of encouragement."

Kirby agrees. "I suppose I knew I wasn't part of the management's plans. But, by then, I'd given it 13 or 14 years.

"To be honest I have missed it, but there's only four players left from 1996. Maybe I might get involved again. You never know. My fitness level is good."

Current Limerick manager Eamonn Cregan recalls the end of Kirby's career. "At the time he retired from inter-county hurling, Gary was on the panel. We had him there for the experience he brought.

"In hindsight, we should have started him against Waterford last year, but then time waits for no man. I myself felt I should have played until I was 60.

"Hurling nowadays is all about speed and fitness. At the moment, the ball won't bounce, conditions are very slow. When the ball hits the ground it stops. Winter hurling is a totally different game."

Tomorrow, at the Gaelic Grounds, Kirby will be central to his club's attempts to break the grip on this championship exerted by Clare clubs for the last five years.

They are familiar with Sixmilebridge, based as it is less than 10 miles from Limerick city. The clubs' rivalry includes a Munster final 16 years ago when the 'Bridge took a first provincial title.

"We know each other very well," says Kirby. "Already we've played two practice matches (they've won both) and, even if both of us were missing players in those games, they were very competitive."

With Waterford's Mount Sion waiting in the final, winning tomorrow is only one step further rather than the whole journey, but whoever emerges will be favourites. According to Eamonn Cregan, Limerick clubs always play better outside of the county.

"I suppose everyone knows you in your own county and there's less respect because of that, but, once you're out, there's a tremendous buzz in representing Limerick."

The death took place yesterday of Maitais McDonagh, vice-president of the Galway County Board and president of the Galway Juvenile Board of the GAA.

Mr McDonagh is the father of Joe McDonagh, former president of the GAA and grandfather of Eoin McDonagh, former Galway minor hurling captain and a member of this year's Galway under- 21 and senior team.

In 1965 he became the county's first chairman of Coiste Iomana, the hurling development initiative which revitalised the game around the country and especially in Galway.

A retired primary school principal, Mr McDonagh was 82 years of age. He devoted his life to teaching, Gaelic Games, the Irish language and culture. Mr McDonagh is survived by his son Joe, daughter Eilis and grandchildren.

The GAA extends its deepest sympathy to the McDonagh family.