Kearns keen to settle dual debate

Gavin Cummiskey hears from Limerick manager Liam Kearns about why the dual issue needs to be addressed in a more satisfactory manner and about where he stands in relation to the Galway job

Limerick football manager Liam Kearns said he would have resigned if dual players opted out of the football panel this year. As it happens, the six players that were forced to make a decision between the codes, by the county board and hurling manager Pad-Joe Whelahan, committed themselves to football.

Local politics in relation to the dual policy is playing a significant part in any decision he will make about the final year of his three-year term.

"I firmly disagree with putting the onus on the individual players to make a decision regarding the dual controversy. It should have been made by the county board, the football management and hurling management," he said.

"There are by-laws stating players can have dual roles in Limerick. I would have resigned if the players had gone off playing hurling but I felt I needed to stay on to reward their loyalty. It was handled completely wrongly so that is why I said I would consider my position at the end of the year."

Kearns has led Limerick to the Munster final in the last two campaigns only to be denied a first provincial title on both occasions by Kerry.

Agonisingly, their chances of further progress in the qualifiers were hindered by six-day turnarounds, which preceded defeats to Armagh and Derry.

Hurling regulars like Conor Fitzgerald, Stephen Lucey and Brian Begley were forced to choose which sport they would play during this year's championships - all eventually decided to play football.

At present, Kearns is being widely touted to succeed John O'Mahony as Galway football manager but he will not consider such a move until his mind is made up about the Limerick post. However, he is expected to be nominated by at least one Galway club next week.

"There has been plenty of speculation regarding the Galway job but that does not come into the equation until I make a decision regarding Limerick," said Kearns.

"The county board does not need a decision until mid-September but considering the current situation I hope to have an answer in the coming week.

"If I'm Limerick manager then I cannot be the Galway manager, it's as simple as that," he added.

Meanwhile, breakthrough counties in both GAA codes over the past 10 years will be recognised at a new awards ceremony in Croke Park this coming Monday. In particular, the recent success of Westmeath and Fermanagh in football, and Clare's All-Ireland hurling title in 1995, their first since 1914, will be noted.

The breakthrough awards have been organised by Lucozade Sport and mark 10 years of the company's sponsorship of Gaelic games. The soft drinks company's poster boys Eoin Kelly, Paul Flynn (Waterford), Brendan Cummins, Dessie Dolan and Oisín McConville are expected to attend.

The winners will be presented with their awards by GAA commentators Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Des Cahill. The participating counties are Wexford, Waterford, Clare, Laois, Westmeath, Armagh, Tyrone, Down, Leitrim and Fermanagh.