Trip down memory lane for Cregan

It will be a familiar journey for Eamonn Cregan when he takes his team to Birr this Sunday. The Limerick All-Ireland medallist, now at the start of his second spell managing his county, spent four years in charge of Offaly and led the midlanders to an All-Ireland title in 1994 after a memorable final against Limerick.

After the late scoring blitz that transformed a five-point deficit into a six-point victory, Cregan admitted to ambivalent feelings. Now, he says, he rarely thinks about his ultimate managerial achievement to date.

'No, I don't even think about it. It's history, it's over. The fact that it was against our own county (Cregan and his trainer, Derry O'Donovan, who has accompanied him to the Limerick post) would have diluted our feelings, but you don't dwell on it.

'I've still contact with Offaly and met Tony Murphy and Paudge Mulhaire (Offaly selectors with Cregan) only recently and they've been down to Limerick a few times,' Cregan said. 'Earlier today (yesterday) I was at Joe Errity's father's funeral and met most of the players. The bond is still there. Actually I was in charge of Limerick before for a league game down in Birr, in 1987.'

A further parallel with his first spell in charge of Limerick is that Pa Carey is named at full back on the side for this weekend. Back in 1987, Carey, a brother of former All Star Ciaran who returns to the panel after a long break from the game, was given his championship debut by Cregan against Cork. 'He was played in the forwards and was a very good forward, but his club, Patrickswell, put him back to centre back in an All-Ireland final against Glenmore (1991) and after that he switched to defence.'

The player had been brought out of retirement for a few matches by Cregan's predecessor, Tom Ryan, but never made a competitive appearance. He lines out at full back this Sunday.

Sunday's selection features some familiar names, with only Clem Smith, at left wing back, making a debut. 'There are a number of injuries,' he says.

'Joe Quaid has a groin strain and we've decided to get it right now rather than risk him. Gary Kirby picked up a twisted ankle last Sunday and will play subject to a fitness test. Jack Foley also has a twisted ankle and was not considered.

'Damien Quigley has a broken finger from a tournament game against Tipperary in Newport, despite wearing a protective glove. Mike Nash and Declan Nash missed a few matches, but both are back in training. The priority is to make sure that all injuries clear up now.

'Overall it's going grand,' Cregan continued. 'Training has been a bit disjointed. We started in January when last year's team was off on holidays and there were only 10 or 11 at training. When the others came back they had to be brought up to the same standard. We're making progress, but there's only 12 weeks to go to the championship.'

The weekend before last, in a benefit match for St Flannan's College, Limerick played All-Ireland champions Clare for the first time since Cregan took charge. This brought him together with Clare's manager, Ger Loughnane, who last September took exception to Cregan's analysis of the All-Ireland final on RTE's Sunday Game.

'We shook hands and had a chat,' says Cregan. 'As far as I'm concerned, everything's in the past. It was an enjoyable game, a good hard game. Both teams lacked hurling, that was obvious in the striking. In the first half, we were on top, in the second half Clare were on top. We were that bit stronger in the end and won by a goal.'