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Mickey Ned looking forward to London return

It's been a chaotic and disorientating time for Limerick GAA fans in recent months, but not on the football front. Mickey Ned O'Sullivan presides over a steady and contented ship. By Diarmaid Williams - 03/02/10

They’ve made persistent progress over the last few years and the Kerry man is looking forward to the side’s trip to London next weekend.

The hurling team’s well publicised loss will be Mickey Ned’s gain this season as a number of players will now be concentrating entirely on the big ball.

Limerick’s preparations unsurprisingly have been hampered by weather but the stakes are so high these days that inter-county panellists will leave nothing to chance when it comes to keeping in shape.

“It’s been a long winter here and we didn’t get any collective training done until last week. The roads were bad and I didn’t travel, but we’ve made up for it since. The modern footballer looks after himself; it was different in our time. I think they are in good shape when you consider the time of year. They would have worked in the gym over the winter. If you haven’t done that you’ll be found wanting during the year.”

The former Kerry All-Ireland winning captain noted Tir Chonaill Gaels have been frequently unlucky to make further progress in the All –Ireland club and feels the scene her is in good enough nick. He is more than familiar with the city of London and its GAA scene.

“I played with the Kingdom for four years during the early 70s. I didn’t win anything apart from a league. It was the start of a very successful time for the club after that. I was still playing for Kerry when with the Kingdom, but illegally. I was going to college at the time at Strawberry Hill and had to find a way to play football as there was no other way of practicing so I didn’t play under my real name. I was over lately again - last year with the Round Towers. My son was playing with them and I took them for a training session.”

Aside from the more professional approach of the modern player Mickey Ned also notes the changes in society reflected in the occupational make up of teams in London these days.

“When over at Round Towers I saw that only one player was working in Construction. In my time everyone on the team was in that sector. I’m amazed at how the socio economics of it has changed- its an indicator of the standing and the status of the Irish in London now.”

For the full interview, buy this week's Irish World at your local newsagents, or pick up a copy HERE from only 50p!