Hartigan calls for unity on Shannonside

Limerick hurling legend Pat Hartigan has urged all those involved in the county's latest hurling row to get together and sort out their differences before any long-term damage is done.

His comments come after Treaty manager Justin McCarthy left 12 of last year's panel off the initial squad announced a few weeks ago while a further eight, who were in his core group of 18, later withdrew.

Trials have continued for players who haven't been on the panel up to now. McCarthy is due to attend a county board meeting tonight to outline his plans for the future.

While emphasising that he was looking at the situation from the outside and had no desire to apportion blame, Hartigan said that he would like to see McCarthy remain on as manager. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Hartigan said: 'He was given a two-year term and nobody objected at the time. If players accept a manager in the first instance they have got to give him a chance. Managers can't be wrong all the time.

Hartigan, who was a key figure in Limerick's last All-Ireland triumph in 1973 believes it's the manager's prerogative to name whatever panel he chooses and questions if players have any right to feel aggrieved if they're not called back for a new campaign.

'Once a season is completed, there's no county panel as such. No one in any county has a God-given right to expect that they will automatically be invited back for the following year.

'I would have thought that after the poor performance against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final, quite a few of the Limerick players would be saying to themselves: what must I do to get back on the panel,' said Hartigan.

And Hartigan is adamant that replacing McCarthy would not be in Limerick's best interests.

'Hounding him out is now the answer. He was given a two-year term and he's entitled to see it through with whatever panel he wishes,' he said.

'It's very disappointing that instead of looking ahead to next spring, Limerick hurling people are talking about what's going on behind the scenes. We have four league games, one under lights in the Gaelic Grounds and that's where the focus should be.'