Limerick captain Donal O'Grady has backed the County Board to make the right call when it comes to choosing a replacement for John Allen.

Allen's decision not to extend his stay with the Treaty County was relayed to club delegates at last night's County Committee meeting and thoughts now turn to his successor.

O'Grady says County Board chiefs have a good recent track record in that department and is confident they will get the right man for the job

"It's a big appointment," he said to the Irish Examiner. "We've had a huge turnover of managers in Limerick in the last decade or so, but the transition from Donal O'Grady to John Allen was seamless and that really helped us.

"They were both excellent modern managers, very hands-on and hopefully the next man will carry that on. It's up to the three-man committee now to find someone but they've done well since the committee was set up.

"They've made two good appointments so we'll leave that job to them and focus ourselves on just trying to get on the panel!"

O'Grady was fulsome in his praise of Allen who guided the Shannonsiders to a first Munster crown in 17 years but understands the Cork native's decision.

"It's tough to travel up and down so much.

"The way modern-day management is, when he wasn't with us he was probably watching DVDs of games, communicating with selectors and county board liaison officers.

"We'd have loved to have seen him stay on, but all of that takes its toll, it's nearly a full-time job these days."

O'Grady concluded: "He did a great job, we're all very grateful for what he did." Tweet

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