Limerick manager Joe McKenna has stepped down in the wake of his side's humiliating All-Ireland hurling qualifier defeat to Clare. Team coach and selector Ger Cunningham also quit after witnessing the Shannonsiders' disastrous 17-point collapse in Ennis, while physical trainer Dave Mahedy is considering his position. It's understood that Limerick's other selector, Liam Lenihan, is prepared to stay on as part of an interim management team. Limerick secretary Jimmy Hartigan said the county board executive will meet on Monday night, June 19, to discuss the fall-out from the Cusack Park mauling and will release a statement afterwards. McKenna and Cunningham had both been appointed for two-year terms at the start of this season, and county chairman Denis Holmes admitted that he was surprised by their decisions. "We were all disappointed with the performance against Clare but did not expect that Joe would decide to call it a day," Holmes said. Immediately after the game, there were rumours of discontent in the team's dressing room at half-time following the first half substitution of Brian Geary. And goalkeeper Brian Murray failed to reappear for the second half, being replaced by Timmy Houlihan. From being the form team in the country during the spring, Limerick now suddenly find themselves in disarray and on Sunday's showing, will struggle to beat either Offaly or Dublin in their remaining qualifier games. Tweet

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