John Mullane Concerned For Rivals After Limerick’s ’53-Man’ Backroom Comment | Balls.ie

The Limerick hurling machine shows no signs of slowing down after they secured their statement sixth Munster Championship crown on the bounce.

The history-making tally illustrates the dominance that The Tribesmen have enjoyed since 2018, winning five of the last six All-Ireland Championship titles.

The size of their operation has come under discussion following their latest provincial title win, with captain Declan Hanlon claiming they had a backroom team of 53 individuals in his winning speech.

First of all, I want to thank the 36 [strong] panel of Limerick players,” Hannon said.

“They represent the county so well, day-in-day-out. I’m very, very proud of ye and the work you put in, the humbleness. Ye are amazing. Keep it going for the next six weeks.

“We’ve a backroom team of 53 people. I’m not gonna thank them all, but I want to thank in particular John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk for everything they do for us.”

GAA president Jarlath Burns since offered clarity to Hannon’s claim, indicating that he had grossly exaggerated what is a remarkable tally given it is an amateur sport.

“I can tell you if you’re a captain up there… I’m often standing beside them and I know how nervous they can be. There aren’t 53. I can reassure people around the country if you are trying to get up to that level it’s not… I think it’s 37 on the panel and 16 on the backroom, so he looked at the whole family all as one, 53 people.”

John Mullane concerned for rivals after Limerick 53-man backroom comment

Whatever the real figure, Mullane expressed concern on The Throw-In Podcast that Hannon’s remarks could spur rival teams into putting even more resources into their senior sides at the expense of other areas.

‘Jeez I hope other counties don’t start getting it into their heads now that they have to have the same,” Mullane said.

“If Waterford go down that road our poor Waterford underage developments won’t have a pot to piss in you know what I mean?

“Let’s be honest about it. It’ll cost a bomb and a fortune.

“We all know the man that is backing Limerick and he is a fantastic man and he is very, very generous to Limerick.

“But other county teams don’t have the luxury of being able to have the fall back of that.

“That’d be my only worry y’know? Other county teams are going to be looking on and saying ‘we are going to try and match them’ or try to get up to their level (when they cannot afford to).”

Mullane is presumably referring to funding from JP McManus. The businessman has been a sponsor of the county since the mid-2010s – a period which has seen unprecedented success for the county’s hurling team.

McManus did donate €1 million in funding to every GAA county board in Ireland, with funds coming from the JP McManus Charitable Foundation it must be added.

SEE ALSO: Pat Spillane Reveals Why He Is Falling Back In Love With Gaelic Football