Limerick to face only one home League clash

NEW Limerick hurling manager Dave Keane faces the prospect of just one home Allianz League game in 2003, against Derry.

The draw ordained that both Tipperary and Offaly would also have to travel to the Ennis Road venue but county board secretary James Hartigan has confirmed that because of redevelopment work at the Gaelic Grounds they were likely to concede home advantage.

The 12m revamp of the Gaelic Grounds is well under way, but the new-look stadium is not set to open until next June.

"We'd be in a position to entertain Derry at Kilmallock, where the capacity is around 7,000, but Tipp and Offaly are high-profile matches. We have discussed the matter at county board and will be getting in touch with the other counties concerned. We will probably be asking them to come to Limerick next time that we meet."

Should Limerick be confined to just one home match then the board would suffer financially. Because the Gaelic Grounds was ruled out over the past 12 months, the Shannonsiders are already owed games by both Cork and Tipperary. Limerick commence their League programme away to Cork.

Meanwhile, Kildare County Board has drawn up a three man shortlist as they bid to find a replacement for Mick O'Dwyer as manager of the senior football side.

Two of the candidates are based in Kildare former Roscommon All Star Paul Earley who is living in Ardclough and ex- Offaly manager Padraig Nolan who resides in Kilcock.

The third of the front-runners is former All-Ireland winning Offaly captain, Richie O'Connor who managed Laois for three seasons in the 1990s.

All-Ireland champions Kilkenny will have six representatives on the senior side to play a hurling/shinty game against Scotland on Sunday. The senior game will be played in Croke Park as a curtain-raiser to the second game in the Coca-Cola International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia. The game will commence at 1.15pm.

Irish panel (v. Scotland): J McGarry (Kilkenny); B Cummins (Tipperary); M Kavanagh (Kilkenny); D O'Sullivan (Cork); P Barry (Kilkenny); P Larkin (Kilkenny); F Hartley (Waterford); A Moloney (Waterford); E Corcoran (Tipperary); J P O'Meara (Offaly); C Kelly (Antrim); D Lyng (Kilkenny); R McCarthy (Wexford); B McEvoy (Kilkenny); R Gantley (Galway); M Kerins (Galway); C Gleeson (Tipperary); B Murphy (Offaly).

Team manager: P O'Neill (Dublin); Asst manager: N O'Sullivan (Kildare)

Selectors: Nicky Brennan, Donie Nealon, Bernie O'Connor.

The U21 game takes place in Portlaoise on Saturday at 2pm. It will be followed by the Minor B Hurling Championship Final between Carlow and Meath.