Donogh, Carey and Quaid pledge to stay on

NEW Limerick senior hurling team manager Dave Keane and his selectors Dave Punch and John Meskell are delighted that the long-serving Stephen Donogh and Ciaran Carey, as well as Joe Quaid, have pledged themselves for another 12 months at least.

There had been speculation that all three might to decide to stand down to make way for new faces, but the management team were anxious that they should continue to add experience to the side in their quest for League and provincial honours. Limerick have drawn up a panel of 45 players to go into training and this will be reduced to 30 before the National League swings into action.

Meskell said for the moment they preferred to keep a low profile. Meanwhile, the decision taken by Munster Council to delay the start of the 2003 Munster U21 Football Championship from March to June has not pleased county board secretary James Hartigan. He fears the change of starting date might impact on both the domestic and Munster scenes and lead to a crowded programme, especially if Limerick were to have extended runs in the senior and U21 football competitions.

“Matters could be complicated, in that we have several dual players,” said Hartigan. When the matter came up for discussion at a recent meeting of Munster Council, delegates were divided, with three counties having voted in favour of a change of date and three against. Those in favour argued that the Munster champions were known in the month of April and had to wait until August before their next outing to the All-Ireland series.

The delayed Munster inter club junior hurling championship final between Courcey Rovers of Cork and Ardmore of Waterford will take place at the Bruff GAA Grounds on Saturday with a 2.30 throw-in.

Dublin, meanwhile, will unveil their new senior hurling manager at a press conference this morning.

The Dublin county board will announce a new manager this morning and Seamus Murphy is the name on everyone's lips to get the nod.

A press conference will be held at Parnell Park this morning to announce a successor to Kevin Fennelly who stepped aside last month.

Murphy has been interviewed in the last three days along with Marty Morris and outside shot Mick O'Riordan.