Limerick dual star row still to be resolved
New hurling boss Pat Joe Whelahan stated that he would not accept dual players in his squad for the coming season. He met with his football counterpart Liam Kearns last week to discuss the matter, but the issue has yet to be resolved.
The pair were due to debate the matter with county board chairman Pat Fitzgerald last week and even though he was unavailable, the meeting went ahead in his absence.
Mr Fitzgerald said yesterday that he expected a further meeting to take place, possibly this week. However, he declined to speculate on a possible outcome, admitting that it was proving a difficult matter to resolve.
"At the end of the day, the managers control the teams and we have control of policy. But we would like to see the players representing Limerick,'' he commented.
Up to six players are currently involved in both panels, including Brian Begley, Stephen Lucey and Conor Fitzgerald. The issue proved highly controversial during the reign of Eamonn Cregan and what was seen as a virtual ultimatum for one of the dual players conveyed in an Irish Examiner interview precipitated a confrontation with the board which led to his (temporary) resignation.
No restrictions were placed by his successor Dave Keane last year, but with the senior footballers being so active over the course of the League and championship, problems were encountered.
The belief is that if it comes down to a matter of the players making a choice between the two teams, the majority if not all will opt for football. That view is based on the bond that exists between the members of the football panel and Kearns, nurtured over a period of several years and sustained by their exploits last season.
More interestingly, new Offaly football boss Gerry Fahey is backing the ambitions of Neville Coughlan to play with both county teams.
Coughlan is also part of Mike McNamara's hurling plans and Fahey won't stand in his way.
"I have no problem with the dual player issue at all,'' he commented. "If a player wants to play both sports, then they should be encouraged to do so. Neville will be playing hurling this year and we'll be happy to accommodate him. I'm fine with that and if he wants to play, then I have no problem supporting him."
Meanwhile, Kilkenny star Martin Comerford will miss out on tomorrow's Vodafone GAA Allstar tour to the US. He was one of 11 members of the All-Ireland champions' team who were picked to travel, but he indicated to organisers at the weekend that he was unable to travel.
Offaly player Colm Cassidy has been called up to take his place. The official party, led by association president Seán Kelly, will depart from Dublin Airport tomorrow morning for Phoenix, Arizona, flying Delta Airlines via Atlanta.
On Saturday, an exhibition game will be played between the 2002 and 2003 Vodafone GAA Allstar teams managed by Cyril Lyons and Brian Cody, respectively. The game will be hosted by the Phoenix Gaels club, the only club in the city. The travelling party will also spend two days in Las Vegas before returning to Ireland on Thursday, January 29th.
The full list of players travelling is: (* indicates replacement) Peter Barry, Derek Lyng (do.), Michael Kavanagh (do.), JJ Delaney (do.), Noel Hickey (do.), Eddie Brennan (do.), Philip Larkin Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh and *John Hoyne (all Kilkenny); *Ollie Canning and *Kevin Broderick (Galway); Brendan Cummins (Tipperary); Eoin Kelly (Tipperary); Paul Kelly (Tipperary); *Benny Dunne (Tipperary); *Ken McGrath, Fergal Hartley, John Mullane, *Paul Flynn, Eoin Kelly and *Tony Browne (Waterford); *Liam Dunne, *Daragh Ryan and *Michael Jordan (Wexford); Davy Fitzgerald and *Tony Griffin (Clare); *Brendan Murphy and *Colm Cassidy (Offaly); *Ciaran Herron (Antrim).
All-Ireland referee Pat O'Connor will be in charge of the game.
The Loup/Caltra AIB All Ireland club semi-final will take place in Markievicz Park, Sligo at 2pm on Sunday February 22nd and NOT Clones as stated.
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