Sharpshooter Keane an injury worry for Limerick’s final fling

LIMERICK, seeking their first NHL title since Tom Ryan guided them to glory nine years ago, may be without top scorer Mark Keane for Sunday’s decider against Kilkenny in Thurles.

A revelation since brought back into the panel by Joe McKenna, Keane suffered a groin injury in the extra-time semi-final win over Clare and is rated doubtful.

Limerick have relied heavily on the South Liberties marksman this season and he contributed 2-10 last Sunday.

Holder of two All-Ireland U21 medals, Keane fell out of favour with the previous senior hurling management team but is now enjoying his best season.

Donal O’Grady is nursing a finger injury but should be available.

The team to play Kilkenny will be announced after training today.

The Clare team to play Waterford in the Round Robin Munster MFC at Ennis tonight shows two changes from that which failed to Cork in round one.

Gary Leahy comes in for Colin Kelly at right half-forward, while Sean Farrell takes over from Stephen O’Regan at left corner-forward.

O’Regan is a member of the St. Flannan’s team who will play Dublin Colleges in the All-Ireland Colleges SHC final in Carlow on Monday.

Meanwhile, Eoin O’Donnellan, who guided Salthill/Knocknacarra to their first All-Ireland club football title last month, has stepped down as manager of the Galway club.

O’Donnellan managed Salthill for the past two seasons and was in charge of the club’s junior side for four years prior to that.

“We won two junior titles in that time as well, so it really has been close to 12 months on the go for each of the past six years. It is time to take a break,” said O’Donnellan, who was vice-captain of the Salthill side defeated in the 1991 All-Ireland club final, the only other time they have won the Galway title.

“Winning the All-Ireland is the perfect way to finish up. It has been some year. It has been very demanding but it was worth it all in the end,” added O’Donnellan, who added that he hoped to return to football management at some stage in the future.

Former Mayo footballer Mark Butler, who played for Salthill in that 1991 defeat to Lavey of Derry, is also stepping down as a selector following their All-Ireland club final win over St Gall’s from Antrim.

John Joe Burke is remaining on as a selector as another former Salthill player Hughie Heskin takes over as manager. He will be joined by long-serving Salthill mentor Ger Conway as a selector.

Salthill/Knocknacarra will begin the defence of their Galway, Connacht and All-Ireland titles when they meet Kilkerrin-Clonberne in the first round of the county championship next month.

CLARE (MFC v Waterford): K. Eyers (Kildysart); N. White (St. Josephs Doora/Barefield), D. McMahon (Wolfe Tones), C. Donnellan (Cooraclare); D. Connole (Kilfinora), D. Reidy (Wolfe Tones), S. Ryan (Doonbeg); G. Brennan (Clondegad), D. Cusack (St. Josephs Doora/Barefield); G. Leahy (Wolfe Tones), K. Whelan (St. Josephs Doora/Barefield), J. Roughan (Wolfe Tones); E. Lyons (St. Josephs Doora/Barefield), K. Monaghan (Wolfe Tones), S. Farrell (do.).

TIPPERARY (MFC v Kerry): M O’Donnell (Killenaule); D Buckley (Inane Rovers), J Coughlan (Moyne/Templetuohy), B Fox (Eire Óg-Annacarty); D O’Brien (Cashel King Cormacs), P Codd (Killenaule), B Walsh (Ardfinnan); P Donnellan (Shannon Rovers), T Dunne (Burgess); S Carey (Moyle Rovers), B Jones (Arravale Rovers), C Aylward (Clonmel Óg); D Keogh (Silvermines), S Browne (Killenaule), D McCormack (St. Patrick’s).