Horan set for Limerick debut after his move from Mayo

LIMERICK have added Mayo player Maurice Horan to their squad and he is expected to make his debut against Waterford in the McGrath Cup semi-final on Sunday week.

Horan has been living in Limerick for the past number of years and was approached by the county selectors after he transferred to the Monaleen club from Ballinrobe.

Team manager Liam Kearns said Horan, a forward, would be a valuable acquisition.

Kearns was delighted with Limerick's win over Roscommon last weekend, when the star of the show was Limerick FC's Owen Keating, who has pledged allegiance to the county team.

Limerick play their first ever game in Division 1 of the league on February 1, with Mick O'Dwyer's Laois as visitors.

The glamour clash between defending champions Tyrone and Dublin will be played at Parnell Park on the same date.

Following the decision to play last year's game against then All-Ireland champions Armagh in Croke Park, there had been speculation the Tyrone tie would be switched to headquarters.

Dublin selector Paddy Canning said the use of Croke Park last year was merely a promotional exercise, which would not be repeated next month.

"We circularised all the local schools giving out free tickets and the game attracted close to 55,000 spectators but unfortunately we failed to deliver on the field."

In order to play the game in Croke Park, 35,000 paying customers would be needed, and despite the fact that Tyrone are both league and All-Ireland champions, the game is unlikely to attract such numbers, particularly for a first round tie.

The game at Parnell Park, capacity 12,000, will be all-ticket.

On Sunday, Tommy Lyons' side make their O'Byrne Cup debut against Carlow at Dr Cullen Park, (2pm).

Carlow defeated Wicklow in their first round clash last Sunday.

Lyons is likely to announce his team after training tomorrow night. Tomas Quinn, who impressed before going off injured in last Sunday's challenge match, has a groin injury but it is not considered serious.

Fermanagh, meanwhile, are close to naming Dominic Corrigan's successor as manager.

The county board plans to put forward their recommended candidate by the end of this week, or early next.

The caretaker management team of Sean O'Reilly and Sylvester Mulrone is likely to be still in charge when the team makes the trip to Cavan for a McKenna Cup tie this weekend, but it will possibly prove to be their last game in control.

County secretary Tom Boyle, a member of the committee charged with finding the new manager, has confirmed that the contenders come both from within and outside the county, and he is almost certain that the matter will be sorted out within the next fortnight.

"I would hope we could have some sort of closure by the end of the week but if I were a betting man I wouldn't like to put money on it.

"We would certainly hope to have somebody in place by the end of the McKenna Cup, so we've got a fortnight to work in," he said.