By the time we get to Phoenix ...

CHRISTMAS came early for nine inter-county hurlers yesterday, with call-ups for next month’s All-Star tour to Arizona.

Benny Dunne (Tipperary), Paul Flynn (Waterford), Kevin Broderick (Galway), Dara Ryan (Wexford), John Hoyne (Kilkenny), Tony Browne (Waterford), Mark Foley (Limerick), Ciaran Herron (Antrim) and Liam Dunne (Wexford) will be with the travelling party which leaves for Phoenix on January 21.

Several players have cried off for a variety of reasons - including the Ó hAilpín brothers, with Setanta now based in Australia, and Seán Óg, who will be in Vietnam with the Cork hurlers.