Foley reports for duty as Smith gets dramatic Limerick recall

THE Limerick hurling selectors sprung two surprises when they named their team last night to play Offaly in a crucial Division 1A League game at Kilmallock on Sunday.

Mark Foley, who was reported to have quit the Limerick camp earlier this week, was named at centre forward, and they gave a dramatic recall to Clement Smith, in the half-backline.

Smith had not figured in plans this season. In fact, he was informed by the new management in January that he was surplus to immediate requirements. However, manager Dave Keane did stress at the time that the door remained open to all.

Limerick, desperately needing to record their first win after losses to Cork and Tipperary, see the Ahane stalwart as the player to strengthen their leaky defence. The vastly experienced Smith has remained active with his club and is reported to be at top fitness.

Captain Mark Foley, who was rumoured to have had differences with the management earlier in the week, turned up for training last evening and is named at centre-forward.

According to insiders, Foley aired what were described as grievances with Keane after the heavy defeat at the hands of Tipperary. They are both members of Adare, but county board chairman Pat Fitzgerald is adamant there was never any question of the former Allstar opting out.

In addition to Smith, also recalled for Sunday’s clash are Mark Keane and Mike O’Brien, both left out of the side in that setback in Thurles. Relegated to the subs bench are Niall Moran, Brian Begley and John Meskell, and there is no place for Ciaran Carey, introduced as substitute against Tipperary.

Dave Keane agrees they are now in a must win situation if they are to get back into the chase for honours.

Teenage stars Andrew O’Shaughnessy and Pat Kirby were not considered as they will be on Dr Harty Cup final duty with St Colman’s against St. Flannan’s College.

Defending champions Kilkenny will again be without “Hurler of the Year”, Henry Shefflin, for the clash against Laois in Portlaoise.

He is still recovering from a heavy bout of flu, and he was not considered for a game in which Kilkenny will be chasing a third win on the trot.

There are two changes from the side that beat Galway at Nowlan Park last weekend. Alan Geoghegan and Brian Dowling, who both came on as subs during that match, retained their places at the expense of Brian McEvoy and Eddie Brennan.

Kilkenny will also be without DJ Carey, who is still nursing a broken finger.

Galway introduce a new goalkeeper in the person of Davy Howe for their clash with Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday.

Howe takes over between the posts from Liam Donoghue who held down the position in last weekend’s defeat by All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.

Team captain Ollie Canning, who missed the Kilkenny game because of injury, returns at left corner back to the exclusion of Alan Coen.

Clare are awaiting fitness reports on three of their players before selecting their team after training tonight.

Conor Plunkett, had stitches inserted in a head wound after last weekend’s demolition of Dublin. Niall Gillligan picked up a leg injury, 10-minutes from the end of that game also. Dáithí O’Connell, who impressed on his debut when scoring 2-2 against Laois, missed the Dublin tie because of flu.

Dublin introduce newcomer Tom Holden for their visit to Waterford on Sunday. Holden will link up with Ciaran Kearney at midfield.

Wexford, who play Tipperary in Thurles, have delayed selection until tonight to give full back David O’Connor, who missed the Cork game because of hamstring trouble, every opportunity to prove his fitness.

A definite absentee on Sunday however, will be the versatile and vastly experienced Larry Murphy, who is in America attending a family wedding.

Galway dual star Kevin Brady has declined an invitation to join the Galway senior hurling panel in order to concentrate on football.

Brady, 21, who has already won two All-Ireland minor and one All-Ireland intermediate medals in hurling plus an U21 in football has featured in both senior panels in recent months but has now decided to concentrate on the big ball game.

The talented young all-rounder plays his football with his native Kilconly and plays hurling with Galway city side Castlegar.

LIMERICK (SH v Offaly): T. Houlihan; D. Reale, E.Mulcahy, Maurice O’Brien, E. Foley, B. Geary, C. Smith; P. Lawlor, Mike O’Brien; J. Moran, M. Foley, O. Moran, D,. Sheehan, TJ Ryan, M. Keane.

KILKENNY (SH) v Laois: J. McGarry, M. Kavanagh, N. Hickey, P. Larkin, R. Mullally, P. Barry, J.J. Delaney, M. Ling, T. Walsh, D. Mackey, J. Hoyne, A. Geoghegan, B. Dowling, M. Comerford, J. Coogan.

GALWAY (SH v Clare): D. Howe; D. Joyce, L. Hodgins, O. Canning; T. Regan, D. Cloonan, S. Kavanagh; R. Gantley, Adrian Coen; R. Murray, C. Moore, D. Tierney; A. Kerins, O. Fahy, K. Broderick.

LAOIS (SH V KILKENNY): J. Lyons; J. Maher, P. Cuddy, P. Mahon; C. Cuddy, P. Cuddy, M. Mc Evoy; J. Young, D. Rooney; J. Whelan, L. Tynan, E. Maher; B. McCormack, D. Cuddy, T. Fitzgerald.

DUBLIN (SH v Waterford): B. McLoughlin; C. Wilson, L. O’Donoghue, C. Meehan; P. Wilson, S. Perkins, S. Hiney; C. Kearney, T. Holden; T. Moore, L. Ryan, S. McDonnell; M. Carton, K. Flynn, T. McGrane.

LIMERICK MF v Tipperary: T. Enright; M. Fitzgerald, P. Fox, AN Other, B. Hayes, S. Fox, E. Geoghegan; J. Ryan, M. Fitzgerald; R.Egan, J. Cooke, S. Buckley, V.O’Connell, P. Hyland, G. Ahern