Limerick’s Begley ruled out for season

Diarmuid O’Flynn and Brendan O’Brien

The towering full-forward, who injured his ankle two years ago, in the drawn hurling championship game against Waterford, has never fully recovered.

“I did the two ankles, actually, but strapped them at half-time, played on,” Begley said last night.

“I thought I had them right then for the replay, played away in that game, but it was afterwards, in club games, they started coming back at me.

“I tried to play a few county games afterwards, but it never came right again. I’ve had two operations on my ankles and two operations on my knees in the last two years, but it’s the ankle that’s giving me trouble. I had an operation in December, I was told it would take a couple of months of

rehabilitation, but it’s still not coming right,” he said.

“At this stage the only training I’m doing is on my own; if I can get back playing with the club by the end of the year, try to get myself ready for next year, that’s about it. I’ll go back to the surgeon, see what my next

option is, but it’s frustrating at this stage not to be able to play anything at all.”

Elsewhere, Louth have delayed naming their team to face Offaly in the Leinster championship this weekend until tonight at the earliest as Val Andrews continues to struggle with an injury crisis.

Of chief concern to Andrews will be the hamstring injury that continues to trouble their

experienced centre-back Aaron Hoey. There are also question marks hanging over Colin Goss (hand), Nicky McDonnell (leg), Shane Lennon (ankle), as well as a host of other knocks and niggles afflicting half a dozen other members of the squad.

Offaly named their team on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Galway’s U-21s have their own worries ahead of their All-Ireland final against Down on

Saturday.

The Connacht champions’ half-back line of Niall Coyne, Darren Mullahy and Gary Sice all picked up injuries in the semi-final win over Cork last weekend.

Down manager Paddy O’Rourke has reported no injury concerns for the game in Mullingar.

Carlow will name their team to face Offaly in the NHL Division Two final tonight. Manager Eoin Garvey has concerns over the trio of Edward Cody (shoulder), Shane Kavanagh (hamstring) and Sean Watchorn (illness).

Offaly will keep their cards close to their chests until the weekend, but one man John McIntyre will definitely be planning without is Mick O’Hara, who is suspended.

The winner of the final in Portlaoise will secure promotion to Division One for the 2006 season.

Elsewhere, Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron has promised to be fit for

Sunday’s pre-championship run-out against Roscommon in Dublin.

Boss Mick O’Dwyer has hinted that he’ll start his strongest possible team at Dublin’s Ballinteer-St John’s club grounds.

Byron had been a doubt after shipping a knee to the head during their friendly win over Laois on Monday.

He was taken by ambulance to hospital in Portlaoise for x-rays but results showed nothing was broken.

Laois return for their first training session tonight since the game, though Byron will sit it out.

“Micko has said he’ll put out the strongest team for the first-half against Roscommon so I want to be there for that,” said the former Allstar.

Thomas Walsh is expected to be fit for Carlow’s Leinster opener against Wexford on June 5.

Walsh, a goalscorer against Laois, limped out of the friendly tie with an ankle injury but county chiefs insist it’s not serious.