Babs ready to run the rule over the likely lads

BABS KEATING is hoping that this weekend’s challenge match against Waterford will give him a better idea of the talent available as he seeks to resurrect Tipperary’s fortunes in 2006.

The former All-Ireland winning player and manager has wasted little time in trawling though the county in search of players since his reappointment to the post early last month.

Challenge matches with Dublin and UCD have already come and gone but he has so far been unable to run the rule over some of the county's more established senior performers for a number of reasons.

"Things are going alright, I suppose, but it's too early yet to say because we haven't looked at the regular players guys that we know are able to play at senior and for the simple reason that five of them are away in Australia with the banks and they're not back until next Wednesday.

"Others were involved in club competitions and (Thurles) Sarsfields are still involved so we're really only feeling our way with the players that the public are saying deserve a trial. We'll make our own minds up yet. It's too early to do that yet."

That situation will improve on Saturday in Clonmel when players like Benny Dunne, Micheál Webster, Donnacha Fahy and Colin Morrissey are due to make their first starts under the new regime. The absence of more household names thus far has at least allowed Keating to fulfil his promise to give as many players as possible the opportunity to impress in the blue and gold. It was a policy he adopted in his first spell in charge during the 1980s and one that reaped rich dividends.

"It's nothing to do with me, or how I feel. It's an obligation. I always say that we have two boxes to tick. One is that any club secretary or chairman, when they meet me outside Croke Park or Semple Stadium or any place else, that I can look them straight in the face and honestly say that we tried to look for the best players in the county.

"When we have the best players in then we have an obligation to maximise their potential. That's the process that we're at at the moment. I don't have any aims other than those I've spoken about. If we can fulfil our obligations in those areas and are lucky enough to be successful then we'll be all happy and, if we're not, I still won't be unhappy."

Beyond that, Keating is refusing to lay out any markers for the season to come. Before being relieved of the position, outgoing manager Ken Hogan spoke of his belief that the crop of players he had under his command were capable of achieving successes.

But Keating was in no mood for predictions when pressed yesterday.

"I haven't said that. Ken might have said it but I didn't say there wasn't (the players there) either. I have an open mind on that. I'd be happy with the way things are going. I have two very loyal selectors in Tom Barry and John Leahy and we'll have help from other areas as time goes on when that help is required in the coaching area."