Baker joins Westmeath team

OLLIE BAKER will return to the inter-county hurling scene in 2006, as a selector with Westmeath.

A two-time All-Ireland winner with Clare under Ger Loughnane in the 1990s, the Doora-Barefield man will join John Donoghue and Liam Davitt on Seamus Qualter's backroom staff for the coming season.

"He's a friend of mine, said Qualter. "Ollie has great experience and he'll have a lot to bring to us as a selector and a coach."

The Athlone-based garda won't be the only Clare influence guiding a Westmeath team that is returning to hurling's top table after their success in the Christy Ring Cup last summer. Current Banner trainer Johnny Glynn is also lending his expertise.

"I'm in contact with Johnny and he's giving us a hand at the moment drawing up training programmes," said Qualter.

Laois selector Declan O'Loughlin is adamant that Mick O'Dwyer's preparations have not been seriously undermined by the unavailability of the county's U21s for a sizeable portion of the coming campaign.

Having won the All-Ireland minor title three years ago, there are high hopes the same crop of players can claim a first ever national crown at U21 level and an agreement has been reached between O'Dwyer and Sean Dempsey that those youngsters will not even train with the seniors until their underage commitments are behind them.

Donie Brennan, who has already shone with the senior side, is one of those affected by the agreement while others certain to be called up by O'Dwyer at some point include Craig Rogers, Colm Kelly (Stradbally) and Colm Kelly (St Joseph's).

"There are six or seven lads definitely in strong contention for a place in the squad whenever the U21s are done in their own competition," said O'Loughlin.

"You couldn't say it's ideal but it's better than having them train one night with us and another with Sean and have them jumping from Billy to Jack."

Both sides are already coming to terms with the losses of Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley to the Brisbane Lions but there is better news with the return to the fold of full-back Colm Byrne and forward Mick Lawlor.

Both men sat out the 2005 championship but were persuaded to return to pre-season training which is being overseen by Gerry Loftus, the former Meath physical trainer who is best known for his performances in the Superstars series in the 1980s.

It remains to be seen whether Colm Parkinson, whose father Martin is now a senior selector, returns to the panel after a year's absence.

'Wooly' is on a tour of South America.

The last senior football inter-county management position was finally filled last night when former Monaghan forward Eamon McEneaney succeeded Val Andrews in Louth.

McEneaney, no relation of Seamus, is a former Monaghan manager who guided the county to an All-Ireland 'B' Championship, while in his playing days he also won an Ulster U-21 medal.

Dinny Cahill was formerly ratified as new Laois senior hurling manager The former Antrim manager's selectors will be Joe Dollard from Camross and John Taylor from Portlaoise.