Limerick hurlers reel after loss of Keane, Tobin and Smith

LIMERICK’S senior hurlers have been hit a triple blow prior to the championship with the removal of Mark Keane and Pat Tobin from the panel and the retirement of Clement Smith from inter-county duty.

Former All-Ireland U21 medal winners Keane and Tobin fell foul of the team’s management following the recent League defeat by Wexford.

A county board spokesman, confirming that both had been disciplined, said the matter rested with manager Joe McKenna and his selectors: “It is up to them to decide if the players concerned will return. There is a growing confidence in the panel that in time it will all come right.”

McKenna was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Keane quit the county senior football panel late last year to concentrate on hurling and in a recent challenge against Waterford scored nine points, while Tobin has been a regular marksman with the hurling team.

Meanwhile 29-year-old Smith , who plays his club hurling with county champions Ahane, is understood to have been unhappy with limited chances to impress following extended spells on the bench.

A Limerick panellist since 1997, he made his championship debut in 1999 and had been a regular in the team since, holding down positions in defence and midfield. Smith, who recently opened a pub in Limerick City, started the Shannonsiders’ Munster championship matches against Cork and Tipperary last year.

The panel has been further reduced with the decision taken by goalkeeper John Cahill to quit.

Cahill, who also starred at U21 level, was being groomed to take over the number one jersey but lost his place to former Clare keeper Ger O’Connell for the match against Wexford. O’Connell then lost out to Tim Houlihan for the visit of Antrim last Sunday.

It is also understood that Limerick have made overtures to Albert Shanahan to return to the squad. Shanahan, who plays with intermediate club South Liberties, was regular netminder during Eamonn Cregan’s reign.