Clarke must face Council

DUBLIN selector Paul Clarke is to appear before the Leinster Council over an alleged punching incident during his side's recent O'Byrne Cup win over Wexford.

After the game in Ayrfield, Wexford corner-back Colm Morris claimed he had been struck under the chin by a man later revealed to him as a Dublin mentor. The incident was brought to the attention of referee Gabriel McKenny by an umpire at the time, but no disciplinary action was taken.

It was later revealed that though his subsequent report to the Leinster Council mentioned the incident, there was no mention of any of those allegedly involved.

Wexford officials were furious after the game but decided against taking the matter further at a meeting of their Management Committee.

The matter seemed to be over, even though the provincial council had written to both camps asking for their version of events.

However, it is believed Clarke's name did appear in McKenny's match report and if he is found guilty of an offence, he could face a suspension or, at the least, a touchline ban.

Limerick captain TJ Ryan, holidaying in Spain with his club Garryspillane, will be absent from the county team for Sunday's Waterford Crystal semi-final against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds. UL and Waterford IT meet in the other semi-final.

Manager Joe McKenna welcomes back the Moran brothers, Niall and Ollie, who have returned from the Allstar tour in Singapore.

The team will not be announced until after training this evening. A week later, Limerick will play Cork in a challenge to mark the opening of new facilities at Bruff GAA Grounds.

Dublin's Tomas Brady, centre-back on last year's Leinster minor championship-winning hurling team, will make his senior debut against Wexford in Sunday's Walsh Cup clash at Parnell Park. Manager Tommy Naughton has handed places to nine of the XV that lined out in last July's senior championship victory over Laois in Dr Cullen Park. That win preserved Dublin's status as a Tier 1 county.

Brady is one of two U21 dual players on the team - wing-forward Eoin Moran being the other - who are preparing for Saturday week's Leinster Championship fixture with Kildare.

DUBLIN (SH v Wexford): G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; D O'Reilly, R Fallon, A de Paor; D Sweeney, M Carton; E Moran, D Russell, S McDonnell; T McGrane, D Curtin, K Flynn.