Shelley’s chance to resurrect inter-county career

FORMER Tipperary hurling star Paul Shelley has been given a chance to resurrect his inter-county career.

Twenty-six-year-old Shelley has not figured with the Premier County for two years after some outstanding displays both as a defender and at full forward. However, a spell in the US meant he missed out on the county’s All-Ireland SHC success in 2001.

But he has been recalled into the Tipp training squad in preparation for the NHL by new manager Michael Doyle. Football star Declan Browne declined an invitation to join the squad in order to concentrate on football, while county U21 full-back Paul Curran has opted out after being on the panel for the past two years.

In tomorrow’s O’Byrne Cup action, the meeting of Laois and Longford at Portlaoise is certainly the headline act, marking Mick O’Dwyer’s first competitive game in charge of the home outfit. There might be a substantial number in O’Moore Park, accordingly.

They can expect a reinvigorated Laois by all accounts, who have risen to the challenge O’Dwyer has laid down to them. Longford, however, will be no pushovers. They are one of the few teams who treat this tournament seriously, and annihilated London in a friendly last weekend. The Barden brothers are back from injury, too. But, the natives are expecting in Portlaoise.

In Aughrim, the Rathnew pair, Tommy Gill and Barry Mernagh both return to the Wicklow team after their protracted adventure in the club championship, although Trevor Doyle doesn’t make his return for John O’Leary’s men in this season opener against Carlow.

It is hard to know how this will go as the Carlow players will be eager to impress their new boss Mick Condon. This competition represents the only real chance of success for either of these counties, a point emphasised by the fact Carlow are the current holders. However, the return of Gill and the advantage of Aughrim should see them dethroned.

Richie Sherlock, one of the stars of Mattock Ranger’s fairy-tale journey to the Leinster final is rewarded for his wonderful performances with a county debut when Louth face Westmeath in Drogheda. He is joined by club-mate Christy Grimes, who, as usual, leads the Louth attack.

This is the fourth meeting in as many years between these sides in the O’Byrne Cup, but it is hard to see anything but a Louth victory. Westmeath manager Luke Dempsey dismissed the competition as a waste of time during the week and has organised a very physical training session for his players on Saturday. Just to ensure they don’t win.

Elsewhere, Wexford should be far too strong for Kilkenny.