Fanning champing at the bit for Premier chance

THESE are tough times for Killenaule’s Declan Fanning. An All-Star at full-back for Tipp two years ago, injury struck at the start of 2008 and Declan was forced to sit back and watch as Paul Curran, from the rival parish of Mullinahone, slotted in to make the position his own.

This week, as Tipperary ready themselves for their opening round Munster championship match against old rivals Cork, Paul Curran is still in the driving seat and Declan is doing his damnedest to make an impression, hoping he can still catch the eye of manager Liam Sheedy.

Even at work, Declan can’t catch a break. He’s in Coolmore, home to some of the top stud horses on the planet, standard-bearer in the equine breeding world, a place that you would imagine echoes with whispers, the name of yet another ‘sure thing’ in an upcoming race, a chance to supplement the wage cheque in hard times.