Gilligan rejects offer of Banner return

ALL-IRELAND winner Niall Gilligan has turned down an initial approach to link up with the Clare senior hurling panel for the 2010 campaign.

The Sixmilebridge clubman was absent from Monday night’s first official collective training session of the year and is understood to be taking more time out to consider his intercounty future.

Gilligan has been a key member of the Banner County set-up since making his debut in 1997 and has racked up over half a century of championship appearance.