Rigney set for Stephens

FORMER Laois hurling boss Niall Rigney, will be involved with Kilkenny club James Stephens in 2011.

The Portlaoise man said: “Some of the best players who have ever played the game are involved in the Kilkenny championship and I am looking forward to working in it. When the offer came I couldn’t refuse it.”

Rigney will form a three man selection committee with Stephens club members, Adrian Finan, who was a selector with the Kilkenny All-Ireland winning minor team this season, and Fran Whelan.

Meanwhile Toomevara have pulled off a major coup by securing the services of former Limerick senior hurling selector Ger Cunningham. Cunningham has already enjoyed a great deal of success in Tipperary club circles and in 2005, he guided Thurles Sarsfields to a first county senior hurling championship success since 1974. He also worked the oracle in 2008, when Kildangan captured the North Tipperary SHC title under his watch, for the first time since 1943. Cunningham, who helped Cork outfit Newtownshandrum to All-Ireland club glory in 2004, will take over as coach/trainer with Toomevara next year. Cunningham is taking over the role vacated by newly-appointed Tipperary senior hurling team coach Tommy Dunne, who stepped down as manager of his home club following the 2010 county SHC semi-final defeat against Thurles Sarsfields.