O’Gorman to skip league for surgery

Thomas O’Gorman will miss Waterford’s Allianz Football League campaign due to a persistent shoulder problem.

O’Gorman has dislocated his shoulder on a number of occasions but continued to soldier on through the pain barrier as his club The Nire reached the county final last month.

They lost to Stradbally by a point after a replay, during which he dislocated the shoulder again, and will go under the knife this week in a bid to be available for Waterford’s Munster semi-final against Kerry or Tipperary on June 1.

Gary Hurney is also facing a spell on the sidelines with a knee cartilage operation scheduled for this week. The powerful attacker will miss the McGrath Cup but should be back in action in six to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, Déise senior football manager Niall Carew’s management structure has been completed, with Tony Corcoran named as selector.

Elsewhere, Dublin chairman Andy Kettle is disappointed Kildare turned down the chance to play his county on a Friday night under lights in Croke Park next year.

Ireland take on France in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium on the Saturday but Kildare refused to play citing logistical problems.

“I thought it was an ideal opportunity to provide the Friday night. It is a fairly decent sporting weekend,” said Kettle.

“It would give an opportunity to assess the warmth for it, how it would fit with supporters. I think supporters would react to it, people would be open to it.

“It’s starting a weekend, no school the next day, quite a few work on Saturday. All that makes a difference.”

Kildare chairman John McMahon said it would not be possible for the Kildare squad to play on a Friday night due to work and travel commitments.

“It’s not just a matter of getting into the car and going up the road.

” If the throw-in is 7pm, fans have to be there for 6.55pm, but the players have to be there hours before that.”