Former partners set for face-off

Rival hurling managers Pad Joe Whelehan of Limerick and Tipperary’s Ken Hogan (pictured) once master minded Birr’s path to an All-Ireland club hurling final together.

Rival hurling managers Pad Joe Whelehan of Limerick and Tipperary’s Ken Hogan once master minded Birr’s path to an All-Ireland club hurling final together.

In 1991, Ken Hogan was coach to the Birr senior hurling side which won Offaly county and Leinster club honours.

During the following spring, Whelehan was called in to lend a helping hand as Birr advanced to an All-Ireland club final show down with Kiltormer of Galway.

Now, 12 years later, Whelehan and Hogan’s paths are about to cross again.

But this time they will be in op posing camps.

Whelehan is in his first year as Limerick senior hurling team manager, while Hogan has suc ceeded Michael Doyle as Tipp supremo.

Limerick and Tipperary meet in a mouth-watering All-Ireland qualifier clash at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening next. Throw-in 7.30pm.

“I was training Toomevara of Tipperary in 1992 and Ken (Hogan) was coach to Birr,” Whelehan recalled.

“I was asked to give a helping hand with Birr. My son Brian was captain at the time.

“Ken (Hogan) and I worked very well together. He is an astute man ager when it comes to hurling.

“In the end we lost that ‘92 final to Kiltormer. But we are still friendly. Ken is from Lorrha which is not very far from Birr.”

Three years later Birr did manage to secure an All-Ireland club title.

The Limerick hurling manage ment team is set to name their starting 15 to face Tipperary after training tonight.

Murroe/Boher’s Eoin O’Neill is back in contention for a starting place having recovered from a hamstring injury. He missed Limerick’s first round defeat by Cork with the injury.

However, he has since resumed training with the squad.

Limerick report no other injury problems.

Saturday’s game is a ‘last chance saloon’ for both sides as far as this season’s championship is concerned.

Bookmakers Paddy Power’s have installed Tipperary as warm 2/5 favourites to win the game.

Limerick are available at odds of 9/4, while punters can get 10/1 about a draw.

Both the Mackey and uncovered stands have been made all-ticket for the game.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo