Two-year Tipp term for Keating

Michael "Babs" Keating is preparing for his second stint as Tipperary senior hurling manager after having his appointment ratified at a county board EGM last night.

Keating, who also assumed control of the Premier county's footballers in the early 1980s, is taking over the reins from former player Ken Hogan, who led Tipp to the last eight of the 2005 All-Ireland championship before they fell to eventual runners-up Galway.

Appointed for two years, Keating had a very successful eight-year run as manager of the Tipp hurlers from 1986 to 1994, winning two All-Ireland titles, five Munster championships and two National Leagues with them.

Having guided UCD to a Leinster club final last year, Keating was always destined to come back into the inter-county scene where Tipp have been regarded as sleeping giants of late.

Former Tipp forward John Leahy, who recently won the All-Ireland Hurling Sevens with Mullinahone as a goalkeeper, and ex-Thurles Sarsfields manager Tom Barry have been chosen by Keating as selectors for the new season. The position of team trainer is yet to be filled.