Shoulder op for Limerick captain Gavin

Limerick captain Muiris Gavin is to join a growing list of inter-county footballers going under the surgeon's knife ahead of the 2006 season.

Gavin, whose club Monaleen were beaten by Clare champions St Senan's in the AIB Munster club quarter-finals two weeks ago, is to undergo an operation on a problematic shoulder at Dublin's Blackrock Clinic this Fiday.

Forward Gavin is likely to sidelined for up to three months, ruling him out of the opening rounds of the National League in the spring.

New Limerick manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan could also be without the services of Gavin's club team mate Eoin Keating.

The talented forward, who has rekindled his soccer career with Limerick FC this year, is weighing up whether to have an operation on his collarbone, which has been dislocated on three separate occassions.