Ballygunner senior hurling teams to be drawn in separate groups

Ballygunner will have two teams lining out in this year's Waterford county championship. Photo: Noel Browne

All-Ireland champions Ballygunner will have to name 18 players exclusive to their A team as they field two sides in Waterford’s senior hurling championship this year.

Waterford were granted deviation by Central Council last Saturday to cater for two Ballygunner outfits in the same competition after their second side won last year’s premier IHC.

Although several in the club have reservations about the dual representation in the same competition, the board had looked to facilitate it.

On top of the 18 players, six additional players from the senior B team can be brought into the senior A panel. However, any player who participates in the game won’t be able to return to the senior B team.

As soon as the senior B team is eliminated from the championship, those players will be allowed to line out for the A team. Also, Ballygunner A and B will be drawn in separates groups in the league stages of the championship. That hadn’t previously been on the table.

The deviation has been granted on the proviso that a senior B championship is created in 2027 or Ballygunner's second team are regraded to premier IHC that year.

Meanwhile, Barry Murphy is the most noticeable absentee from the 36-man Limerick senior hurling panel for their National League campaign.

Ahead of their Division 1A opener against Waterford in Azzurri Walsh Park on Sunday, it was confirmed the Doon man won’t be involved in the campaign.

The likes of Seamus Flanagan, Micheál Houlihan, Fergal O’Connor and Jason Gillane had not been expected to be part of the set-up as they weren’t training with the group since they resumed in late November.

Murphy had seen more game-time last season and came on at half-time in the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin.

Cian Lynch captains the team as he did last season with William O’Donoghue once more named as vice-captain. O’Donoghue is part of a five-strong Na Piarsaigh contingent in the squad and they have the best representation followed by Monaleen with four.

Elsewhere, Galway have made two changes from the side that lost to Tipperary last Saturday for Cork’s visit to Pearse Stadium. Darren Morrissey and Thomas Monaghan make way for Ronan Glennon and Cathal Mannion. Monaghan and Conor Cooney is included among the substitutes.

GALWAY (NHL v Cork): D. Fahy; J. Ryan, D. Burke, R. Glennon; P. Mannion, C. Travers, D. Loftus; G. Lee (c), C. Mannion; D. Neary, R. Burke, J. Fleming; D. McLaughlin, J. Rabbitte, A. Niland, Subs: E. Murphy, S. Murphy, C. Daniels, TJ Brennan, S. Linnane, Cillian Whelan, T. Monaghan, E. Niland, C. Cooney, C. Molloy, O. Lohan.

DUBLIN (NHL v Kildare): E. Gibbons; J. Bellew, P. Smyth, E. O’Donnell; A. Dunphy, C. Crummey, C. Burke; B. Hayes, C. Groarke; C. Donohoe, D. Burke, D. Power; D. Purcell, R. Hayes, C. O’Sullivan. Subs: S. Brennan, C. Ó Riain, C. Murray, S. Gallagher, D. Keogh, D. Lucey, T. Brennan, J. Madden, D. Ó Dulaing, C. Kennedy, D. Kenny.

LIMERICK (National Hurling League panel): Dan Morrissey, Tom Morrissey (both Ahane); Oisín O’Farrell (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan), Colin Coughlan, James Coughlan, Aidan O’Connor (both Ballybrown); Seán Finn (Bruff); Fionn O’Brien (Bruree); Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister); Adam English, Darragh O’Donovan, Eddie Stokes (all Doon); David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca), Nicky Quaid, Paddy O’Donovan (both Effin); John English, Hugh Flanagan (both Garryspillane); Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry); Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock); Joseph Fitzgerald, Matthew Fitzgerald, Darragh Langan, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (all Monaleen); Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret/St Pauls); Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West); Mike Casey, Peter Casey, James Finn, Vincent Harrington, William O’Donoghue (v-c) (all Na Piarsaigh); Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen); Diarmaid Byrnes, Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch (c) (all Patrickswell); Barry Nash (South Liberties), Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick's).