Rule scuppers Billy Nolan’s Waterford dream

Exciting under-age goalkeeper Billy Nolan, an U21 hurler this past season, will not be to play for the Waterford side next year because of a new GAA rule set to come into operation on January 1.

At the age of 16, prodigy Nolan lined out between the sticks for the U21s’ Munster championship quarter-final win over Cork in June but was injured for the semi-final defeat to Clare the following month.

He has since turned 17 but from next month all U21 players at inter-county level must be over 18 years and under 21.