NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: A leading official has conceded that Limerick's stated position as a dual county is impractical.
County secretary Jimmy Hartigan was reacting to the statements of the six footballers who have been forced to give up dual status and comments in support of them from football manager Liam Kearns.
Hartigan emphasised that whereas the players had his sympathy, he regarded the matter as closed and hoped that both teams could settle down to preparing for their respective Division One National League campaigns. On the subject of dual players he said although the county had no objections that there would be no interference with the right of a county manager to select whoever he wanted.
"The day of the dual player is really gone. I've no problem with it but any dual player is putting himself under extreme pressure. You may get away with it with one player but with six involved you're making it very difficult. There's weekends coming up with two National League programmes both fixed for Sunday."
In recent seasons hurling and football teams managed to split fixtures on the one weekend between Saturday and Sunday but that caused trouble last year when a Tipperary-Limerick match played on a Saturday attracted a poor attendance. This season both counties will be required to consent to any shift of date.
Whatever about the league, Hartigan sees greater difficulties arising in the summer should the hurlers defeat Munster champions Cork in the provincial semi-final. "If we were in the position of reaching both Munster finals, the four weeks' preparation time between the hurling semi-final and final would be interrupted by the football final right in the middle," he said.
Meanwhile, Limerick hurling manager Pad Joe Whelahan's departure from the coach's position with his home club Birr in Offaly was confirmed by the appointment of Paul Murphy, an All-Ireland medallist with the club, as his successor.
It is believed that Limerick county champions Patrickswell have nominated Ciaran Carey as their choice for county captain this year. Carey previously held the position in 1996, the last time the county were Munster champions, and it remains to be seen if he can secure a first-team place at this stage of his career.
In Tipperary Tommy Dunne has been appointed county hurling captain in succession to Brian O'Meara. Dunne previously captained his county between 1999-2002, including Tipperary's most recent All-Ireland win in 2001.
Tyrone's new captain Cormac McAnallen could miss Sunday's National Football League opener against Dublin in Parnell Park. The current All Star full back is struggling with a knee injury, and sat out his side's three Dr McKenna Cup matches in recent weeks.
Stephen O'Neill is also extremely doubtful, having picked up a collarbone injury in the match against Antrim. Peter Canavan is on the long-term injury list, as he recovers from surgery on his damaged ankle.
Sligo have injury worries about defenders Philip Gallagher and Brendan Phillips for Sunday's league game against Cavan at Markievicz Park. Gallagher sustained a hamstring injury against Leitrim in last Sunday's Connacht league game while Phillips hurt an ankle also in that match.
