Michael "Babs" Keating has been appointed as Offaly's new hurling manager. The former Tipperary all rounder will thus be taking on the task of managing a fourth county team since his own colourful playing career in hurling and football with his native Tipperary ended.
His most notable achievement to date while operating from the dug out was to guide Tipperary to All-Ireland success after a barren spell, against Antrim in the 1989 decider.
Previously he was at the helm in Galway for a spell without attaining any appreciable success and his most recent post was in Laois where he has been manager for the past two seasons.
Dublin-based Keating is a member of the St Brigid's club in Blanchardstown and is looking forward to this most recent challenge. He will have as his co selectors two experienced men in Podge Mulhaire of St Rynagh's and Pat Moloughney of Coolderry both of whom have previously held similar posts.
Meanwhile, Offaly's former manager Eamonn Cregan who takes over from Tom Ryan as Limericks new manager will have Canon Willie Fitzmaurice and David Punch of Patrickswell as his co selectors.
Canon Fitzmaurice was manager of the under-21 team for four years. Punch won Munster championship medals in 1980 and 1981.
The appointments of the co-selectors were decided in conjunction with the Limerick County Board officers who met Cregan last night.
After conducting his first training session Cregan named a side for Sunday's Oireachtas Cup tie with Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn that unavoidably differs greatly from the 15 that recently lifted the National League title.
Gary Kirby, Ciarain Carey, John Foley, Barry Foley and the injured Declan Nash are not available with club ties drastically curtailing Cregan's options.
The Waterford under-21 hurling team manager for the last two years, Greg Fives, has been appointed a county senior hurling selector, replacing Matthew Walsh, who has stepped down due to work commitments. Fives joins team manager, Gerald McCarthy, and fellow selector, John Galvin, and the management team with McCarthy commencing the second year of his three-year term of office.
Waterford have their first competitive outing of the new season on Sunday next when they host Wexford in the Oireachtas senior hurling tournament at Walsh Park. The home side will have to plan without players from county champions, Ballygunner, who captured their third county title in a row last Sunday as they are in Munster club championship action also on Sunday afternoon when they travel to play Sarsfields of Cork.
Ballygunner, who agonisingly lost a provincial final to Wolfe Tones of Clare last season, have suffered a major blow for their encounter with the Cork representatives as their forward, Paul Flynn, was sent off in the latter stages of last Sunday's county decider.
Limerick (v Cork): J Quaid; J McDonagh, M Nash, A Browne; D Clarke, T J Ryan, M Foley; F Carroll, Shane O'Neill; M Galligan, O Moran, N Doolin; D Hennessy, O O'Neill, J Moran.
Michael "Babs" Keating who makes his fourth foray into county management with his appointment as manager of Offaly's hurling team.
