Wexford hurling manager Seamus Murphy has brought in dual forward star Redmond Barry to his squad and he is also hopeful the county's first football All Star, Matty Forde, will be available to the hurlers.
The Rathnure man had his first meeting with the players last Saturday night and the squad had their first training session last night when Barry attended. Murphy has also asked veteran Adrian Fenlon to remain on.
A further boost to the hurlers is the return of Oulart-the-Ballagh's Darren Stamp. Stamp opted out of John Conran's squad earlier this year but has accepted an invitation to return, while his club-mates Dessie Mythen and Kevin Kavanagh, have also been added to last season's squad. Murphy is hopeful Rory Mallon will be available for the league and championship.
"I've been talking to Rory and hopefully he will be part of the squad come the new year," said Murphy. He added: "I have spoken to Redmond Barry and he is prepared to play as a 'dual' player. He is very anxious to play hurling and is jumping at the opportunity to be part of the scene. I'm confident we can compromise with the footballers.
"As long as we have him for hurling practice, he will be doing the physical training with one of the sides, it's okay by me."
As regards Forde's intentions, Murphy said: "I'll be talking to Matty. While he has a huge decision to make having had such a wonderful football season, I'm sure he'd like to play a bit of hurling. We'll be trying to have him in and hopefully he can fit in both codes."
Both Barry and Forde joined the hurling squad for training in the lead up to last year's All-Ireland semi-final clash with Cork.
LIMERICK: Limerick hurling management have looked to Ollie Moran to take over as team captain from TJ Ryan of Garryspillane. Moran, who last held the captaincy three years ago, brought his club Ahane to county championship honours in October. Muiris Gavin was recently appointed captain of the football team.
SLIGO: A motion calling for Croke Park to be opened up for soccer and rugby was unanimously passed at Sligo County Board convention on Monday night.
The Rule 42 motion, tabled by the county board executive, generated little debate. The motion which will go to Congress reads: "Central Council shall have the power to authorise the renting or leasing of Croke Park for events other than those controlled by the association during a period when Lansdowne Road football ground is closed for development."
TYRONE: The defence of Tyrone's National League and All-Ireland titles was rendered virtually impossible by the tragic death of Cormac McAnallen, outgoing county chairman Liam Nelis said last night.
Nelis spoke of his pride in the efforts of the players to honour their late captain's memory by putting in a supreme effort on the field of play.
"I will be forever grateful for the efforts that the players made to hold on to both titles after Cormac's death," he told delegates at the county board convention. "It was an almost impossible challenge when you consider everything they had to overcome - the defeat to Donegal, the fixtures congestion and the loss of players through injury."
Nelis, who was succeeded as chairman by Pat Darcy, paid tribute to Cormac as "a remarkable young man, an outstanding sportsman, an exceptional leader on and off the field of play and an excellent role model for all our young people."
THIRD LEVEL: The draws for the third-level football and hurling competitions were made at Croke Park yesterday, reports Seán Moran.
In football's Sigerson Cup, holders Sligo IT will await the winners of the TCD-Athlone IT preliminary round clash.
In hurling's equivalent the Fitzgibbon Cup holders, Waterford, IT will face UCD in the tie of the first round, a re-run of last year's semi-final.
SIGERSON CUP DRAW
Preliminary round: (to be by Jan 29th): A. Garda College v UUC, neutral venue; B. UUJ v IT Tralee, neutral venue; C. DIT v Carlow IT, at Terenure; D. St Marys v UL, neutral venue; E. DCU v Waterford IT, at St Claire's; F. TCD v Athlone IT, at Santry; G. Galway IT a bye.
Round One (to be played by Feb 5th): H. TCD/Athlone IT v Sligo IT; I. NUI Galway v UCD; J. Garda College/UUC v NUI Maynooth; K. St Mary's/UL v UCC; L. QUB v DCU/Waterford IT; M. DIT/Carlow IT v Cork IT; N. UUJ/IT Tralee v Galway IT.
Quarter-finals (to be played by Feb 16th, toss of coin to decide venue): W. I v H; X. K v J; Y. M v L; Z. N v Dundalk IT
Semi-finals (Feb 25th, at Dundalk IT): W v X; Y v Z. Final: Feb 26th, at Dundalk IT.
FITZGIBBON CUP DRAW
Round One (to be played by Feb 5th): A. DIT v UL, at Terenure; B. Waterford IT v UCD, at Waterford; C. Galway IT v Garda College, at Galway; D. Ulster Combined team a bye.
Quarter-finals (to be played by Feb 19th): W. NUI Galway v UCC, at Dangan; X. Limerick IT v Cork IT, at Limerick; Y. WIT/UCD v Ulster Combined; Z. DIT/UL v Galway IT/Garda College;
Semi-finals (Mar 4th, at Limerick IT): W v X; Y v Z. Final: Mar 5th, at Limerick IT.
BETTING: The top 10 GAA bets for 2005 (odds courtesy of Boylesports) are: Laois to win All-Ireland football - 14/1; Wexford to win the All-Ireland hurling - 20/1; a new manager to win Sam Maguire (Paul Caffrey or Matty Forde) - 4/1; Cork to do football and hurling double - 55/1; Pádraic Joyce to be top scorer in football championship - 9/2; Stevie McDonnell to be top scorer in football championship - 11/1; Portlaoise for to win All-Ireland club football - 5/2; a Kerryman to manage All-Ireland football champions - 7/4; Kerry to do double of National League and Championship - 20/1; Mayo to win women's All-Ireland - 5/1.
