Sport

O'Sullivan keen to retain dual duo

Limerick football: Limerick senior football manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan believes he will be able to call upon the services…

Fri Nov 16 2007 - 00:00

Limerick football:Limerick senior football manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan believes he will be able to call upon the services of dual players Stephen Lavin and Pádraig Browne in the new year, even though the pair are on the verge of call-ups to the county's hurling squad.

Hurling manager Richie Bennis has invited Adare man Lavin and Fr Casey's clubman Browne into his panel ahead of the 2008 campaign but O'Sullivan is anxious to keep hold of two players he has described as "real leaders".

A number of players have defected from the football squad to concentrate on hurling in recent times, namely Stephen Lucey, Brian Geary, Brian Begley, Mike O'Brien and Mark O'Riordan.

However, O'Sullivan insisted he has received assurances from Lavin and Browne they are also prepared to stay on board with the footballers.

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O'Sullivan said: "I met Richie Bennis early in the year and . . . He indicated to me he would not pressurise any hurler to give up football and I can assume he will stick to that.

"I'm not going to interfere with the hurlers, I'll stick with my footballers but Pádraig and Stephen would be our real leaders. I am confident they will remain involved with the footballers and I can only accept what they have said to me."

Meanwhile, O'Sullivan is preparing to run the rule over new players with a trial game set for Sunday.

KERRY HURLING:Kerry officials will meet next Tuesday night to begin the process of finding the county's new senior hurling manager.

Former Limerick and Offaly manager Eamonn Cregan, ex-Limerick star Ger Hegarty and former Clare star Anthony Daly have been linked with the position. However, Daly will not be taking up the position after committing himself to Kerry club side Kilmoyley for another season.

u GAA MUSEUM: The GAA Museum will commemorate the 87th anniversary of Bloody Sunday with historical guided tours of Croke Park this Sunday, at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. The 3.30pm tour will include the laying of a commemorative wreath.

Booking is essential, as places are limited and tickets, priced at €7 (adults), €6 (concessions) and €5 (children), are available from the Croke Park museum.