Bennis wants 12-team league retained

LIMERICK MANAGER Richie Bennis is opposed to next year's reorganisation of the National Hurling League, which will see the two-section Division One reduced by four counties to one straight-forward eight-team group.

Although last year's All-Ireland finalists are already guaranteed a place in this season's league play-offs he doesn't believe the new structure is in the best interests of the game.

"It wouldn't be good for hurling to see Antrim, Dublin or Offaly go down. If they want to promote hurling in those counties it's not the way to do it. I think I'd leave the league the way it is - there's nothing wrong with it - and maybe introduce a system of just one up and one down."

Bennis is, however, in favour of the Hurling Development Committee proposals to include Galway and Antrim in the Leinster championship.

"It makes sense. At the moment they're out in the cold and Kilkenny are getting almost a straight route to the All-Ireland semi-finals."

For Sunday's visit of Galway, Bennis is without Seán O'Connor, injured, Andrew O'Shaugnessy, overseas on army business, and the resting Mark Foley. But Brian Begley returns for his start of the campaign.

"Seán O'Connor was injured in training so we had to bring Brian in, although it might be a bit soon. He injured cartilage in his knee three or four years ago and suffered a slight recurrence but hopefully he'll be fine for Sunday.

"We had Peter Lawlor picked for the game against Tipp and the next one (Offaly) but he went down with a bad dose of the flu so we decided to give him a match on Sunday."

There are five changes to the team: Brian Murray rests while Dave Bulfin gets another run in goal where he had an exceptional match against Tipperary; Damien Cosgrave comes in for Foley, Lawlor for Wayne McNamara, Pat Tobin for O'Shaughnessy and Begley for O'Connor.

In other team news, Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy, with progress in the competition already assured, makes a pile of changes for the match against Laois. Seven of the side that started last week's match with Clare are replaced: Brendan Cummins, Eamonn Buckley, Benny Dunne, Darragh Egan, John O'Brien, Tommy Fitzgerald and Willie Ryan.

Coming in to face Laois on Sunday will be: Gerry Kennedy, Paddy Stapleton, Shane Maher, Joe Caesar, Darragh Hickey, Larry Corbett and Pa Bourke.

Meanwhile, the news that Wexford hurler Declan Ruth was to retire from intercounty hurling has been confirmed. The 31-year-old informed county manager John Meyler on Wednesday.

The decision comes less than a fortnight after another experienced player, Michael "Mitch" Jordan, also retired from the inter-county scene.

Ruth made his intercounty debut in 1995 but had to wait a further three years before making his championship debut. He was a panellist on the All-Ireland medal winning squad of 1996, before establishing himself as one of the best centre half backs in the country.

Meyler said: "It will be hard to find another centre back like him but, as I said to him on the phone, 'life moves on'. It's a new start and a new beginning for him but also for Wexford hurling.

"We had a good chat after the All-Ireland semi-final last year and again at Christmas time. We said we'd leave it go until February or March because I didn't want him doing the winter training.

"He didn't come back until the Cork game on March 19th last year and fitted in well. But now he feels it's time to move on.".

Ruth's retirement severs another link back with the All-Ireland winning panel of 1996 and now, just goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry and the versatile Rory McCarthy remain.

Fitzhenry is back for another season but McCarthy has yet to announce his intentions for the season. Meyler said: "There's no word yet on Rory. We'll sit down after Sunday and look at all those issues."

LIMERICK (SH v Galway):D Bulfin; D Reale, S Lucey, S Hickey; M O'Riordan, P O'Dwyer, D Cosgrave; D O'Grady, P Lawlor; N Moran, O Moran, M Fitzgerald; P Tobin, B Begley, D Ryan.

TIPPERARY (SH v Laois):G Kennedy; P Stapleton, P Curran, C O'Brien; E Corcoran, C O'Mahony, S Maher; J Woodlock, J Caesar; D Hickey, S McGrath, P Kerwick; E Kelly, L Corbett, P Bourke.

CLARE (SH v Offaly):P Brennan; T Keogh, F Lohan, G O'Grady; P Donlon, C Plunkett, T Holland; D Barrett, C Lynch; J Clancy, D O'Rourke, T Carmody; N Gilligan, F Lynch, M Flaherty.

LIMERICK (SF v Fermanagh):M Jones; S Walsh, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; A Lane; D Carroll, S Lavin; T Cahill, J Galvin; J Murphy, J Ryan, S Buckley; I Ryan, D Phelan, S Kelly.