Brennan back in frame in Kilkenny

Canice Brennan is back in contention for a place in the Kilkenny team for this year's Leinster hurling championship.

Brennan, just back from the Lebanon with the Army, has put some hurling under his belt since his return and the Kilkenny team manager, Brian Cody, appears happy with his progress in recent matches.

But, while in Lebanon he kept fit with the help of a treadmill and also played in "puck abouts" with other colleagues much to the astonishment of the locals, particularly youngsters who were fascinated by the game.

Brennan was the centre of a Kilkenny controversy a couple of years ago when his brother Nicky was manager of the team. He dropped out of the side for a time but is now back in contention for a place in the side to meet Laois in the first round of the Leinster championship on June 20th.

Laois ran Kilkenny close in last year's championship when a late goal by Charlie Carter lifted a Laois siege. Brennan, from the Conahy Shamrocks club figured in recent matches including half an hour's action against Clare in a challenge match which was drawn.

He will be included in the Kilkenny panel for the challenge match against Cork in Thomastown on Sunday in a match to raise funds for the erection of a memorial to the late Ollie Walsh who was one of the most distinguished players to wear the Kilkenny jersey.

In his career in the Kilkenny goal he won five All-Ireland medals, 12 Leinster championship medals, four Railway Cup medals and managed the Kilkenny team which won the All-Ireland championship in 1992 and 1993 beating Cork and Galway respectively.

A memorial to Walsh, worked in bronze by the sculptor and artist John Back, will be erected in Thomastown and the Cork County Board has supported the drive to raise funds for the memorial which will be similar to that erected to the memory of Christy Ring in Cloyne.

Meanwhile, John Power is determined to reclaim the centre half forward position in the Kilkenny side and will line out there against Cork on Sunday. Power, a former All Star, is now 32 but is as keen as ever and has, apparently, recovered from a hamstring problem and could be the solution to Kilkenny's problems on the forty.