KILKENNY hurling manager Nicky Brennan denies that he has forbidden his players to talk to the media. He believes that younger members of his panel are better off not say ing anything but says there is no ban.

"That was a total misrepresentation," he says. "When players were written to, notifying them about the start of training, they were asked not to speak to anyone before we had a chance to talk to them.

At the first meeting I made a few remarks - which probably took about half a minute - directed at the younger players: "A lot of you have no experience at senior level and are trying to start your inter county career and - hopefully, you'll have plenty to talk about in the future - you'd probably be as well off to stay away from the media, but if you're approached to talk it's up to you. I'm not going to lose a night's sleep over it.

"But I also said if they were uncomfortable about talking to reporters and uncomfortable about saying so, to blame me. I have been making the point that we've won nothing, achieved nothing. We're in the gutter, trying to get out of it."

While conceding that some of his players may be under the impression that they are forbidden to talk to reporters, he has no plans to address the panel on the subject again - that would be making too big a thing out of it" but has no difficulty with more experienced members of the panel giving interviews.

"Absolutely not. If you rang, say, Liam Keoghan, I wouldn't care less. I've no hang ups about that. It's just that younger players can be uncomfortable with the whole thing."

Kilkenny beat Offaly in one of the weekend's Oireachtas semifinals. It was a comfortable victory over well understrength opponents. Happy with both the win and the opportunity to experiment in comparatively low pressure competition, Brennan has tried out a number of new faces but has also welcomed back 1993 All Ireland winning captain Eddie O'Connor who absented himself from the panel last year. Although not expected to play before Christmas, O'Connor is back in training.

Was the frequently outspoken Glenmore full back's return contingent on buttoning his lip?

"No," says Brennan. "Eddie's back on the same terms as everyone else. I've no problem with him talking to the media. I would always hope that guys doing so would remember their responsibility to fellow players and to team officials - just as I will never criticise a player to a journalist instead of taking him aside and telling him to his face."

One feature of Kilkenny's team was the presence in goal of Adrian Ronan, corner forward in the All Ireland successes earlier in the decade, whose early career began between the posts. His selection on Sunday came about because of an accident involving a car carrying first choice goalkeeper Joe Darmody and defender John Costelloe. Although neither were seriously injured, they didn't play.

"Adrian has played a lot in goal," says Brennan. "People forget that he was the reserve goalkeeper in 1991, `92, `93 even though he was playing outfield. It's not exactly a strange area for him."

Kilkenny's opponents in the Oireachtas final will be Clare. The date is set for December 1st but no venue has been agreed.

Kilkenny are to propose that the counties toss a coin to decide home advantage and play it in Nowlan Park or Cusack Park.

. Dublin goalkeeper John O'Leary has aggravated a groin injury which would make him doubtful for Sunday's National Football League match with Clare were he required, given the county's decision to rotate goalkeeping duties between him and David Byrne.

. Sunday's Munster club semifinal replay between All Ireland champions Laune Rangers and Waterford's Rathgormack has been fixed for Killorglin at 1.0.

. Next Sunday's South East League match between Kilkenny and Tipperary has been called off. Originally scheduled for Thurles, it had to be moved because the weekend's Munster club hurling final between Wolfe Tones of Shannon and Waterford champions Ballygunner has been fixed for Semple Stadium.