Roscommon referee Michael Carroll will be in the unusual position this weekend of officiating at a provincial final featuring a team from his own county. Roscommon hurling champions Four Roads are playing Clarinbridge, Galway winners for the first time.

Although the appointment caused some raised eyebrows in Clarinbridge, the Galway club's manager John McIntyre dismissed any idea of challenging the Connacht Council decision.

"The club asked me and I said I'd no difficulty with the referee," said McIntyre who added that his team's opponents would remain the principal focus of preparations.

"Four Roads have more experience at this level than we have and also by far the best pedigree of the clubs from Roscommon or Mayo. They pushed Athenry last year despite having their goalkeeper sent off and in the end Joe Rabbitte had to be brought on."

Referee Carroll was coincidentally the indirect cause of controversy in Galway hurling last year when given the job of handling the county final between Athenry and Sarsfields. His appointment caused resentment among local officials who threatened to withdraw their services from the hurling board.

The details of next year's Munster championships have been arranged and things are looking up for Semple Stadium in Thurles. After an entire summer without a championship hurling match this year, the venue is on course to host three, and maybe four, big days next season.

Cork and Waterford will play their semi-final there on May 26th and the other match in that round between the winners of Clare and All-Ireland champions Tipperary and Limerick may end up in Semple Stadium even if Tipp qualify.

This is because refurbishments to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick have made it possible for the home county and Tipperary to resume their home-and-away arrangements, which had fallen into abeyance as the capacity in Limerick was reduced.

Thurles has already secured the Leinster hurling semi-finals because of a complete relaying of the pitch at Croke Park. Any deviation from the projected deadline of late June could also see further big matches in Leinster making the trip to Tipp.

Finally DJ Carey was reported yesterday to have ruled himself out of hurling for at least four months. A motor accident left him with a damaged back, which requires a long period of rest. Unless his recovery is speedier than projected he will miss most of Kilkenny's league games.