Cregan set for low-key start

A new dawn for Limerick hurling it may well be, but newly-appointed manager Eamonn Cregan may have little idea of what team he will choose for Sunday's Oireachtas Cup clash with Cork after his initial training session this evening.

Suspension and injuries, and the Munster club commitments of the county's leading club, Patrickswell, will drastically curtail options for the new manager for this away game.

Cregan will consult today with the Limerick county board officers with a view to finalising his management team.

However, with Sean O'Neill serving a six-month ban for playing in the US without clearance, Mike Houlihan and Paul Tobin on the injured list and Patrickswell stars Ciaran Carey, Gary Kirby and Gary Foley preparing to face Kerry champions Ballyheige, Cregan would have wished for better timing to mark the beginning of his tenure.

Limerick's opponents, Cork, as well as Wexford, Kilkenny and Dublin are some of the other counties committed to Oireachtas action who will also have to go without top players due to club championship fare.

The mood in Limerick, however, is one of optimism. As far as Sunday's action is concerned, county secretary Jimmy Hartigan probably reflects the attitude of all the similarly-depleted sides when he says: "The Oireachtas is basically a competition for trying out players anyway."

It is, however, only to be regretted that an overcrowded fixtures list means weakening the appeal of pairings such as those listed for Sunday. Ties of the calibre of Cork v Limerick, Kilkenny v Laois and Wexford v Waterford would be attractive if the teams were at full or almost full strength.

Cork will be without key players such as Pat Ryan, Barry Egan and John O'Driscoll because of club duty. Ryan figures in the Sarsfield's team against Waterford's Ballygunner, while the Delany's club claim the services of Egan and O'Driscoll for an intermediate championship game.

Oulart-the-Ballagh stars Martin Storey, Liam Dunne and Paul Finn are some of the key Wexford players who will be absent for their game against Waterford in Dungarvan.

Gary Laffan will be out of action for months following an operation on a cruciate ligament. Rory Kinsella is expected to be able to name his side tomorrow evening.

The Kilkenny selectors have named a 28-strong panel, and new manager Kevin Fennelly will be meeting them for a discussion in Nowlan Park tomorrow evening.

But Fennelly cannot hope to see anything like his best team in action for Sunday's Oireachtas tie because of club games.In Sunday's Kilkenny county league final, D J Carey, Charlie Carter and Pat O'Neill line out for Young Ireland's against James Stephens, powered by Peter Barry, Phil Larkin and Brian McEvoy. Dublin will be adapting an experimental approach for their their game with great rivals Antrim in Parnell Park. Players from county champions O'Toole's will not be available due to Leinster club fare.

Dublin manager Michael O'Grady is likely to include a new midfielder in Dave Sweeney of Ballyboden St Enda's and two new forwards in Emmet McGrane of St Vincent's and Shane Martin of Crumlin.

This match will see the return of Sean McGuinness as Antrim manager. The University lecturer is a dedicated organiser and his skills in this area set Antrim up for their All-Ireland final appearance in 1989.

Since then, he has led Down to an Ulster title.