New Limerick hurling manager Mossie Carroll has explained why he and his fellow selectors decided to stay on in charge of the team after the resignation of his predecessor, Eamon Cregan.

"On the general point we felt continuity was needed. Things had been working well and a vacuum didn't need to be left. The first I knew (about the resignation) was when I got a phone call late last night (Tuesday) after the management committee meeting. I suppose we had hoped that Eamon could be persuaded to stay on board."

The issue that sparked Cregan's resignation was a row over a directive from the county board to the effect that the hurling manager should abide by county policy on dual players and not publicly take a different line. Cregan had no recollection of the directive, which had been issued over the phone, and felt that the county board in effect disputed his bona fides on the matter.

According to Carroll this was strictly between Cregan and the county board. "We hadn't lost confidence in him," he said about his attitude and that of the other selectors, Michael Fitzgerald, Willie Fitzmaurice and Joe Grimes.

Carroll was to meet the players last night for the first time since Tuesday's events created such turmoil for hurling in the county. He said that he did not intend to replace Cregan with a fifth selector but one urgent task facing the new manager will be to find a new trainer, as Derry Donovan - a long-time associate of Cregan - has announced that he is also stepping aside.

The new manager was appointed a selector for last season. A former playing colleague of Cregan, Carroll won Munster and National League medals with Limerick in the 1980s. He also played for Tipperary when living in Clonmel for a number of years. He says the course of events of the past few days took him by surprise.

"I was a bit shocked. As a group we had a League match on Sunday against Wexford and got a good win. We left making plans to meet and get ready for the final League match against Derry."

Carroll also outlined the differences of opinion between Cregan and the other selectors on the matter of dual players. "It's no secret that there's been communications between the county board and the hurling management in relation to dual players.

"The feeling within the group (of selectors) wasn't unanimous. My own view was that while in an ideal world you might get the message across that a player can only play hurling, it was clear as the year went on that the whole thing was creating pressure for the county board. I felt we'd be better off working within the guidelines set down by the county board.

"Players had to make up their minds before selections were announced and when there was a clash, they had always chosen hurling. Conflict was going to arise - irrespective of how the footballers were doing - but it was only going to happen on a certain number of occasions in March. Things were working out."

Carroll paid tribute to his predecessor. "I want to recognise the contribution Eamon Cregan has made as a player and coach. Whatever I achieve or anyone else achieves, we won't achieve what he achieved."

Offaly, with their Birr players available for the first time since the commencement of the league, make five changes on the side defeated by Cork for Saturday's re-arranged home game against Tipperary in Birr. Brian Whelahan is named at full forward.

Tipperary will face Kilkenny in a benefit match in Tullaroan on Sunday.

The Offaly football team has one change for Sunday's relegation tie against Westmeath. John Reynolds replaces Donie Ryan.

Meanwhile, Sligo's Dessie Sloyan (knee injury) and Patrick Naughton (ankle) are in a race against time to play in the crunch Division One B game against Cavan on Sunday.

The GAA yesterday announced its panel for this year's under-17 International Rules Test series against an Australian Football League team. Last week the GAA confirmed that it was unlikely to continue the underage series when its agreed four-year period ends.

Director general Liam Mulvihill was keen to point out that the decision had nothing to do with the potential recruitment of footballers by AFL clubs but had been influenced by the inability of Ireland teams to compete.

Some other means of maintaining a representative outlet for underage players will be investigated.

CORK (SF v Tyrone): A Quirke; M O'Donovan, C O'Sullivan, A Lynch; M Cronin, G Canty, S Levis; N Murphy, J O'Donoghue; BJ O'Sullivan, C Murphy, M McCarthy; F Murray, D O'Sullivan, C Corkery. Subs: K O'Dwyer, P Kissane, N O'Donovan, J Miskella, M O'Sullivan, R McCarthy, J Kavanagh, N O'Leary, C Crowley, B O'Sullivan

TIPPERARY (SF v Monaghan): B Enright; S Collum, N Kelly, D Byrne; B Hahessy, N Fitzgerald, W Morrissey; M Torrent, K Mulryan; D O'Brien, L England, B Hickey; P Lambert, D Browne, G Morrisson.

OFFALY (SH v Tipperary): S Byrne; D Franks, J Errity, S Tooher; J Brady, H Rigney, N Claffey; Barry Whelahan, G Oakley; J Dooley, G Hannify, B Murphy; R Hannify, Brian Whelahan, S Browne.

OFFALY (SF v Westmeath): P Kelly; C Daly, J Kenny, B Mooney; J Hurst, G Rafferty, K Slattery; J Grennan, C McManus; C Quinn, P Mulhare, A McNamee; J Reynolds, R Malone, P Kellaghan.