Gaelic Games: The feared crisis in Offaly hurling has been resolved, with all three of the Whelahan brothers playing a full part in last night's training session.

It is now expected all three will also play their part in Thursday's All-Ireland hurling qualifier against Limerick in Thurles, although manager Mike McNamara decided against naming his team last night.

Doubts about the Whelahans' commitments continued for most of yesterday, although several discussions did take place behind the scenes between the players and other members of the hurling camp in an effort to reverse their decision not to train with the team for the immediate future. All three brothers - Brian, Barry and Simon - had skipped last Saturday's training session because of their dissatisfaction over events at a practice game the previous Thursday.

It is known that team captain Gary Hanniffy was among those requesting the Whelahans to put their difficulties behind them and return to training. It is also understood that some discussions took place with McNamara, with the manager also calling on the players to return.

But it was only when all three showed up at the training session in Thurles last night that the problems were proven to have been resolved. The session was specially arranged for Thurles in order to re-familiarise the team with the pitch at Semple Stadium, the venue for Thursday's crunch game against Limerick.

None of the Whelahans would comment in detail on the matter, although Brian, the oldest brother, had described the crisis as "an unfortunate run of events" that had now been sorted out.

Yet it is clear that the non-inclusion of Simon Whelahan in last Thursday's practice game against Waterford brought the matter to a head.

He has failed to get a starting place in the Offaly team this summer, and youngest brother Barry was particularly disheartened at Simon's apparent lack of opportunity. Simon also acted as umpire in that practice game, although at his own request and not at the request of the management.

Barry Whelahan was also taken off during the course of that game and it was at that point that the brothers made their difficulties known. For now, however, the focus is back on the Limerick game, with Brian and Barry again likely to make the starting line-up, and Simon likely to feature among the substitutes.

Opponents Limerick will name their team this evening, and manager Dave Keane hasn't been without a few crises of his own. Former midfielder Michael O'Brien is the latest player to withdraw from the current panel over his perceived lack of playing chances, and he followed two other high-profile players in Ciaran Carey and Barry Foley.

Talks had been taking place with Carey in an effort to get him to reverse his decision to retire from intercounty hurling.

Yet as of last night he was standing by his decision not to play a part with Limerick in the remainder of the championship.

Elsewhere, Tipperary corner back Thomas Costello is in real danger of missing his team's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final on July 27th, after suffering a broken rib in the course of the qualifier win over Galway last Sunday.

The injury happened in the first half and saw Costello being replaced at half-time by David Kennedy. For now Costello can only rest and hope the injury heals quickly enough to give him some hope of lining out on Sunday week.

Costello's injury comes at a time when Tipperary manager Micheel Doyle was just getting back to something near his first choice defence.

Meanwhile, the Dublin under-21 hurlers have a few injury worries ahead of their Leinster final against Kilkenny in Carlow tomorrow evening.

Keith Elliot is the main doubt, with the Craobh Chiarain defender still not fully recovered from the ankle injury that ruled him out of Dublin's semi-final victory over Wexford.

For now, however, Elliot has been named in the starting line up at corner back.

But there is better news for dual player David O'Callaghan, who has been added to the panel after missing the earlier games due to a broken arm and is certain to play some role.

O'Callaghan was unable to return to hurling action until the last few weeks, and in recent weeks had been limited to training with the senior football panel.

DUBLIN (Under-21 hurling v Kilkenny): G Maguire; K Elliot, S Daly, P Brennan; D O'Reilly, S Hiney, C O'Brien; R Fallon, S McCann; C Keaney, P Fleury, M Carton; S O'Neill, S O'Connor, F Chambers.