Club nominate O'Grady

Tipperary hurling champions Thurles Sarfields have nominated Ger "Redser" O'Grady to captain the senior county team for the coming year, creating something of a dilemma for new manager Babs Keating.

Although popular with the Tipperary supporters, O'Grady has had disciplinary problems over the last year, including being arrested outside a Limerick city nightclub last May just hours after scoring a goal in Tipperary's Munster championship victory over Limerick. He was later released without charge and the then management decided on a temporary omission from the panel ahead of the next round match with Clare .

O'Grady captained the Sarsfields team that regained the Tipperary title last year after a 31-year break, thus cementing his popularity within the county.

However, he couldn't hold down a starting place under previous manager Ken Hogan. He appeared shortly into the second half of Tipperary's quarter-final defeat to Galway, and although he did score a point, his three wides contributed to him being called ashore before the end.

It remains to be seen if his colourful and at times inspiring hurling fits into Keating's plans, as the manager will have the last call on where the captain's armband will rest come the summer.

One of Keating's selectors, Tom Barry, also comes from the Sarsfields club and could influence the eventual decision.