Keating to keep dual mandate

Michael "Babs" Keating will continue to work with the UCD hurling team for as along as they remain in the All-Ireland club championship. Despite retaking the reins with his native Tipperary, Keating believes he can handle both jobs - but was quick to point out he might not have to worry about it for long.

Keating came on board with UCD before last season's club championship, guiding them to the Leinster final, where they fell to James Stephens of Kilkenny - who went on to win the All-Ireland. The new campaign got off to an impressive start on Sunday when UCD beat Killyon of Meath by 28 points in the first round of the Leinster championship.

While he has started the process of building the new Tipperary hurling panel, he will continue to commit the necessary time to UCD.

"That's the plan anyway," said Keating. "I've no problem with it, and the way I see it is one should actually complement the other.

"I've been with UCD for the past year and a half, so we'll see how far we can take them now. But of course it could all end the next day out when we play Birr. That's a big challenge for any club."

UCD are due to meet the Offaly champions and former All-Ireland winners in Sunday's Leinster championship quarter-final. The winners will likely meet Wexford champions Oulart-The Ballagh in the semi-final.

Last year's defeat to James Stephens came under controversial circumstances, the Kilkenny champions getting a point the TV images seemed to dispute. UCD appear well conditioned to go the distance again this year, with a host of county representatives including Bryan Barry of Kilkenny and Redmond Barry of Wexford.

Keating also reiterated his belief that the presence of UCD - despite most of their players being from outside the county - was good for both the Dublin and the club championship in general. They won their seventh county title by beating St Vincent's on Friday night, for their first back-to-back titles since 1947-48.

"I've defended it before and I'll happily defend it again. You only have to look at the records, and the fact UCD have only won seven Dublin titles in the last 80 years or so. You didn't hear this kind of talk when UCD weren't winning.

"St Vincent's gave us a good match on Friday, and there was no one from Vincent's complaining to me about it afterwards.

"But it's definitely in the best interest of Dublin hurling. UCD have taken the time to get a good team in place, with some excellent training and coaching programmes in place. So I think they are raising the standards, and that can only be a good thing.

"We've put hours and hours in out there in UCD. And the boys are listening to us as well. Other clubs can bury their heads in the sand if they want, but if Dublin clubs are series about making an impression on the Leinster club championship they should be looking at the standard laid down by UCD. And all clubs are about improving the standards in the county."

Keating was particularly busy on Sunday as earlier in the day he watched his first Tipperary team beat Dublin in a challenge to mark the opening of the new O'Toole grounds in Ayrfield.

Meanwhile, The Leinster and Munster hurling teams will depart later this week for Boston for Sunday's interprovincial final.

The football final between Leinster and Ulster will be played on Sunday week, with the venue to be confirmed, and Ulster manager Brian McEniff is facing a selection dilemma as he leads the province towards a third successive title, and his 12th.

McEniff utilised several younger players in Sunday's 2-13 to 0-9 win over Munster at Crossmaglen. Eleven of the province's top players are due back from Australia following the International Rules series, and McEniff has hinted he will be making a call to at least a few.

Former Cork hurler Setanta Ó hAilpín has been promoted to the senior lists at Carlton Blues for the upcoming Australian Rules season. The 22-year-old was named on the 33-strong senior list yesterday.

Ó hAilpín will wear the number 19 jersey next year. Younger brother Aisake was one of three players to be retained as second-year rookies with the club.