New post earmarked for retired player

The GAA intend to appoint a new player welfare manager within the coming weeks. The job specifications were announced yesterday, following on from a list of new player welfare strategies announced by GAA president Nickey Brennan at his inaugural speech to last month's congress.

Initially it was felt the player welfare manager would infringe upon the roles of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), but their chief executive, Dessie Farrell, has since welcomed the new position. Applications for the job close on June 1st with the hope of filling it shortly afterwards.

"It is intended that the player welfare manager will be the point of contact at central level for players and county boards in relation to player welfare issues," said a statement from the GAA. "The person appointed will be based in Croke Park and will have direct responsibility for managing compliance within counties on all aspects of agreed player welfare initiatives."

Potential applicants are asked to submit their CV together with covering letter for attention of the GAA's director general Liam Mulvihill (ssloane@admingaa.ie).

The job is almost certain to go to a recently retired player, and Brennan briefly expanded on the position shortly after taking office, suggesting the role would require "lots of different attributes and skills . . . but a problem solver, really, is what we're looking for. It's a big challenge for the person, but a new and exciting one too".

The player welfare manager was part of an eight-point plan that Brennan unveiled at congress and included a new strategy to use players to market the games, to provide third-level bursaries and also to promote players making personal appearances for commercial gain.

Meanwhile, several more counties have finalised their line-ups for Sunday's rounds of championship matches. Clare managers Michael Brennan and Donie Buckley are awaiting the outcome of forward Rory Donnelly's appeal against a three-month suspension, the result of a red-card incident in the league match against London.

Donnelly had his case heard by the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) last night, with a decision due this morning, and if he is cleared then he'll fill the vacancy at right corner forward for the meeting with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

Waterford manager John Kiely has announced his line-up for daunting Munster quarter-final meeting with beaten All-Ireland finalists Kerry. Midfielder Karl O'Keefe misses out through injury, and goalkeeper Thomas Wall will also undergo a late fitness before the game in Killarney. Ger Power returns to the left half forward position having spent the league campaign with the Waterford hurlers, while corner forward Jason Ryan and full forward Gary Hurney make their championship debuts.

Armagh manager Joe Kernan is sticking with the same team for Saturday's Ulster quarter-final replay with Monaghan, set for 5.30pm in Clones. Tony McEntee holds on to the full-back position after being a late replacement for Aidan O'Rourke.

Galway, who will be captained by Michael Donnellan this year, will be without wing forward Matthew Clancy for Sunday's Connacht championship clash against Sligo at Pearse Stadium. The Oughterard man suffered a hamstring injury in a club game. Pádraic Joyce is available despite picking up a knock in a challenge game against Kildare.

Kilkenny hurler James Ryall looks set to miss their championship campaign after being diagnosed as suffering from Compartment Syndrome, a condition that affects the development and elasticity of body muscles. Ryall has been told he will need an operation followed by 12 weeks of rest from any competitive play.

Ryall intends to have the operation later in the year and hopes to play for his club this summer. "I just can't take the training with this problem," explained Ryall. "The legs come right when I rest, so hopefully I will be able to get through the season with my club."

CLARE (SF v Limerick): D O'Brien, P Gallagher, C Whelan, D Kelly, D Blake, B Considine, N Considine, G Quinlan, P O'Dwyer, David Russell, M O'Shea, Denis Russell, AN Other, E Coughlan, D Heddington.

WATERFORD (SF v Kerry): T Wall; E Walsh; J Phelan, S Briggs, B Wall, E Rockett, P Ogle; A Ahearne, M Ahern; A Hubbard, K Power, G Power; S Cunningham, G Hurney, J Ryan.

ARMAGH (SF v Monaghan): C McKinney; A Mallon, T McEntee, E McNulty; A Kernan, K McKeever, P Duffy; K McGeeney, P McGrane; P McKeever, B Mallon, M Mackin; S McDonnell, R Clarke, O McConville.