Wicklow reject O'Dwyer view

MICK O'DWYER'S comments on the Sunday Game that Wicklow would enter a junior team into the Tommy Murphy Cup have been rejected by the county board.

The defending champions of the second tier competition, set up for weaker counties but also denying Division Four sides access to the qualifiers, will enter a senior team to be run by selector Kevin O'Brien should O'Dwyer opt out.

"No firm decision has been taken yet as it doesn't start until July," said Wicklow County Board secretary Michael Murphy, "but we will have a senior panel together. Kevin O'Brien and other selectors, Gerry Farrell and Philip McGillicuddy, will be available."

Murphy confirmed the Wicklow County Board has always been against the decision to deny Division Four teams a route into the qualifiers.

"We originally voted against it. Unfortunately, like everything really, a lot of weaker counties were against it, but there are only eight teams in Division Four so we are in a minority.

"It's only when counties began to realise they are susceptible to relegation that they began to object."

O'Dwyer has made it clear that he intends to stay with Wicklow for the 2009 season but not for the remainder of this summer.

The Tommy Murphy Cup begins in July but many of the senior panel might declare themselves unavailable now that O'Dwyer has done so.

"Our argument is the same as Micko's," added Murphy. "It serves little purpose. We hope he stays on as he has done wonders for the county.

"Most of the work he does you don't see."

LIMERICK (U21 hurling v Waterford, Thursday, ): N Quaid, C King, T Condon, P Browne; K O'Rourke, S Hickey, G O'Mahony; P O'Brien, J Ryan; S Herlihy, D Moloney, D Hanley; E Ryan, R McCarthy, G Mulcahy.