TIPPERARY’S NOEL MCGRATH is one of several players who will be unavailable for their counties in this season’s pre-season hurling competitions, which begin this weekend, due to college commitments.
McGrath will be involved with UCD who travel to Rathdowney to face Laois next Sunday afternoon in their Walsh Cup opener.
UCD can also call on Kilkenny All-Ireland winners Walter Walsh and Cillian Buckley along with Wexford’s Jack Guiney.
Elsewhere in the Walsh Cup, NUI Galway are away to Westmeath in Kinnegad with the third-level outfit having Limerick’s Kevin Downes and the Clare duo of Donal Tuohy and Aaron Cunningham at their disposal.
Galway pair Niall Burke and Barry Daly may also be available if they can shake off injuries.
Finally in the Walsh Cup, Dublin IT play Wexford in Ferns with Liam Rushe their talisman.
In Munster, the Waterford Crystal Cup also begins this weekend with UCC, UL and newcomers Mary Immaculate College all in action.
UCC, managed by former Tipperary All-Ireland winner Eddie Enright, face Cork on Saturday afternoon at 12pm in the Mardyke.
Cork boss Jimmy Barry-Murphy will be able to observe the quintet of goalkeeper Darren McCarthy, defenders Killian Murphy and William Egan, and attackers Conor Lehane and Seamus Harnedy in action.
UCC also have the Waterford senior trio of Darragh Fives, Brian O’Sullivan and Barry Coughlan in their squad.
Also on Saturday Mary Immaculate College, who have former Limerick and Offaly boss Eamonn Cregan at the helm, meet Limerick in Bruff at 11.30am and have a plethora of inter-county stars in their side.
Galway’s Conor Cooney, Limerick’s Declan Hannon, Clare’s John Conlon and Colm Galvin, Cork’s Luke O’Farrell, Waterford’s Brian O’Halloran and Tipperary’s Sean Curran will all feature.
Finally on Sunday, UL will meet Waterford at the WIT Sportsgrounds in Carriganore. There is large group of Clare players in the UL squad with Seadna Morey, Podge Collins, Conor Ryan, Paul Flanagan and Shane Golden all in their ranks
Tipperary duo Paddy Stapleton and Adrian Ryan, Limerick pair Mark Carmody and Tomas Ryan, and Galway’s Jonathan Glynn are also part of the UL setup.
