Competition for hurling places

JUSTIN McCarthy will put his extended Limerick hurling squad through one more week of training and two challenge games before selecting his squad for the National Hurling League.
Limerick are to play CIT this Wednesday night and a final chance to impress will be afforded to players with another challenge on Friday night.
Then the chosen 30 will be selected by Justin McCarthy, Liam Garvey and Brian Ryan.
So what are the options available to Justin and Co.
Over 50 players will have been looked at when the management trio sit down next weekend.
Much of the team which started against Offaly in the ill-fated Qualifier last Summer, will be retained.
To many supporters it would be a shock if any of that starting 15 didn’t make it into the new squad - however two or three could be under pressure, if wholesale changes materialise.
Limerick v Offaly: Brian Murray; Damien Reale, Stephen Lucey, Seamus Hickey; Mark O’Riordan, Brian Geary, Mark Foley; Donal O’Grady, Wayne McNamara; Mike O’Brien, Ollie Moran, Niall Moran; Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Sean O’Connor, Donie Ryan.
Another starting 15 can easily be selected from those that were mainly listed among the substitutes last season.
David Bulfin; Kieran O’Rourke, Damien Cosgrave, Denis Moloney; Gavin O’Mahony, Paudie O’Dwyer, Peter Lawlor; Kevin Tobin, James O’Brien, Donie Ryan, Michael Fitzgerald, Pat Tobin, Donncha Sheehan, David Breen, Eoin Ryan.
Another starting 15 can be assembled from those that are currently there or thereabouts in the extended panel.
Nicky Quaid; Stephen Walsh, Richie McCarthy, Paul Browne; Paudie O’Brien, Tom Condon, Don Hanley; James Ryan, Graeme Mulcahy; David Moloney, Paul O’Grady, Bryan O’Sullivan; Patrick Mullins, Paudie McNamara, Kevin Ryan.
Indeed it is possible to select a fourth starting 15 from those that were involved in squads during the Richie Bennis era.
Ger Flynn; Maurice O’Brien, Kieran Breen, Mickey Cahill; David Clancy, Andrew Brennan, Eoin Foley; Hugh Flavin, Shane Mulally; Stephen Lavin, Michael Noonan, Alan O’Connor; Padraig Browne, Brian Begley, Barry Foley.
In total 60 players have been listed above and not particularly in an order that I would personally select. Indeed there are players not listed that may very well be in the thoughts of the new management.
I am inviting all to submit their personal selections of a 30-man squad to joconnell@limerickleader.ie
If anyone selects the exact squad that is eventually named for the NHL, I will personally provide a relevant prize.
Jerome O'Connell