Clare cut no ice in `Team of Century'

A hurling "Team of the Century" chosen in a poll of more than 1,000 voters in a local competition has been announced in Kilkenny. The nomination of the team was attended by D J Carey, even though he didn't make the selected team. The team will cause some considerable debate, notably because no player from Clare, Waterford, Galway or Antrim is included. Tipperary and Kilkenny each have four positions on the chosen team, Wexford and Cork have three each while Limerick have one - unsurprisingly, Mick Mackey. No hurler playing at present has been named. The most recent players selected are Joe Hennessy and Frank Cummins of Kilkenny and Jimmy Barry Murphy of Cork.

Players like Jimmy Smyth and Tommy Daly of Clare, Joe Sammon and John Connolly of Galway, John Keane and Tom Cheasty of Waterford, Kevin Armstrong and Terence McNaughton of Antrim, to name but some, are not included. Another name notable by its absence is that of Jackie Power of Limerick.

The poll was sponsored by the Pharmacia and Upjohn animal health company.

The Team Is: Tony Reddan (Tipperary); Bobby Rackard (Wexford), Nick O'Donnell (Wexford), John Doyle (Tipperary); Jimmy Finn (Tipperary), Pat Henderson (Kilkenny), Joe Hennessy (Kilkenny); Frank Cummins (Kilkenny), Jack Lynch (Cork); Jimmy Bary Murphy (cork), Mick Mackey (Limerick) Jimmy Doyle (Tipperary); Christy Ring (Cork), Nicky Rackard (Wexford), Eddie Keher (Kilkenny).

The winners of the competition to name the "Team of the Century" were neighbours Pat O'Donovan and Pat Heavin from Killavullen near Mallow.