Wexford hurling will have to come to terms with the loss of two fixtures in the county's attack. Martin Storey, captain of the All-Ireland-winning team in 1996, announced his retirement at the weekend at the age of 36 and has been joined by Tom Dempsey of Buffers Alley.

Reluctant to announce his decision so soon after Storey, Dempsey had already indicated to county officials that he wasn't going to play for the county again.

Both players were instrumental in the successes of 1996 and, at the end of that year's Leinster final, combined in a scoring blitz which flattened Offaly and claimed Wexford's first provincial title in 19 years.

Later that season they added the All-Ireland and, a year later, retained the Leinster championship. Dempsey also won an All-Ireland club medal with county legend Tony Doran, then 43, when Buffers Alley won the 1989 All-Ireland.

He made his debut with the county in 1984 and captained the 1993 team which narrowly lost both the league final (after two replays) to Cork and the Leinster final (after a replay) to eventual All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.

Storey's career started the year after Dempsey's and he was chosen as the Players' Hurler of the Year in 1996.

Wexford's county board meets next month to consider the appointment of a new hurling manager. The committee charged with making a recommendation have apparently made their choice, but the identity of the successful candidate has not yet been announced.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Limerick City last night to give a hero's welcome to the Limerick under-21 hurling team, crowned All-Ireland champions following their win over Galway on Sunday.

The 24-strong panel was given a civic reception by the Mayor of Limerick, Councillor John Ryan. The under-21 hurlers and their football counterparts, who reached the All-Ireland final, are to be rewarded with a seven-day holiday in Gran Canaria.