WITH MATTERS in Limerick hurling mired in stalemate, this week the focus has switched back to a new problem in Clare hurling: the no-show of Niall Gilligan at the first official training session of 2010 last Monday night under new manager Ger “Sparrow” O’Loughlin.

Gilligan, at 33 years old, is one of the last playing connections to the All-Ireland-winning 1997 panel and is the most prolific scorer in Clare hurling history, making him an obvious loss to the regime that replaced the ousted Mike McNamara last month.

Alan Markham and Gerry Quinn were amongst the 33 players to attend training along with several members from last year’s All-Ireland-winning under-21 panel. Five Clonlara players involved in the under-21 panel have been included as Nicky O’Connell, Darach Honan, the O’Donovan brothers, Domhnall and Cormac, join John Conlon in the senior set-up.

Crusheen goalkeeper Donal Tuohy has also been selected along with Cian Dillon, Enda Barrett, Eamon Glynn and Seán Collins, while Colin Ryan already played a significant role from placed balls in the forgettable senior campaign of 2009.

McNamara’s son Conor, Damien Browne, Conor McMahon and Caimin Morey are not included but O’Loughlin stressed his panel remains very much open-ended.

Meanwhile, Limerick county board secretary Mike O’Riordan refused to comment on the ongoing stand-off between hurling manager Justin McCarthy and the majority of last year’s panel.

“It is still a delicate situation,” was all O’Riordan would say on the issue that threatens to damage Limerick hurling aspirations this year.

John Tuohy’s appointment as a third selector with Brian Ryan and Liam Garvey was overshadowed by the further withdrawals of Gavin O’Mahony, Tom Condon, Denis Moloney and Stephen Walsh from the playing squad on New Year’s Eve.

Only six members from the 2009 panel – Paul Browne, Paudie McNamara, David Breen, Bryan O’Sullivan, Graeme Mulcahy and Dave Moloney – remain loyal to McCarthy.

Limerick’s first competitive game of 2010 is on January 24th against either Cork or UCC with the National League opener against Galway coming on February 21st.

Last month McCarthy was ratified by the club delegates for a second season in charge by 70 votes to 54 despite the continued absence of a large number of the county’s best hurlers including Brian Geary, Seamus Hickey, Damien Reale, Brian Murray and Donal O’Grady.