LIMERICK:Top scorer Mark Keane, who made a big impact with the Limerick senior hurlers on his return to the squad in the second half of last season, is almost certain to be ruled out in the opening months of the 2007 campaign.

And the Limerick football board, conscious of the historic meeting between Ireland and France in the Six Nations rugby championship at Croke Park on February 11th, have asked their opponents Dublin to bring forward their National League meeting by 24 hours.

Keane, from the South Liberties club and winner of a two All-Ireland under-21 medals with the county, injured both hands in a recent traffic accident and, according to county board chairman Denis Holmes, will be out for some time.

"Mark would probably have been an automatic choice in the upcoming Waterford Crystal Cup - we play Limerick IT in the opening round on January 14th - but not alone will he miss that competition, the likelihood is he will be marked absent for the early games of the National League as well."

Meanwhile, Limerick football manager Mikey Ned O'Sullivan, who inherited a much weakened squad following the departure of Liam Kearns, enters the new campaign without Johnny Murphy and Muiris Gavin, who have retired.

Further bad news is that Stephen Lavin, currently in Australia, will miss the first-round McGrath Cup clash against Tralee IT at Newcastle West, on January 7th. It is also understood Conor Mullane and Damien Reidy have requested a break from the game.

GALWAY: Former Galway All Star Seán Óg de Paor and a number of former Galway stars will today team up with Peter Ford's current crop to raise money for children in Chernobyl by running from Tuam Stadium to Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

Midfielder Niall Coleman spent a week helping to build a school in Belarus last autumn.

The run starts at 10.30am.