Limerick hurling manager Dave Keane yesterday explained that the exclusion of 17-year-old forward Patrick Kirby from the team to play Waterford in Sunday's Munster semi-final was a matter of trying to establish the right balance in the forward line.

Kirby was one of Limerick's most prolific scorers in the latter stages of the league, but is also due to start his Leaving Certificate exams on Wednesday. His omission from the starting line-up for the game in Thurles came as some surprise, yet Keane hinted he was still likely to play some role on Sunday.

"We felt we have a young enough forward line as it is," said Keane, "and that we might have suffered a little if we had gone for too much youth. I don't think it would have been right to have an under-19 forward line for a game like this.

"So we needed to put some experience in there too, and get the right combination. But there is a strong possibility Patrick will play some role on Sunday."

As things stand, the Limerick team is already dominated by youth. Six of the starting line-up also started in the All-Ireland under-21 final against Galway last September, which ended in Limerick comfortably winning a third title in succession.

Four players will also make Munster championship debuts - corner back Eugene Mulcahy, half forwards Conor Fitzgerald and Niall Moran, and corner forward Donnacha Sheehan. Another teenager, Andrew O'Shaughnessy - who also starts the Leaving next week - was named at right-corner forward, but appeared briefly last year in the All-Ireland qualifier game against Cork.

It means only Ollie Moran has any significant championship experience to his name among the forward line.

Keane, however, was always determined to make youth the main feature of his championship panel. "The fact is it is getting to be a younger man's game all the time," he said.

With discipline very much in the news, Keane is also confident the younger players will not be overwhelmed by the more physical nature of senior championship hurling.

"I think the younger players will be looked out for by referee Pat Ahern, and it shouldn't be any more physical for them."

The Westmeath County Board, meanwhile, is to call on the Games Administration Committee to investigate the incident that left football panellist Kenny Larkin with a broken jaw. The under-21 player and substitute with the senior side suffered the break on Sunday in an incident during a challenge game with Down, which ended in a draw but was largely ill-tempered.

The Gaelic Players' Association have announced a fundraising campaign for Aoife McGrane King, daughter of Dublin hurler Tomás McGrane. Aoife was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour, and the goal is to generate sufficient funds for treatment in the US. Donations can be made through all county squad members or directly to the Aoife McGrane King Account at TSB Bank, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1.