Dunne back to lead Tipp’s final charge

TIPPERARY have given former Hurler of the Year Tommy Dunne his first start of the NHL campaign for Sunday’s meeting with table toppers Waterford (Thurles, 3.30pm).

All-Ireland winning captain Dunne, who is skipper again this season, came on as a half-time substitute for Lar Corbett last weekend and retains his place at Corbett’s expense.

Otherwise Ken Hogan’s side is unchanged from the team that secured victory over Galway.

A win on Sunday, and more crucially an improvement in their scoring average, could secure a place in the final for the Premier County.

“It is not just the win but the scoring averages,” PRO Ed Donnelly said. “But we’ll know on Sunday what we have to do as the other two matches in the division will be played at that stage.

“It will be pretty much in our own hands. A win against Waterford at any time is good, so it will be far from easy,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Limerick hurling management will tonight appoint TJ Ryan as successor to Ciarán Carey as team captain.

With Carey having left the panel, and his Patrickswell colleagues Peter O’Reilly and Paul O’Grady unable to command regular positions, the county champions have allowed Padjoe Whelahan, along with selectors Damien Quigley and Declan Nash, to pick the skipper of their choice.

Ryan of Garryspillane, who wore the captain’s armband against Clare, is set to get the nod.

Ironically, the County Board passed a motion from the Mungret club at convention permitting the senior hurling and football team managements to nominate their own captains, with effect from 2005.

The team to play Galway in Sunday’s crucial NHL tie at Pearse Stadium is set to be named later tonight with Peter Lawlor in contention, having recovered from a hand injury.

The Tribesmen have made two changes from the side which lost narrowly to Tipperary. Wing-back Fergal Moore is unavailable due to exams and David Collins is named as his replacement. Up front Adrian Cullinane from Craughwell is named ahead of Mark Kerins. Galway must improve on recent inconsistencies if they are to progress to the final, according to PRO Phelim Murphy.

“We hope we could repeat the performance which we produced against Cork a fortnight ago, or the final 10 minutes against Tipperary in Thurles. But it will be very difficult. It will be a good day all round in Galway with the triple-header, but the result is all that I am interested in.”

Meanwhile, Clare are awaiting fitness tests on Brian Lohan and Alan Markham before finalising their side for the trip to bottom of the table Cork on Saturday evening, (Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm).

Lohan missed the last weekend’s defeat by Limerick because of a calf muscle injury, while Markham was withdrawn shortly after half-time, having suffered a dead leg.

Donal O’Grady will announce his Cork side later tonight.

Kilkenny and Wexford will name their sides to face Antrim and Dublin respectively later this evening. The Cats have no concerns while Paul Codd and Rory McCarthy are still on the Model County treatment table. Wexford must win if they are to be assured of top flight National League hurling next year.

Offaly and Laois, who meet in a must-win game for Mike McNamara’s side at Birr, will name their sides tonight. Defeat for Offaly will consign them to Division Two next year.

Declan Meehan is rated as “extremely doubtful” for the Galway NFL semi-final replay (Pearse Stadium, 3.30pm), having sustained a nasty ankle injury during the drawn encounter at Omagh. Galway manager John O’Mahony also has concerns over wing-back Sean Óg de Paor (calf) and Derek Savage (head). There are also doubts about Matthew Clancy, who is due to sit college exams on Monday.

“It could be the weekend before we finalise our team,” O’Mahony said.

Tyrone, expected to announce their team tomorrow night, report a clean bill of health.

TIPPERARY (SH Waterford): B Cummins; M Maher, P Maher, P Curran; E Corcoran, D Fanning, D Fitzgerald; E Enright, P Kelly; T Scroope, J Carroll, B Dunne; P O'Brien, L Corbett, E Kelly.

GALWAY (SH v Limerick): L Donoghue, D Joyce, S Cloonan, O Canning, D Hardiman, D Hayes, D Collins, F Healy, T Óg O Regan, A Cullinane, D Forde, A Kerins, D Hayes, E Cloonan, K Broderick.