TIPPERARY senior hurling manager Declan Ryan has dropped four members of last year’s All-Irelandwinning squad. Defenders Conor O’Brien and Hugh Maloney have been let go, along with forward pair Paddy Fanning and Timmy Hammersley.

Timmy Hammersley got one over on his native county Tipperary as Waterford IT handed the reigning All-Ireland champions their first defeat of 2011.

HENRY SHEFFLIN will end his eight-month break from the inter-county game when he returns to the Kilkenny team for his first match since last year’s All-Ireland final when the Cats entertain Waterford in a senior hurling challenge in Mooncoin on Sunday night (throw-in 7pm).