Tipp make six changes for Limerick tie
Martin Maher from Borrisoleigh comes in at right corner back in place of Tom Costello. Aidan Butler of Clonoulty takes over the centre-back position from David Kennedy. Eoin Brislane teams up with his Toomevara club colleague Tomás Dunne at midfield, with Michael Ryan being rested. Mark O’Leary returns to the big-time at right half forward as a direct replacement for Liam Cahill. Conor Gleeson, who impressed when coming on as a substitute in the Offaly game, is preferred at centre-forward to John Carroll, while Ger “Redser” O’Grady of Thurles Sarsfields fills in for flu victim John O’Brien at full-forward.
Team captain Brian O’Meara, who suffered double vision in the Offaly game after being accidentally struck in the eye, has been passed fit to play, and will take over his customary left half forward position.
The Limerick team will be selected tonight but manager Dave Keane and his follow selectors have no injury problems to contend with.
Outstanding goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry returns to the Wexford team for next Sunday’s Allianz NHL clash with Cork at Wexford Park.
Following a clash of heads, Fitzhenry fractured a cheekbone, while playing in a charity soccer match before Christmas and has been out of action since. He takes over the goalkeeping position from Paul Carley in a side that also shows three other changes in personnel from that which defeated Derry in the opening round of the competition.
Dave Guiney comes in at left corner back for Colm Kehoe. Rory McCarthy is chosen in preference to Donal Berry at right half forward. While, Miceal Jordan replaces dual player Ray Mallon, who has been released to play with the Wexford footballers, due to play Tipperary in the curtain-raiser.
Cork have deferred the selection of their team until tonight because of a number of niggling injury problems.
Clare, big winners over Laois last time out, make five changes for their game against Dublin at Parnell Park on Sunday.
The celebrated Lohan brothers, Brian and Frank, replace Ronan O’Looney and Conor Harrison in the full line of defence.
Seanie McMahon returns to the centre-back spot and releases his first cousin Diarmuid to link up with Alan Markham at midfield. Diarmuid Kennedy comes into the side at left half forward.
Eamonn Taffe is reintroduced at full-forward, with Barry Murphy moving to top of the left in place of flu victim Daithi O’Connell, who scored 2-2 on his debut against Laoais.
All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, who play host to Galway at Nowlan Park on Sunday, are due to announce their team tonight.
It is confidently expected however, that regular full back Noel Hickey and current team captain Charlie Carter will be named. Hickey missed the opening game against Waterford because of a knee injury, while Carter was sidelined with a bout of flu.
TIPPERARY (SH v Limerick): B. Cummins; M. Maher, P. Maher, J. Devane; E. Corcoran, A. Butler, B. Dunne; T. Dunne, E. Brislane; M. O’Leary, C. Gleeson, B. O’Meara; E. Kelly, G. O’Grady, L. Corbett.
WEXFORD (SH v Cork): D. Fitzhenry; M. Travers, D. O’Connor, D. Guiney; D. Stamp, D. Ruth, K. Rossiter; A. Fenlon, M. O’Leary; R. McCarthy, P. J. Finlay, M. Jordan; R. Jacob, A. O’Leary, B. Lambert.
CLARE (SH v Dublin): S. O’Connell; D. Hoey, B. Lohan, F. Lohan; C. Plunkett, S. McMahon, G. O’Grady; D. McMahon, A. Markham; T. Griffen, T. Carmody, D. Kennedy; N. Gilligan, E. Taffe, B. Murphy.
KERRY (SH v Carlow): J Healy; P McCarthy, M Lucid, C Flaherty, J McCarthy (Capt.), A Cronin, W Joe Leen, B Ó'Sullivan, P O'Connell, B Brick, S Brick, D Young, M Slattery, M Conway, J M Dooley.
