TJ Ryan joins brother Donie in spearheading Limerick attack

LIMERICK have selected TJ Ryan at full-forward for Sunday's Guinness Munster senior hurling championship first-round clash with Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

The selectors have also given recalls to Steven Lucey and Conor Fitzgerald, both of whom missed out last season because of football commitments.

Ryan's full-back spot will be filled by Lucey, with Damien Reale at right corner-back and Mark Foley at left corner-back.

To an extent, Limerick's half-back line of Ollie Moran, Brian Geary and Peter Lawlor picked itself, while the midfield partnership of the O'Grady's, Donal and Paul, was always likely. Fitzgerald is on the right flank of attack, Niall Moran is in the centre and Andrew O'Shaughnessy on the left.

Donie Ryan joins his brother TJ in the full-forward line with Donncha Sheehan in the left corner.

Fermanagh have been boosted ahead of their first-round Bank of Ireland Ulster senior football championship clash with Armagh at Clones on Sunday with the news Allstar midfielder Martin McGrath will be fit.

Dublin have called up Stephen O'Shaughnessy to make his senior football championship debut against Longford at Croke Park on Sunday.

The Lucan Sarsfield man is named at left full-back.

Barry Cahill has been named at centre-back.

With Cahill in the pivotal berth, the versatile Bryan Cullen returns to attack where he played for the majority of his senior career before moving to defence during last year's qualifiers.

Coman Goggins wins the battle for the left half-back berth, with Peader Andrews among the subs. Alan Brogan will lead the attack after impressing at centre forward in recent games. Jason Sherlock lines out in the right corner.

Longford have been dealt a series of blows in the lead up to this Leinster championship opener, with three of their first choice players - centre-back Donal Blessington, midfielder Liam Keenan and utility player Thomas Smullen - ruled out.

Wicklow introduce six newcomers for their opening championship game with Kildare at Croke Park on Sunday including the new midfield partnership of James Stafford and David Dillon. The other debutants are full-back Brendan Daly, wing-back Kevin Manning and forwards David Smullen and Paul Earls.

Mayo's David Brady will not be returning to the inter-county fold, according to his Ballina club.

Brady revealed after the All-Ireland club final that he would be ending his inter-county career.

But yesterday, Mayo boss John Maughan ended speculation of a return for the midfielder: "I was aware that he wasn't going to play, because he told me personally six weeks ago."

LIMERICK (SH v Tipperary): T. Houlihan; D. Reale, S. Lucey, M. Foley; O. Moran, B. Geary, P. Lawlor; D. O'Grady, P. O'Grady; C. Fitzgerald, N. Moran, A. O'Shaughnessy; D. Ryan, T. J. Ryan, D. Sheehan.

DUBLIN (SF v Longford): S. Cluxton; P. Griffen, P. Christie, S. O'Shaughnessy; P. Casey, B. Cahill, C. Coggins; C. Whelan, S. Ryan; C. Moran, A. Brogan, B. Cullen; J. Sherlock, C. Keaney, T. Quinn.

WICKLOW (SF v Kildare): R. Hollingfort; C. Hyland, B. Daly, T. Burke; K. Manning, D. O' h-Annaigh, B. O'h-Annaigh; J. Stafford, D. Dillon; D. Smullen, L. Glynn, T. Harney; P. Earls, W. O'Gorman, A. Ellis.