McKenna resists making changes

LIMERICK manager Joe McKenna is standing by the team which drew with Tipperary last Sunday for Saturday's Guinness Munster senior hurling championship first round replay at the Gaelic Grounds.

Speculation that Pat Tobin, who scored two excellent points when introduced as a second half substitute, might get a starting place proved unfounded.

Premier county boss Ken Hogan is keeping his options open. He has delayed selection until strikers Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett undergo fitness tests tomorrow night.

Full forward Kelly injured his hip in the drawn game, while left corner forward Corbett pulled a hamstring. However, both are expected to be in the starting line-up.

Midfielder Colin Morrissey, who sustained a calf muscle injury last weekend, was given the all-clear to play last night.

Patrick Mullaney will make his senior championship debut in goal for Laois in next Sunday's Guinness Leinster senior hurling championship quarter final clash with Dublin at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.

A former Under-21 player, Mullaney held the goalkeeping spot during the recent League campaign and is now first choice ahead of his Castletown club colleague John Lyons.

Laois also introduce three other championship newcomers, right corner back Brian Campion, left half back Seamus Dwyer and centre forward John Rowney.

Dublin have delayed naming their team until after training tonight.

Stephen Hiney is among the Dublin players currently struggling with injury.

The Ballyboden/St. Enda's man injured his hand playing against Antrim in the NHL Division 1 relegation play-off and is not 100 per cent. To add to Hiney's concerns this week he is sitting his final exams.

Derek O'Reilly, Stephen McDonnell and Tommy Moore are other injury concerns for the Dubs.

Dublin and Laois have drawn two of their last five championship clashes, with Dublin winning both replays. The most recent meeting between the counties was in March when Laois won their League battle by 2-13 to 1-10.

LAOIS (SHC v Dublin): P. Mullaney; B. Campion, P. Cuddy, M. McEvoy; J. Fitzpatrick, D. Rooney, S. Dwyer; J. Young, J. Walsh; J. Phelan, J. Rowney, L. Tynan; T. Fitzpatrick, M. Rooney, D. Culleton.

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

DERRY (SHC v Down): K. Stevenson; B. McGoldrick, L. Hinphey, G. Brunton; C. Brunton, M. Conway, P. O'Kane; Gary Biggs, Gregory Biggs; Ruairi Convery, Reamonn Kennedy, P. Hearty; S. McBride, G. McGonigle, F. McGuigan.