Tipp changes for crunch clash with Galway

TIPPERARY have made four changes from the side which lost to Clare for their crunch Allianz NHL tie with Galway at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Sunday.

Paul Curran plays his first game for the county since last year's All-Ireland semi-final when he lines out at corner back in place of John Devane.

Martin Maher comes in at corner-back in place of the injured Thomas Costello, who sustained a knock to the elbow in the game at Cusack Park.

Up front, Tony Scroope will make his first competitive start at wing-forward in place of Mark O'Leary, while Eoin Kelly returns to corner-forward in place of Brian O'Meara with Lar Corbett starting at full-forward.

Kelly missed the Clare game because of hamstring trouble.

With Kevin Broderick retaining his place at left half forward Galway have announced an unchanged side for the 'big' clash.

Broderick was drafted in for the start of last Sunday's victory over Cork when Rory Gantley sustained a broken nose in training.

Cork have postponed naming their team to play Waterford in Pairc Uí Chaoimh until after tonight's county SFC games. There are a number of players involved with St. Michaels and Na Piarsaigh in the double header at Pairc Uí Rinn.

However, Micky O'Connell and Kieran Murphy (Sars) who were on club football duty last week, are in contention for places.

The selectors, of course, could also decide to start Brian Corcoran or possibly introduce him at some stage.

Offaly will be without the injured Barry Teehan, Colm Cassidy, Brian Whelehan, Rory Hanniffy and Neville Coughlan for their visit to Portlaois and a meeting with Dublin on Sunday. Given the injury crisis Pat Whelan from Kinnitty, makes his debut at centre back.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that DJ Carey's league campaign is over. The celebrated Kilkenny ace pulled up with a hamstring injury in last Sunday's win Offaly at Nowlan Park.

Carey's enforced absence could open the door for the speedy return of Henry Shefflin for next Sunday's game with great Leinster rivals Wexford at Wexford Park. Shefflin missed the Offaly game because of a minor shoulder injury.

Like Kilkenny, the Laois selectors will not name their side to play Antrim until tonight.

However, it is highly unlikely that there will be any changes from the team that drew with Dublin over the holiday weekend.

Clare's Sean McMahon, David Hoey and Brian Quinn, who missed the win over Tipperary, are in line for recall for Sunday's meeting with Limerick. However, Andrew Quinn has been ruled out for the foreseeable future after sustaining a serious eye injury in a club game.

Wexford who are due to play Kilkenny in Wexford Park, must wait on fitness reports on Malachy Travers and MJ Furlong before naming their team for Sunday's clash.

Travers had several stitches inserted in a leg wound after last week's clash with Laois, while Furlong picked up a dead leg. Rory McCarthy has only a 50/50 chance of be fit because of an ankle problem. Tomas Mahon has returned to training and is available for selection.

The Wexford footballers have more woe with the revelation that Scott Doran is set to emigrate.

A spokesman for his club Kilmore has confirmed that Doran left the country last week, and has not been attending training sessions, stressing that they look as if they must also plan for their first year in intermediate football without their inter-county star.

Doran has been one of Wexford's leading attackers for the past eight seasons and his absence would be a considerable blow to the side's chances of getting a result against the Wee County.

County manager Pat Roe confirmed that Doran has not been in training with Wexford, but added he was not in a position to confirm if the player had left the country.

"I've heard rumours, but until such time as I know what the exact position is with Scott, I'm making no further comment on the matter".

Meanwhile, the Clare team to play Limerick in the round robin series of the Munster MFC at the Gaelic Grounds tonight shows one change in personnel from the team which lost to Kerry in the opening round.

Noel Moroney comes in for Greg Lyons and takes over at full back with Conor Howley moving to centre back in Lyon's place.

CLARE (MF v Limerick); C. O'Loughlin; T. McMahon, N. Moroney, M. McMahon; S. O'Connor, C. Howley, J. Hayes; S. Hickey (c), K. King; P. Connole, C. Lyons, D. Ryan; S. Moloney, E. Troy, N. Downes.

GALWAY (SH v Tipperary): L. O'Donoghue; D. Joyce, D. Cloonan, O. Canning; D. Hardiman, D. Hayes, F. Moore; F. Healy, T. Og Regan; M. Kerins, D. Forde, K. Broderick; D. Hayes, E. Cloonan, A. Kerins.

TIPPERARY (SH vs. Galway): 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.

LAOIS (SH Antrim): M. Mullins; M. O'Hara, G. Oakley, D. Franks; R. Classey, P. Whelan, K. Brady; M. Cordial, N. Mannion; B. Carroll, G. Hanniffy, D. Hayden; S. Whelehan, J. Brady, D. Murray.