Canty and Clifford will be fit for clash with Kerry
Clifford injured his knee while Canty went over on his ankle, in the win against Mayo. However, Murphy is adamant the knocks are not serious and both will be available for selection. Of more immediate concern to team coach Larry Tompkins and his fellow selectors is that practically the entire panel of players will be involved with their clubs this weekend in championship matches.
“It’s always a worry when so many players are tied up in championship matches, but those games must go also and you cannot wrap players up in cotton wool,” said Tompkins. “They will be getting in a couple of very good games which will benefit them. Players can get injured in training just as easy as with their clubs. I just hope they all come through unscathed because the game with Kerry in a couple of weeks’ time is going to be one of the biggest we’ve played.”
“To that game against Kerry, and Tompkins, shares the enthusiasm of a nation. It’s the first meeting in an All-Ireland semi-final and already it has the whole country talking about it”.
Meanwhile, the sifting through the debris of another Championship defeat at Croke Park doesn’t get any easier for Mayo. Yesterday, county secretary Seán Feeney said they were simply not good enough to progress.“We were found out in a number of key positions and we’re lacking about six players that could make a difference,” said Feeney.
There is no change in the Limerick team which defeated Cork in the semi-final for tomorrow’s mouth-watering Munster U-21 HC final against Tipperary in Thurles.
The selectors have made a couple of positional switches however. Senior player Peter Lawlor moves to midfield from centre-back with Paudie O’Dwyer crossing from right half back to the number six position.
Eoin Foley, who was at midfield against Cork, takes over O’Dwyer’s position. There had been some doubts about his fitness following a knock he picked up in a recent club game but’s he’s been declared fully fit.
Maurice O’Brien who was the man of the match in last year’s All-Ireland final, has also recovered from injury and will line out in his usual left half back position.
LIMERICK (U-21 HC v Tipperary): T. Houlihan; D. Reale, B. Carroll, E. Mulcahy; E. Foley, P. O’Dwyer, M. O’Brien; P. Lawlor, M. O’Donnell; C. Fitzgerald, J. O’Brien, K. Tobin; A. O’Shaughnessy, N. Moran, M. Keane. Subs. P. Tobin, P. Kirby, E. Murphy, M. Clifford, J. O’Connor, R. Hayes, M. Cahill, T. Carmody, N. Curtin, M. Cregan, M. Clancy, D. Foley.
TIPPERARY : D. Young (Dromin-Inch); M. Maher (Borrisoleigh), P. Curran (Mullinahone), D Gleeson (Ballinahinch); T., King (Loughmore), J. Devane (Clonaulty-Rossmore), D. Fitzgerald (Roscrea); S. Maher (Burgess), E. Brislane (Toomevara); D. Shelley (Ballingarry), L. Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields), E. Kelly (Mullinahone); R. O’Brien (Éire Óg-Annacarty), J. O’Brien (Toomevara), E. Ryan (Sean Treacys). Subs. D. Gleeson (Portroe), K. Mulryan (JK Brackans), M. Peters (Galtee Rovers), Pa Morrissey (do.), P. Buckley (Emily), D. McGrath (Knockavilla Kickhams), M. Butler (Dromin-Inch), G. Byrne (Clonakenna), S. Mason (Thurles Sarsfields), C. Ryan (Moycarkey Borris), C. Houlihane (Ballyneale), K. Cummins (Toomevara), M. Aherne (Fethard), E. Shortt (Upperchurch-Drombane).
