Limerick name four newcomers for Gaelic Grounds opener

LIMERICK introduce four newcomers for Sunday’s opening round Allianz NHL game against Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds.

They are goalkeeper Brian Murray, corner-back Mark Riordan, wing-back Denis Moloney and centre-forward Neil Collins. All four figured in the recent Waterford Crystal Cup competition and impressed manager Joe McKenna and his selectors Liam Lenihan and Ger Cunningham.

Dual player Riordan opted out of the football panel last month to concentrate on hurling. Stephen Lucey, who limped off at half-time in the defeat of Cork in a challenge last weekend, has been named at centre-back but will have a fitness test before the game, while Donie Ryan is a non-starter because of a broken hand.

Limerick and Tipp already met in the Waterford Crystal Cup, and are pencilled in to meet again in May in the Munster championship.

Team captain Seanie McMahon, Niall Gilligan and Ger O’Grady have been ruled out of the Clare team because of injury for their opening game against Down at Cusack Park.

Into the side for his senior debut comes promising O’Callaghan Mills U-21 player Pat Donnellan, who has been selected at right half-back.

Barry Nugent, Tony Griffen and Anthony Quinn form a new full-forward line for the Banner County, while Tony Carmody is selected at centre-forward with Diarmuid McMahon and Alan Markham holding down the respective wing-forward positions.

Down are not expected to name their team until just before the off but it is unlikely that the large contingent of players from Ballygalget, who lost to Newtownshandrum in last weekend’s All-Ireland club senior semi-final, will be included.

PJ Banville is the only senior panel member on the Wexford U-21 football team to play Kilkenny in the first round of the Leinster championship in Páirc Lachtain, Freshford, on Saturday next (2.30pm).

LIMERICK (SH v Tipperary): B. Murray; D. Reale, S. Lucey, M. Riordan, O. Moran, B. Geary, D. Moloney; D. O’Grady, P. O’Grady; M. O’Brien, N. Collins, N. Moran; A. O’Shaughnessy, T.J. Ryan, M. Keane.

CLARE (SH v Down): D. Fitzgerald, B. Lohan, C. Harrison; P. Donnellan, C. Forde, C. Plunkett; B. O’Connell, P. Vaughan; D. McMahon, T. Carmody, A. Markham; B. Nugent, T. Griffen, A. Quinn.

WEXFORD (FC v Kilkenny): T. Hughes; J. Byrne, L. Kent, J. Wadding; B. Malone, G. Molloy, A. Doyle; P. Murphy, C. Farrell; A. Griffith, D. Shannon, P, Hughes; P. Atkinson (capt), P.J. Banville, D. Kehoe.

KERRY (SH v London): P.J. Gorman; D. Slattery, M. Lucid, I. Brick; J. Fitzgerald, M. Quilter, A. Keane; P. McCarthy, C. Harris; J. Griffin, S. Brick, D. Young; K. Hanafin, M. Conway, I. McCarthy.