Former Cat Byrne gets nod for Tipperary
Byrne transferred his allegiance to Tipp champions Mullinahone earlier this year and signified his desire to play with the county team.
Following a series of impressive displays in challenge games and in training, he has finally severed all links with his native county by being named at full-forward on a team which shows five changes from that which failed to Clare in the opening round of the Munster championship.
Omitted are David Kennedy, Liam Cahill and Lar Corbett while Noel Morris wasn’t considered due to injury. Former captain Tomas Dunne moves from midfield to centre-back with Eddie Enright and Eoin Brislane forming a new midfield partnership.
Mark O’Leary comes in at left half-forward in place of Cahill, while Denis Byrne replaces Corbett in the full-forward line.
Positional switches see John Carroll at right half-forward with Brian O’Meara moving into left corner-forward. Benny Dunne moves from left corner-back to right half-back while Martin Maher is switched from right to left corner-back.
Galway manager Conor Hayes gives championship debuts to Tony Óg Regan and John Conroy for the All-Ireland qualifier against Clare in Ennis on Saturday.
Also back in the fold is Rory Gantley, named at right half-forward. Gantley had a falling out with the selectors over a clash of loyalty between club and county earlier this season. Alan Kerins was not considered because of injury.
Clare have postponed naming their team until later in the week because of their Munster U21 hurling semi-final clash with Kerry tonight in Tralee.
With Colin Lynch, Seanie McMahon and David Hoey already ruled out, Cyril Lyons will be keeping his fingers crossed that the U-21 players come through tonight’s game unscathed.
Offaly have also postponed naming a team for their qualifier against Dublin at Croke Park because of U-21 duty against Kilkenny in the Leinster championship semi-final tonight in Portlaoise.
Dublin have also delayed naming their side until tonight as manager Marty Morris awaits fitness reports on several players who picked up ‘knocks’ in last Saturday night’s defeat by Kilkenny.
Kevin Ryan, David Sweeney, Darragh Spain and Stephen Hiney did not train on Monday night hence the delay in naming the starting 15 to face the Faithful County.
A definite non starter for the Dubs will be Keith Wilson who has been handed a 12 week suspension by the GAC. The suspension arose from his dismissal in the drawn championship game against Laois on May 24.
Saturday’s Game Live will feature the Guinness All-Ireland SHC Qualifier between Clare and Galway. Coverage begins on Network 2 at 4pm.
TIPPERARY (SH v Laois): B. Cummins; T. Costello, P. Curran, M. Maher; B. Dunne, t. Dunne, P. Kelly; E. Brislane, E. Enright; J. Carroll, Conor Gleeson, M. O’Leary; E. Kelly, D. Byrne, B. O’Meara.
GALWAY (SH v Clare): L. O’Donoghue; D. Joyce, L. Hodgins, O. Canning; F. Healy, T. Regan, D. O’Brien; J. Conroy, R. Murray; R. Gantley, C. Moore, D. Tierney; D. Hayes, M. Kerins, K. Broderick.
OFFALY (U-21H v Kilkenny): S. O’Connor; B. Teehan, D. Minnock, C. Dunne; K. Brady, J. Brady, S. Brown; M. Cordial, M. Corcoran; B. Carroll, G. Rafferty, N. Coughlan; S. Weir, R. Hanniffy, D. Hayden
