Leinster call up Tyrrell and Larkin

LEINSTER manager John Conran has drafted Kilkenny duo Jackie Tyrrell and Eoin Larkin into his side for tomorrow’s M Donnelly Inter-provincial hurling final against Connacht at Pearse Stadium.

All-Ireland winning captain Tyrrell replaces Wexford’s Rory McCarthy, who is attending a wedding, in defence, while Larkin comes in for Gary Hanniffy at left half-forward in the only changes from the team that comfortably accounted for Ulster in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Diarmuid Cloonan and Mark Kerins have been included in the Connacht team, despite not featuring for Galway in two years.

Their selection will lead to inevitable suggestions they will be part of new Galway boss Ger Loughnane’s plans.

However, defender Shane Kavanagh and attacker David Forde are unavailable, having travelled to Australia for a short break.

The team shows five changes from that which overcame Munster in the semi-final. Forwards Ger Farragher, Niall Healy and Kevin Broderick have been left out and, in addition to Cloonan and Kerins, the other players drafted in are defender John Lee and forward Iarlaith Tannian and Kenneth Burke.

Lee captained the Galway minors to a 2004 All-Ireland final replay win over Kilkenny, while the highly-rated Tannian will make his first senior start.

Leinster (v Connacht): B. Mullins (Offaly); M. Travers (Wexford), J. Tennyson (Kilkenny), J. Ryall (Kilkenny); J. Tyrell (kilkenny), R. Hannify (Offaly), T. Walsh (Kilkenny); D. Lyng (Kilkenny), D. Lyng (Wexford); E. Larkin (Kilkenny), R. Power (Kilkenny), D. Franks (Offaly); E. Brennan (Kilkenny), J. Bergin (Offaly), A. Fogarty (Kilkenny).

Subs: M Kavanagh (Kilkenny), R. Mullally (Kilkenny), K. Brady (Offaly), D. McCormack (Westmeath), J. McCaffrey (Dublin), J. Young (Laois), G. Hannify (Offaly), E. Quigley (Wexford), M. Jacob (Wexford).

Connacht (v Leinster, all Galway): L Donoghue; D Joyce, G Mahon, T Og Regan; D Collins, D Cloonan, J Lee; R Murray, D Tierney; I Tannian, M Kerins, A Kerins; K Burke, E Cloonan, F Healy.