Tipp make four changes for Banner battle
Joe O’Dwyer comes in at left corner-back instead of Pa Dunne while Liam Treacy is at right half-back, with Seamus Kennedy making way. In attack David Butler and Michael O’Brien are both given starting berths with Dan McCormack and Tommy Heffernan the two to drop out.
Tipperary were overturned in a classic encounter by Cork last week but despite the disappointment of that defeat they showed enough to suggest that they have some splendid talents in their team. Andrew Ryan is an excellent full-back, while Brian Stapleton and John Meagher are capable of dominating outside in the half-back line.
In attack, Liam McGrath will punish from frees any fouls Clare make, while Aidan McCormack forms a dangerous full-forward line along with O’Brien and Cathal Horan. Clare were decisively beaten by Waterford in their quarter-final tie last week by 1-21 to 0-16, but their fortunes enjoyed an upward swing when ousting Kerry last Saturday night on home soil by 1-21 to 2-7. They have a couple of excellent forwards in Niall Arthur and Aaron Cunningham, with Arthur prolific from placed balls as he has racked up 0-19 in their two games to date. At midfield they are well served by Padraig Collins and Tony Kelly, while Noel Purcell anchors defence. The winners meet Waterford in the semi-finals.
TIPPERARY: D Reddan (Kilruane MacDonaghs); C Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill), A Ryan (Toomevara), J O’Dwyer (Killenaule); L Treacy (Loughmore Castleiney), B Stapleton [capt] (Templederry Kenyons), J Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney); J Forde (Silvermines), D Flynn (Roscrea); D Butler (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams), N O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), L McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney); M O’Brien (Thurles Sarsfields), A McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields), C Horan (Mullinahone).
CLARE: TBC.
