O’Brien returns to Tipp line-up

JOHN O’BRIEN has been drafted into the Tipperary team for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford in the only change from the side that defeated Galway in the quarter-final.

O’Brien returns to the starting 15 at left half-forward in place of his Toomevara clubmate David Young as Shane McGrath switches to midfield.

Remarkably, only seven of the team that started in the corresponding fixture between the counties two years ago will play for Tipperary on Sunday. Brendan Cummins, Paul Curran, Conor O’Mahony, Shane McGrath, John O’Brien, Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett are the survivors in the Premier’s starting line-up, with five of the newcomers being part of the current Tipperary U21 outfit.

Meanwhile, interviews are ongoing for the position of Limerick senior hurling manager, with former boss Dave Keane and selector Gary Kirby believed to be the front runners. Ciaran Carey, outgoing boss Justin McCarthy, Val Murnane, Leo O’Connor and TJ Ryan are the other candidates nominated after both John Allen and John Tuohy withdrew their candidature. However it seems likely that the Independent Appointments Committee will conduct interviews with individuals outside of that list, as is their remit. The committee could be in place to nominate a name for ratification at the next Limerick County Board meeting on September 14.

Plans have also begun in Limerick to establish a hurling board separate from the county board. A breakaway group consisting of high-ranking former officials as well as ex-players are keen to see a separate board formed that would have the power to make all decisions relating to Limerick hurling. Four representatives from every club would form the new hurling board with a 16-person committee. For the hurling board to come into existence, it would have to be ratified at county convention in December.

Meanwhile Leitrim hurling club Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s have had the Féile Division 6 crown they won in Clare in June stripped from them and two of the club’s officers suspended for 48 weeks by Croke Park officials after the club were found to have fielded illegal players in their triumph. Club chairman Peter Reynolds and secretary Paddy Connaughton were both handed 48-week suspensions while seven players were also suspended following an objection from a Cavan club. St Felim’s had lodged an objection on the basis that seven members of the Ballinamore team are members of Dernacrieve Gaels.

Dublin minor boss John Murphy has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s All-Ireland MHC semi-final against Clare from the side that defeated Antrim in their quarter-final.

TIPPERARY (SH v Waterford): B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; D Fanning, C O’Mahony, Padraic Maher; B Maher, S McGrath; G Ryan, Patrick Maher, J O’Brien; N McGrath, E Kelly, L Corbett.

DUBLIN (MH v Clare): E Dillon; C Murphy, E McKenna, S McClelland; C Moffat, D Sutcliffe, B Quinn; D Kelly, B McCarthy; G Whelan, C Kilkenny, F Heavey; C Costello, E Ó’Conghaile, D Flood. Subs: C O’Mahony, E Small, C Crummey, M McCaffrey, N Maguire, R Hardy, N Ryan, D Forde, J Hetherton.