Tipp tackle Cats with unchanged line-up

LIAM SHEEDY has named an unchanged side for this Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final against Killkenny – and yet one that differs considerably to the corresponding fixture 12 months ago.

Michael Cahill, Gearoid Ryan and Patrick Maher all find themselves named in a senior All-Ireland final line-up for the very first time with James Woodlock, Pat Kerwick and Seamus Callanan the men missing from the 2009 decider. The former trio carry an average age of just 21.

Kerwick, who recently returned from injury for a challenge match, and Callanan, who appeared as a substitute in the semi-final, may yet feature at some point although long-term injury has forced Woodlock to sit out the entire campaign.

Sheedy’s selection for the eagerly-awaited final in Croke Park also shows a number of positional changes from last season’s classic against Brian Cody’s side which Tipp ended up losing by five points.

Paul Curran is named at full-back having been selected at left-corner back last time. He takes over this September from Padraic Maher who will wear the number seven jersey, while Brendan Maher lines out in midfield after getting the nod at left-half back a year ago.

Noel McGrath is again named in his habitual position of corner-forward but it remains to be seen if he features at centre-forward instead, as he did for the first time in the semi-final against Waterford.

McGrath gave a superlative display as the side’s de facto number 11 last month even though he was operating in the sphere of influence of Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh who, up to then, had enjoyed a superb summer.

Interestingly, despite all the hand-wringing after the 10-point defeat to Cork at the start of the championship, the Tipp team named last night shows just two personnel changes from that debacle in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Gearoid Ryan and Patrick Maher have jumped above Callanan and Brian O’Meara up front since May 30 last although, again, the team to face Kilkenny this weekend shows a number of positional switches.

Meanwhile, former Galway midfielder Brian Talty has ruled himself out of contention of taking over his native county as the Tribesmen step up the search for Joe Kernan’s successor.

Talty, a former selector with Dublin where he has lived for many years, has told officials of his native Tuam Stars club not to nominate him for the position. He is not interested in running to replace Joe Kernan after his surprise departure this summer.