Tipp boss Ryan hands Coghlan first senior start

TIPPERARY manager Declan Ryan has handed last year’s All-Ireland U21 medal winner John Coghlan his first senior start for Sunday’s Allianz Division 1 Hurling League tie against Galway in Pearse Stadium.

The Moyne-Templetuohy defender comes into the team instead of the injury Paddy Stapleton and will line up at right corner-back. There are two other changes made from the team that drew with Cork in Páirc Ui Chaoimh last Sunday. Darren Gleeson replaces Brendan Cummins in goal while in attack John O’Brien comes in at full-forward instead of Noel McGrath.

Cork captain Shane O’Neill will complete his comeback from injury when he makes his first appearance of the year in Sunday’s trip to the south-east to face Wexford in Division 1. The inclusion of the Bishopstown man is one of nine changes Denis Walsh has made from the starting 15 that drew with Tipperary last week.

Anthony Nash starts in goal while O’Neill, Eoin Dillon and Conor O’Sullivan form a completely new full-back line. Mark Ellis comes in at right half-back, Brian Murphy is named at midfield with Bill Cooper, Paudie O’Sullivan and Patrick Horgan introduced to the attack. Cooper’s inclusion at centre-forward will see him make his senior competitive debut for the county. Donal Óg Cusack, Stephen McDonnell, Eoin Cadogan, Shane Murphy, John Gardiner, Lorcan McLoughlin, Patrick Cronin, Cian McCarthy and Luke O’Farrell are the nine players who drop out of the team.

Kerry manager John Meyler has made three changes from the team who lost heavily to Clare last week for their Division 2 battle with Limerick on Sunday. Jason Casey replaces Adrian Royle at left half-back, David Fitzell is introduced for Darren Wallace at left half-forward and Aidan Boyle comes in for Ronan Kenny at full-forward.

TIPPERARY (SH v Galway): D Gleeson; J Coghlan, P Curran, M Cahill; D Young, Padraic Maher, J O’Keeffe; G Ryan, S McGrath; B Dunne, Patrick Maher, P Bourke; S Bourke, J O’Brien, L Corbett.

CORK (SH v Wexford): A Nash; S O’Neill, E Dillon, C O’Sullivan; M Ellis, R Curran, J Nagle; B Murphy, T Kenny; B O’Connor, B Cooper, C Naughton; P O’Sullivan, M Cussen, P Horgan. Subs: M Coleman, S McDonnell, R Ryan, W Egan, G Callanan, P Cronin, C McCarthy, K Murphy, J Coughlan.

KERRY (SH v Limerick): B Rochford; E Fitzgerald, T Murnane, C Harris; P O’Grady, M Conway, J Casey; P Costello, D Dineen; S Nolan, L Boyle, D Fitzell; J Egan, A Boyle, D O’Connell.