Maher misses out as Tipp unchanged

2010 Young Hurler of the Year, Brendan Maher, has been unable to break into the Tipperary starting 15 for next Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Kilkenny.

Manager Declan Ryan has kept faith with the side that started in the semi-final victory over Dublin, which means that despite being introduced in that success, Borrisoleigh player Maher must be satisfied with a place on the bench. Maher’s involvement in this campaign has been hindered by the ankle injury he sustained last March.

In all there are 13 survivors from the Tipperary team that claimed All-Ireland honours last September with Maher and the retired Declan Fanning the players to make way with John O’Keeffe, who makes his senior final debut, and Seamus Callanan the newcomers drafted in. Callanan is moved to right half-forward and Noel McGrath shifts inside to centre-forward.

Meanwhile former Cats attacker Christy Heffernan has stoked the fires by insisting Tipperary supporters have not moved past the controversial penalty that was awarded against them in the 2009 All-Ireland decider. Tipperary were challenging strongly for honours in that game before the advantage swung towards Kilkenny when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Richie Power in the 63rd minute. The decision was hotly disputed but the subsequent conversion to the net by Henry Shefflin, paved the way for Kilkenny’s ultimate 2-22 to 0-23 success.

“I’ve been hearing about that free for the last two years but you just have to cop on,” states All-Ireland winner Heffernan. “It’s game over and the decision is made. Tipp are still crying about what happened two years ago. To me, the best losers are Kilkenny and Cork. They get on with it.”

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