Banner side has familiar look for clash with Cats
While Brian Cody has just six of the side that lost last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final to Cork, Davy Fitzgerald has named all but goalkeeper Patrick Kelly, Domhnall O’Donovan and Podge Collins. Those three are on the bench and in their place are Donal Tuohy, Seadna Morey and Shane Golden.
There are some positional switches by Clare with David McInerney switching positions with Cian Dillon in the full-back line and Colin Ryan chosen at left full forward. Henry Shefflin, Paul Murphy, Cillian Buckley, Colin Fennelly, Eoin Larkin and Walter Walsh are the survivors for Kilkenny from last July’s Championship exit in Thurles. The Cats’ captain for 2014 Lester Ryan leads the team from his new berth at centre-back while John Joe Farrell and Mark Kelly are rewarded for fine Walsh Cup campaigns with starts in the full-forward line alongside Walter Walsh. Padraic Walsh, younger brother of Tommy, makes his league debut in midfield alongside Cillian Buckley while there are also first NHL starts for Michael Walsh, Brian Kennedy and Joey Holden. Limerick pick an experienced side for their vital Division 1B duel with Cork this evening, TJ Ryan and Donal O’Grady naming 12 of John Allen’s starting side that lost last year’s All-Ireland semi-final to Clare. Conor Allis, Tom Ryan and Shane Dowling are the three changes for David Breen, Seamus Hickey and Declan Hannon.Galway have eight of their 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final for the clash with Dublin. Apart from the Portumna trio of Damien Hayes, Andy Smith and Joe Canning. the Tribe are missing Kevin Hynes, Shane Kavanagh, Jason Grealish and Niall Burke. Iarlaith Tannian and Niall Healy come into the fray. Anthony Daly goes with 11 of the team that lost last August’s All-Ireland semi-final to Cork. Cian O’Callaghan and Simon Timlin are introduced to the full-back line where they will flank Peter Kelly. Ballyboden St Endas’ Shane Durkin partners captain Johnny McCaffrey in midfield and Cuala’s Mark Schutte starts, a reward for his recent good form.Meanwhile the Dublin football management last night confirmed Kevin O’Brien is out for the season after rupturing his cruciate ligament in DIT’s Sigerson Cup match on Thursday.
