Premier boost as Corbett returns to the fold

Lar Corbett has handed Tipperary a massive pre-championship boost by returning to action with the Premier County.

The 2010 Hurler-of-the-Year played the full 60 minutes in a challenge match against Waterford on Tuesday evening.

The behind-closed-doors fixture in Thurles afforded manager Eamon O’Shea the opportunity to get Corbett back inside the whitewash.

The 33-year-old has not played a competitive game since scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute against Limerick IT in the Waterford Crystal Cup last January.

Meanwhile, Roscommon manager John Evans has handed championship debuts to three players ahead of the county’s Connacht quarter-final clash against Leitrim on Sunday.

Ciarán Cafferky is named at left half-back, with Ronan Stack and Ciaráin Murtagh listed among the forwards.

The trio were prominent members of the Roscommon team to reach the 2012 All-Ireland U21 final — both Cafferky and Murtagh lining out in last month’s Division 3 league final win.

Sunday’s starting 15 sees only one change from that fixture with Ronan Stack replacing Darragh Donnelly in the half-forward line.

Forward Diarmuid Murtagh, who impressed for the Roscommon U21’s this spring, has failed to make the cut.

Opponents Leitrim also introduce three newcomers with U21 midfielder Donal Wyrnn, Damian Moran and Sean McWeeney selected by manager Donal Hagan.

Elsewhere, Offaly boss Emmet McDonnell has included Ferbane’s Joseph Maher in the team to face Longford this weekend. Maher, who was a regular starter throughout the league, will make his championship debut at corner-forward.

LEITRIM (Connacht SFC v Roscommon): C McCrann; B Prior, D Wrynn, P Maguire; W McKeon, G Reynolds, P Brennan; D Sweeney, D Moran; K Conlon, R Lowe, B McWeeney; E Mulligan, J Glancy, S McWeeney.

ROSCOMMON (Connacht SFC v Roscommon): D O’Malley; S McDermott, N Carty, N Collins; D Keenan, N Daly, C Cafferkey; C Shine, K Higgins; D O’Gara, D Shine, R Stack; S Kilbride, C Cregg, C Murtagh.

LOUTH (Leinster SFC v Westmeath): N Gallagher; P Rath, D Finnegan, G O’Hare; J O’Brien, D Crilly, A Reid; P Keenan, M Fanning; P Reilly, B White, A McDonnell; D Byrne, S Lennon, D Maguire.

OFFALY (Leinster SFC v Longford): A Mulhall; D Brady, D Hanlon, N Darby; B Darby, J Moloney, M Brazil; R Allen, N Smith; E Carroll, G Guilfoyle, A Sullivan; J Maher, N McNamee, P Cunningham.