GAA: Ger Coleman a surprise inclusion

Ger Coleman is a surprise inclusion in the Wexford senior hurling team for their All-Ireland semi-final replay clash with Tipperary at Croke Park on Saturday next.

Coleman who came on as a midfield substitute in the drawn game before been forced to retire midway through the second half is included at left half-back, with Liam Dunne and Declan Ruth switching positions in the half line.

This is Coleman’s first senior championship start but has figured with the successful Under-21 side.

In the only other positional switch in the side, two goal hero Larry O’Gorman is retained as Adrian Fenlon’s midfield partner.

Team Manager Tony Dempsey dismissed any doubts regarding the fitness of Team Captain, Daragh Ryan. “Daragh is fit to take his place and is included in his usual full-back position”.

Despite their amazing comeback which led to the draw, Dempsey has resisted the temptation to reshuffle his side, having made numerous switches during the course of the seventy minutes.

Tipperary have plumped for fourteen of the players which started the drawn game leaving a vacancy at right half-back

Team Manager Nickey English has left the vacancy as Paul Kelly is struggling with a hamstring injury. Doubtful in the lead up to the drawn game, Kelly was forced to retire during the second period, as a result he will be asked to prove his fitness later in the week.

John Carroll who made a surprise move to centre-forward is retained in his attacking role having scored 1-1 during the opening thirty-five minutes. The decision means that Eddie Enright will once again partner Thomas Dunne in midfield.

However English rates Kelly as been very doubtful having aggravated the troublesome hamstring injury which made him so doubtful in the lead up to last Sunday’s game.

Tipperary: B. Cummins, T. Costello, P. Maher, P. Ormonde, A N Other, D. Kennedy, E. Corcoran, T. Dunne, E. Enright, M. O’Leary, J. Carroll, B. O’Meara, E. Kelly, D. Ryan, L. Corbett.