O'Shaughnessy a starter for Limerick

Andrew O'Shaughnessy will start for the Limerick hurlers' in Sunday's do-or-die All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Kilkenny - despite his recent absence from the county panel.

The Kilmallock forward failed to attend a number of training sessions and was out of contact with the Shannonsiders' senior management in the aftermath of their final group qualifier loss to Galway.

Nevertheless, O'Shaughnessy linked back up with the panel last week, having missed a challenge match against Galway, and his inclusion at corner forward is a welcome boost for manager Joe McKenna, who has made three changes for this weekend's outing at Croke Park.

A fit-again Damien Reale starts at corner back, while James O'Brien and Michael Cahill indirectly replace Paudie O'Dwyer and crocked star Donal O'Grady (broken thumb) in the line-up.

O'Grady's midfield place is taken up by Niall Moran, with O'Shaughnessy pushed up into the full-forward line from his previous position on the forty.

LIMERICK (SHC v Kilkenny): T Houlihan; D Reale, S Lucey, M Foley; O Moran (capt), B Geary, P Lawlor; P O'Grady, N Moran; D Ryan, J O'Brien, M Cahill; P Kirby, TJ Ryan, A O'Shaughnessy.