Limerick bring Foley in from the cold
Barry Foley is a surprise inclusion in the Limerick team to take on champions Kilkenny in this Sunday's NHL Division One final (Thurles, throw-in 3.30pm).
The Patrickswell clubman, who turns 29 next month, has not featured for the Limerick hurlers since their 2003 Munster championship draw with Waterford.
Foley was invited to rejoin the Limerick panel by manager Joe McKenna and the former captain played in a challenge match against Offaly last month.
With top scorer Mark Keane ruled out with a groin injury, Foley takes over at left corner forward.
In the only other change to the side that beat Clare after extra-time last weekend, Foley's club mate Paul O'Grady (finger) is out injured and his place at left half-back has gone to Denis Moloney.
Doon starlet Moloney, in his first league campaign, replaced O'Grady at half-time in the Clare game and got forward to land two excellent points.
Current captain TJ Ryan is a link back to the last Limerick team that won a National League title.
The Garryspillane defender was at centre-back for the 1997 final win over Galway. Mark Foley, Ollie Moran and Barry Foley are also survivors from '97.
LIMERICK (NHL v Kilkenny) - B Murray; D Reale, TJ Ryan (capt), M Foley; O Moran, B Geary, D Moloney; D Ryan, D O'Grady; M O'Brien, S Lucey, C Fitzgerald, A O'Shaughnessy, B Begley, B Foley.
