Ryan to debut for Offaly

Dual star Sean Ryan will make his championship debut for the Offaly hurlers this afternoon when they take on Tipperary in their first All-Ireland SHC qualifier (Semple Stadium, throw-in 3pm).

Ryan, who helped Birr claim their 20th Offaly SHC title last October, comes in as an indirect replacement for Barry Teehan who drops out of the starting fifteen.

He starts at right corner forward just six days after coming on as a substitute during the Offaly footballers' Leinster semi-final defeat to Dublin.

As well as bringing in Ryan, Offaly boss John McIntyre has made four positional switches in his forward ranks.

Team captain Rory Hanniffy moves from centre-forward to midfield, Derek Molloy is named at centre-forward instead of on the left flank, Brian Carroll is re-positioned to left half-forward while Joe Bergin will start at full-forward, Carroll's position for the Faithfuls' Leinster semi-final loss to Kilkenny.

Today's clash marks Offaly's first championship meeting with Tipperary since the 2003 All-Ireland quarter-final which Tipp won by 2-16 to 2-11 at Croke Park.

Offaly have not reached the quarter-final stage of the All-Ireland championship since the round robin qualifier system was introduced two years ago. McIntyre's men also have qualifier dates with Cork (July 7) and Dublin (July 14).

OFFALY (SHC v Tipperary) - B Mullins; C Hernon, P Cleary, D Franks; K Brady, D Kenny, G Oakley; R Hanniffy (capt), B Murphy; G Hanniffy, D Molloy, B Carroll; S Ryan, J Bergin, D Murray.