Tipperary and Wexford announce starting line-ups

Tipperary manager Declan Ryan and his Wexford counterpart Colm Bonnar have finalised their teams for tomorrow's Allianz Hurling League Division 1 tie at Semple Stadium (throw-in 2.30pm).

Ryan has made eight changes in personnel to the Tipp side that throttled Galway in the last round. The new inclusions start with goalkeeper Brendan Cummins and Eddie Connolly, Paddy Stapleton, who returns from a rib injury, and captain Conor O'Mahony in defence.

Midfielder James Woodlock and forwards Noel McGrath, Sean Carey and Michael Heffernan will also start. Reigning Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett and Patrick Maher are among the players making way.

Maher broke a bone in his hand during the victory over Galway, joining Brendan Maher (broken ankle) and All-Ireland winning skipper Eoin Kelly (broken finger) on the Premier County's injury list.

Meanwhile, former Tipp star Bonnar has made one enforced change to the Wexford side that claimed a crucial win over Cork last time out in the league.

Garrett Sinnott from Oulart-the Ballagh will start at full-forward as an indirect replacement for Willie Doran, who suffered a facial injury when colliding with team-mate Jim Berry during the Cork game. Harry Kehoe moves to centre-forward.

Tipperary could still reach the Division 1 final if they win here and other results go their way. Wexford are battling to avoid relegation to Division 2. They are level on two points with fellow strugglers Offaly and need to beat or draw with Tipp and hope that Kilkenny beat Offaly.

TIPPERARY (AHL v Wexford): Brendan Cummins; Eddie Connolly, Paul Curran, Paddy Stapleton; David Young, Conor O'Mahony, John Coghlan; James Woodlock, Shane McGrath; Benny Dunne, Noel McGrath, Sean Carey; Michael Heffernan, Pa Bourke, John O'Brien.

WEXFORD: Niall Breen; Paul Roche, Matthew O'Hanlon, Keith Rossiter; Lar Prendergast, Darren Stamp, Ciarán Kenny; David Redmond, Eoin Quigley; PJ Nolan, Harry Kehoe, Stephen Banville; Rory Jacob, Garrett Sinnott, Jim Berry.