Nickie Quaid back in goal for Limerick five months after cruciate injury

The talismanic No 1 hasn't featured for John Kiely's side since last year's final four. 

COMEBACK KID: Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Five months after rupturing his cruciate ligament, Nickie Quaid has been announced to start for Limerick in their Munster SHC opener against Tipperary in Thurles on Sunday.

Quaid has not featured for his county since last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork but has been included in the team, which features 10 of the side that began that game. 

The quintet of changes are Barry Murphy, Barry Nash, Colin Coughlan, Shane O’Brien and Adam English. Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Declan Hannon, Tom Morrissey and Seamus Flanagan are the omissions. Finn and the Morrissey brothers are on the bench.

LIMERICK (SHC v Tipperary): N. Quaid; B. Murphy, M. Casey, B. Nash; D. Byrnes, K. Hayes, C. Coughlan; W. O’Donoghue, C. Lynch (c); G. Hegarty, D. Reidy, C. O’Neill; A. Gillane, S. O’Brien, A. English. 

Subs: S. Dowling, P. Casey, S. Finn, E. Hurley, D. Morrissey, T. Morrissey, A. O’Connor, F. O’Connor, D. Ó Dalaigh, P. O’Donovan.