Kyle Hayes among six Limerick changes for Tipperary clash

Kyle Hayes is set to make his seasonal debut while Dan Morrissey is due to start for the first time this season

Limerick’s Kyle Hayes arrives. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Six changes have been announced to the Limerick side that began the win over Kilkenny for Saturday’s Division 1, Round 4 clash with Tipperary in Thurles.

Kyle Hayes is set to make his seasonal debut. Darragh O’Donovan returns to the team. Colin Coughlan, Aidan O’Connor and Shane O’Brien are the other changes.

Hayes has not played a game of competitive hurling since last September when he was injured lining out for Kildimo-Pallaskenry against Newcastle West last August.

The 27-year-old was hospitalised with a neck injury and concussion when he received a high tackle in the championship game in Rathkeale. John Kiely recently confirmed that the five-time All Star was in full training.

Making way are Seán Finn, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes, captain Cian Lynch, David Reidy and Hugh Flanagan. Finn, Byrnes, Lynch and Reidy are among the substitutes.

On Thursday, Limerick GAA received conditional planning permission for their proposed centre of excellence in Crecora. Just one observation was received from the public about the development on the 95-acre site, which is expected to include six floodlit natural grass pitches and an all-weather surface.

Elsewhere, Con O’Callaghan has been confirmed as the Dublin senior football captain for 2026. Eoin Murchan is vice-captain. It is Cuala man O’Callaghan’s second season as skipper.

Chris Crummey once more leads the senior hurlers having held the position last season as well as in 2018 and ’19. Paddy Smyth is his deputy. Both are included in the team to face Wexford in Saturday’s Division 1B, Round 4 game in Croke Park.

LIMERICK (NHL v Tipperary): N. Quaid; M. Casey, D. Morrissey, M. Fitzgerald; C. Coughlan, W. O’Donoghue (c), K. Hayes; A. English, D. O’Donovan; G. Hegarty, A. O’Connor, C. O’Neill; A. Gillane, S. O’Brien, P. Casey. Subs: C. Ryan, D. Byrnes, S. Finn, F. Fitzgerald, V. Harrington, E. Hurley, D. Langan, C. Lynch, T. Morrissey, D. Ó Dalaigh, D. Reidy.

DUBLIN (NHL v Wexford): E. Gibbons; J. Bellew, P. Smyth, E. O’Donnell; A. Dunphy, C. Crummey (c), C. Burke; B. Hayes, C. Groarke; F. Whitely, D. Burke, D. Power; D. Purcell, R. Hayes, C. O’Sullivan. Subs: S. Brennan, C. Ó Riain, C. Donohoe, S. Gallagher, D. Keogh, D. Lucey, C. Ó Cathasaigh, J. Madden, D. Ó Dulaing, C. Kennedy, J. Hetherton.