CLARE AND TIPPERARY have both named strong sides ahead of this weekend’s Co-Op Superstores Munster hurling league final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick [Throw-In 2pm].
Diarmuid Ryan, Niall Deasy and Tony Kelly all retain their starting places after contributing 16 of Clare’s 26 points during their victory over Waterford last weekend.
Kelly moves into midfield, swapping with Ryan Taylor who takes his place in an already potent half-forward line. Cathal McInerney comes into the full-forward line in place of Aron Shanagher for Clare’s only change.
Tipperary, meanwhile, have included the likes of Padraic Maher, Cathal Barrett and Seamus Callanan as Liam Sheedy looks to lay down a marker ahead of the beginning of the national hurling league.
The two sides will meet in the opening game of the Division 1A campaign on 26 January.
Sheedy looks to deliver Tipperary’s first All Ireland success since 2016 this summer, while Clare have not lifted the Liam MacCarthy since 2013.
Clare
1. Donal Tuohy
2. Jason McCarthy
3. David McInerney
4. Rory Hayes
5. Aidan McCarthy
6. Conor Cleary
7. Cathal Malone
8. Shane Golden
9. Tony Kelly
10. Diarmuid Ryan
11. Niall Deasy
12. Ryan Taylor
13. Colin Guilfoyle
14. Cathal McInerney
15. Michael O’Neill
Substitutes
16. Keith Hogan
17. Gary Cooney
18. Michael O’Malley
19. Brian Corry
20. Jack Browne
21. Colm Galvin
22. Ian Galvin
23. David Conroy
24. Rian Considine
25. Podge Collins
26. Jamie Shanahan
Tipperary
1. Barry Hogan
2. Cathal Barrett
3. Padraic Maher
4. Donagh Maher
5. Alan Flynn
6. Séamus Kennedy
7. Joe O’Dwyer
8. Willie Connors
9. Michael Breen
10. Jason Forde
11. Patrick Maher
12. Colin English
13. Mark Kehoe
14. Seamus Callanan
15. Jake Morris
Substitutes
16. Brian Hogan
17. Robert Byrne
18. Cian Darcy
19. Tom Fox
20. Barry Heffernan
21. Ronan Maher
22. Mark McCarthy
23. Dan McCormack
24. Noel McGrath
25. Killian O’Dwyer
26. David Sweeney
Chris Farrell is power of strength in the centre – let’s hope he plays as well as the MOTM performance from last year’s six nations (without the injury).
@Con Cussed: he wasn’t injured in that match only in training afterwards
Good to see Schmidt acknowledging that farrell was the right choice, nothing to do with henshaw. He’s dead right too, once ringrose was out go with the guy who’s been training in the position and hungry to get out there. I’m expecting a big game from farrell and I’ve every faith in him to deliver.
@Jim Demps: Same. It helps that he’s feckin huge as well.
@Jim Demps: Where does he acknowledge that Jim?
@Jim Demps: it is to do with Henshaw. Farrell would not be starting were it not for Henshaws injury
@Luke walkee: “ once Garry Ringrose was ruled out it was going to be about trying to keep some little continuity as best we can in a short space of time. You’ve got Chris farrell sitting in the wings massively motivated to do his best. So it’s a great opportunity to get him in and give him a run. “
@Jim Demps: That’s not what he acknowledged. Itching for a row today?
@Eddie Hekenui: It’s not even the right choice if you are using Jim’s criteria
@Eddie Hekenui: no row, genuinely think he made the right choice. Pick the guy who plays in the position. If it doesn’t work out then that’s on farrell.
@Jim Demps: That’s fair enough and I’d agree about picking Farrell ahead of Henshaw at 13 if both fit but Schmidt doesn’t acknowledge Farrell was the right choice, regardless of Henshaw. He says Henshaw might’ve played if it wasn’t for the knock
@Eddie Hekenui: my reading of his quote would be different but fair enough, don’t mind either way and I think the right decision was arrived at. The prospect of facing farrell is far more daunting for Scotland than Addison or henshaw I think.
@Jim Demps: Henshaw is a far better player than Farrell especially defensively
@Eddie Hekenui: surprised he didn’t actually say ‘carrying a bit of a niggle’, which is usually the code for being dropped.
Tom Farrell has put in two stellar seasons and this one he seems to of kicked on again,
he partners the only other fit first team center at provincial level (aki) and has clocked up huge minutes at 13.
injuries to 2 first line centers coupled with ; Chris Farrell (albeit a fantastic option) has played a handful of games since this time last year and a lot of these were not 80 min showings so you’d have to presume he is slightly under cooked.
With all these factors and his impact out west you would really have to question , how will he ever get a cap when the set of circumstances just listed still don’t allow for a look in.
I’m admittedly bias towards Tom Farrell as personally I think he is excellent but it must be hard argue against him having no chance to play his way in.
I am really worried about Henshaw`s injury problems he has not played three consecutive games since connacht won the pro 12.
@Michael Colleary: Reading between the lines it sounds as if Henshaw was dropped rather than unavailable since Schmidt said he could have played and he has form for citing the reason of a players exclusion as injury/fitness/minutes rather than a selection call.
He also suggested in the press conference he wasn’t planning to bring Rob Kearney back in this week but the cohesion was so poor last week he felt he had to, indicating disappointment with Henshaw.
@Rochelle: he literally says Henshaw would have played but he took another knock. You Munster fans are nuts, you believe Joe when it looks good on a Munster player, but he is taking BS when it comes to a Leinster player. If it was all about form C Farrell would have been 3rd choice
@Michael Colleary: That’s just not true. What a weird thing to make up.
@Rochelle: well said.