BOTH TIPPERARY AND Limerick have rang the changes ahead of Sunday’s Munster hurling championship showdown in Semple Stadium.
Manager Liam Sheedy has drafted in a pair of defenders to his full-back line with James Barry and Seán O’Brien both handed starting spots. 2018 All-Ireland U21 winner Jake Morris is given the chance to impress with a place in attack.
Barry Heffernan, Alan Flynn and Dan McCormack are the players to make way with all three named on the bench.
Limerick have gone further in the shake up to their starting side with manager John Kiely making four alterations. The Limerick Leader has reported the announcement of their team with Dan Morrissey coming in at centre-back, Darragh O’Donovan selected at midfield, Shane Dowling named at wing-forward and Seamus Flanagan drafted in at full-forward.
Team captain Declan Hannon and last season’s Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch make way along with the attacking pair of Gearoid Hegarty and Graeme Mulcahy.
Tipperary
1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)
2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
3. James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane)
4. Seán O’Brien (Newport)
5. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. Michael Breen (Ballina)
9. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
10. Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha)
11. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
12. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)
13. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
14. Séamus Callanan (Drom-Inch – captain)
15. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
Subs
16. Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy)
17. Ger Browne (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
18. Robert Byrne (Portroe)
19. Willie Connors (Kiladangan)
20. Cian Darcy (Kilruane McDonaghs)
21. Alan Flynn (Kiladangan)
22. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)
23. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
24. Séamus Kennedy (St Mary’s)
25. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
26. Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
Limerick
1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)
2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
3. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
4. Richie English (Doon)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)
7. Paddy O’Loughlin (Kilmallock)
8. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
9. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh)
10. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
11. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)
12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
Subs
16. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)
17. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
18. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
19. Aaron Costello (Kilmallock)
20. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s)
21. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
22. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
23. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
24. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)
25. Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen)
26. Pat Ryan (Doon)
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Should be a great game. Have a feeling Limerick fans might be brought back down to earth on Sunday. Some of them think they invented the game the way they’ve been going on the past few weeks.
@Jamie Bent: not even a Limerick supporter but stick to the oval ball lad haven’t a notion what you’re talking about they were quiet as a mouse after the cork game there wasn’t anyone on here
@Jamie Bent: we are all ireland champs Mr Bent for the first time since 1973 – we are still in orbit – now go way and straighten yourself out
@Jamie Bent: we are all ireland champs Mr Bent for the first time since 1973 – we are still in orbit – now go way and straighten yourself out
@Jamie Bent: jeez lads you’d swear Limerick fans were the first and only set of supporters to get carried away with the team in any sport! Granted some are a bit OTT, but show me any other fans that aren’t?
@Jamie Bent:sorry for celebrating hammering both Clare and Waterford…… and tell me this Jamie, how do you know Limerick didn’t invent hurling ? Limerick fans are boisterous and every right to be…. All Ireland champions… League champions and a win away from a Munster Final. As for being brought down to earth those pesky Cork boys did that. To be honest I haven’t met over the top Limerick fans obviously you did …. sorry bout that, but I can tell you a set of fans not too far from here who are a hell of a lot worse.
@Jamie Bent: please lads we’ve enough fools ruining soccer threads don’t let gaa, rugby ect be dragged into that drivel
@Ave it: the comments on the rugby can be fairly bad as well
@Jamie Bent: what do you know about hurling,stick to rugby and yere not even good at that
@Jamie Bent: stick to the cricket buddy
@Jamie Bent: mightnt have invented it but they definitely added to its lore last yr winning the best ever hurling championship! Repeat; Best ever!
@Jamie Bent: Completely the opposite in general if you ask me. People love to throw out this tripe. When you have suffered as much as the average Limerick supporter you take nothing for granted. We don’t think the game is one til the lads are back in the dressing room and have their boots off.
@Alan Fitzgerald: *won
Hon the treaty
2 strong teams, hopefully plays out as exciting as we all anticipate
A little surprised by the amount of changes on the Limerick team especially Hegarty & Lynch, two big leaders for Limerick.
@Conor Houlihan: but the lads coming in are pretty handy themselves too tbh! Never expected us to line out with a full team, definite changes were coming to keep it fresh. Still expect Tipp to be 2-3 points better at the weekend tho, think their form alone is best around and home advantage is worth its weight too
@Now or Never: thurles is a home for every team so doubt that will make a difference
@Now or Never: I fancied Limerick to win before seeing the team by a point or two. Yes Dowling, Donovan & Flanagan are very good hurlers but Cian Lynch us hurler of the year and the linch pin between the backs & forwards. Hegarty has been immense this year a man of the match & a machine in that half toward line. I just think 4 changes is a lot that is all especially away to tipp and I know Kiely is pushing for a Munster. Anyways Hon the Treaty
@Conor Houlihan: yep no doubting Hegarty and Lynch are a great loss, but it’s also week 3 of championship on the trot so probably happy to escape out of Munster, freshen it up a little and still start with a relatively strong team.
Donovan is a quality link up man aswel, not as good as Cian but he’ll do a superb job no doubt, happy to see Dowling get his start, brings something different compared to Hegarty but wont have his physical threat etc, still it’ll be a cracking game tho.
@Conor Houlihan: So is Declan hannon injured that he’s not even on the bench? He was very good against Clare but he seems to have lost a yard of pace this year
@James O Toole: dont think Dec was ever renowned for having much pace, he was the same with Ard Scoil Ris as a young lad, was never blistering pass lads,supposedly an injury alright aswel btw.
@Conor Houlihan: I don’t think Kiely is pushing too hard for Munster based off team selection. He’ll be happy with third place
@Conor Houlihan: paudie Maher would have destroyed hegarty
@Aidan Butler: easy say that now. Hegarty on fire right now. Two strong high ball players but Hegarty is also strong as an ox, deceptively quick with great hands. Maher will be relieved!
@Charlie: Well based on the interview last week, John Kiely will be bursting a gut to win Munster.
Considering Hannon is presumably injured massive call to rest Lynch, Hegarty & Mulcahy. I assumed limerick would be doing everything possible to make Munster final but team selection looks like limerick wouldn’t mind finishing 3rd. Either that or this is limericks best possible team taking fatigue into account possibly. In John Kiely we trust. Hon the treaty
@Patrick O’Sullivan: I don’t think he’s too pushed about Munster. If they win Sunday it will be a bonus but he doesn’t want to play his full hand yet
@Charlie: it certainly looks that way.
@Charlie: everybody has seen their full hand at this stage . It seems strange that he wouldn’t go full strength as Munster is the only medal alluding this team. That and the bonus of avoiding the winner of Leinster in the next couple of rounds
@domas1507: They don’t have to meet the winners in Leinster depending on how results go. Remember they played Cork in the semi final last year.
@Decko49: there is definitely bonuses to winning Munster. Avoiding a tricky quarter final is surely something most teams would want
@domas1507: Well that’s a good point. But that 4 week break seems to be an issue for some teams. They lose a little bit of sharpness
Should be a cracking game. We are due a draw in Munster.
I think tipp will edge it that half back line is too good and mcgraths On top form tipp are lethal this year
@Johnny Ryan: limerick not picking their best team though makes me question whether Kiely is trying to win it! I think if limerick win it will be a bonus for him and if not then they’ll go same route as last year. If limerick played their full team I’d give them a much better chance
Looks like Limerick are happy to probably sacrifice this one by pulling 4 definite starters on any other normal day. Obviously a pity but I’d say Kiely is also relishing throwing in quality back ups to really test strength in depth against the in form team, plus also regularly resting guys as he promised unlike last yr was the right way to go. Tipp of course will call that arrogant (ironic or what! Lol) All of Limerick would obviously have loved a possible hatrick of championship wins to rub into the Premier lads but cant see that happening now. Should be still a cracker but Tipp should shade it
@Ado Smith: no arrogance in this Tipp team. Its a different beast your dealing with this year. Ye can have all yer JP money but you can’t buy a first touch, tradition or 27 All Irelands. Tiobraid Arann Abu.
@Colly08: no arrogance in the Tipp team but you are full of it.
@Colly08: Yeah JP bought it. Typical shite. Get Michael Lowry to buy one for ye maybe. Limerick won it fair and square. Get over it. Limerick beat Tipp Waterford Cork Kilkenny and Galway. I suppose JP bought all those teams too.
@Decko49: its too easy mate