TIPPERARY MANAGER Declan Ryan has chosen one debutant, right corner back Donagh Maher, in an otherwise established championship line-up for Sunday’s Munster hurling first round tie with Limerick in Thurles.
Maher, the 23-year-old Burgess club man, made his first start for the Munster champions against Kilkenny last February in the National League and is a brother of fellow panellist Shane Maher.
Other changes from the league semi-final defeat to Cork see captain Paul Curran return at full back, while Pádraic Maher is at wing back ahead of David Young with Eoin Kelly returning at corner forward for a 13th championship campaign.
Kelly and fellow corner forward John O’Brien will potentially work off Brian O’Meara’s aerial effectiveness at full forward.
The 2010 hurler of the year Lar Corbett has not been included among the substitutes as the 31- year-old only returned to the panel in recent weeks.
Sunday’s 64th championship meeting between Tipperary and Limerick also marks the beginning of Brendan Cummins’ 18th season.
Meanwhile, the long-running saga over Seánie Johnston’s switch from Cavan to Kildare football has been resolved. The Central Appeals Committee paved the way for Johnston’s switch from Cavan Gaels to St Kevin’s GAA club in Staplestown on Wednesday night.
However, the highly-regarded forward cannot join Kieran McGeeney’s senior panel until he has played club championship for St Kevin’s. The first round in Kildare has already been run off with the second round draw taking place next Wednesday night.
Kildare face Offaly in the Leinster football championship on June 17th.
Joe Sheridan has been named at full forward in the Meath football team to face Wicklow at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday.
Manager Séamus McEnaney has made a number of changes from the side that was comprehensively beaten 2-14 to 1-8 by Louth in April, a result that relegated Meath to Division Three of the National Football League.
McEnaney has since survived an attempted ousting by the county board executive, while Sheridan recently returned from working in America.
McEnaney is still hindered by the absence of 2007 All Star forward Stephen Bray, who damaged a hamstring at training on Tuesday, while Shane O’Rourke (back) and Mark Ward (cruciate) are long-term casualties. Paddy Gilsenan is also out with hamstring trouble. Sheridan’s younger brother, Brian, has also rejoined the panel and is named among the replacements.
Division Four league champions Wicklow have their own concerns with Michael McLoughlin (hamstring), Paddy Dalton (fractured thumb) and Nicky Mernagh (foot) unavailable.
Ronan Clarke says that his two-year injury nightmare is finally behind him.
The Armagh forward has started a number of club games in recent weeks and hopes to return to the Armagh colours during the championship.
Having had so many setbacks to the ruptured Achilles tendon injury he suffered in February 2010, the 29-year-old is understandably reluctant to put a definite date on his return – but it should be this summer.
“At the minute I’m playing a few games for the club, I’m breaking myself back in,” revealed Clarke.
“County-wise, I wouldn’t be up to that standard just yet but on a positive note, I’m back on the football field. Hopefully I can see myself in a county jersey this year.”
TIPPERARY(SHC v Limerick): B Cummins; D Maher, P Curran (capt), M Cahill; T Stapleton, C O'Mahony, P Maher; J Woodlock, B Maher; G Ryan, N McGrath, P Bourke; E Kelly, B O'Meara, J O'Brien.
MEATH(SFC v Wicklow): D Gallagher; M Burke, K Reilly, S McAnarney; D Tobin, B Menton, S Kenny (capt); C Gillespie, B Meade; A Forde, M Collins, G Reilly; B Farrell, J Sheridan, C Ward.
