Sport

Limerick's family affair

Limerick field three sets of brothers for Sunday's National Hurling League match with Offaly in Birr

By SEAN MORAN
Wed Feb 14 2001 - 00:00

Limerick field three sets of brothers for Sunday's National Hurling League match with Offaly in Birr. Jack and Mark Foley together with James and Ollie Moran are established hurlers on the county team and this weekend they will be joined by Dave Ryan, a brother of full back TJ.

Dave Ryan lines up at right corner back beside his brother. His chance came courtesy of Stephen McDonagh's suspension, a result of his sending-off against Antrim on the opening Sunday of the league two weeks ago. Brian Begley, who picked up an injury against Antrim, is again available and is selected at full forward.

All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny will be without the Graigue-Ballycallan contingent when they travel to play Waterford in the league on Sunday. The county champions' players have been rested ahead of Sunday week's All-Ireland club semi-final against Sixmilebridge.

County manager Brian Cody agreed to leave out all-star Denis Byrne, John and Michael Hoyne, Johnny Butler and Eddie Brennan so they could concentrate on the big club clash.

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Otherwise changes to the team that beat Laois last weekend are kept to a minimum. Aidan Cummins comes in at midfield in place of the injured Canice Brennan, while Alan Geoghegan takes over from John Hoyne.

Limerick (SH v Offaly) - T Houlihan; D Reale, TJ Ryan, D Ryan; J Foley, B Geary, M Foley; M O'Brien, J Moran; P O'Grady, O Moran, M Keane; J Butler, B Begley, B Foley.

Kilkenny (SH) v Waterford - J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, D Grogan; P Larkin, E Kennedy, P Barry; DJ Carey, A Cummins; JP Corcoran, S Grehan, A Geoghegan; J Coogan, T Drennan, H Shefflin.

Kerry (SH v Louth) - J Healy; C Boyle, C Lyons, M Lucid; WJ Leen, J Wharton, J McCarthy; B O'Sullivan, I Brick; S Brick, M Murnane, P Cronin; M Slattery (capt.), B O'Mahony, JM Dooley. Subs: C Flaherty, S Harty, A Cronin, A Keane, E Corridan, M Hanafin, H Twomey, T Cronin, I Maunsell.

Offaly (Under-21 F v Kildare): A Mulhall; C Masterson, C Evans, An Other; N Slattery, S Brady, K Kavanagh; S Cunningham, G Rafferty; E Greene, J Kilmurray, N Coughlan; R Daly, A McNamee, B Fagan.