Championship 2005 team news: Philip Maher will return at full back for Tipperary in the Munster hurling final against Cork this Sunday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh at the expense of John Devane. The move was expected but Devane's complete omission is somewhat surprising considering the solid display he produced against Clare. It was thought Devane might be shifted back upfield to half forward but Colm Morrissey and Tommy Dunne are retained on the wings.

This is the only change from the previous outing but the corner-forward slot has been left open as Ken Hogan gives Lar Corbett every opportunity to recover from the hamstring injury that has plagued him since his return from Australia in the spring.

Evan Sweeney is a contender here but he is also fighting to overcome a similar problem. Another option would be to bring Ger O'Grady or John Carroll back into the line-up. At present both are substitutes. O'Grady was recalled to the panel recently after a period of exile due to an off-field disciplinary lapse. It's possible Devane may come back into the starting line-up if Corbett fails to recover.

Meanwhile, Offaly hurling continues to sink deeper into the mire after manager John McIntyre yesterday released the names of five players dropped from the panel. Colm Cassidy, Paudie Mulhare, Conor Gath, Andrew McRedmond and Liam Bergin were all punished for failing to turn up for training in Tullamore on Tuesday night.

However, McIntyre did reveal the return of dual player Neville Coughlan after the football season reached a premature end against Carlow. Niall Claffey is also back training after injury but is considered doubtful for the pivotal qualifier against Clare on Saturday week.

Limerick show two changes in personnel from the team which lost to Tipperary in the Munster championship semi-final for Saturday's All-Ireland qualifier against Antrim, in Belfast. Mark Foley, who sustained a finger injury in the semi-final, is replaced by Paudie O'Dwyer. Pat Tobin starts instead of Conor Fitzgerald.

Cavan have made one enforced change for the Ulster football semi-final replay against Tyrone in Clones on Saturday evening. Paul Brady, who received a straight red card in the drawn match, is ruled out and replaced by John Tierney.

The professional handballer was sent off for stamping but Cavan officials hope to use video evidence to prove he was suffering from cramp at the time and that the incident was accidental. However, no hearing was requested ahead of the weekend so Brady is out. Tierney comes in at full forward with Anthony Forde dropping back to wing back.

"We will sit down and look at Paul's case after the weekend," said stand-in manager Martin McElkennon (Eamonn Coleman is still recovering from pneumonia).

McElkennon keeps Dermot McCabe and Michael Lyng in reserve. Lyng has been hampered by a disc problem in his back for a number of months and it has affected his hamstring. The 20-year-old's quality was revealed again last week when he came off the bench to kick the equalising free. A groin problem means McCabe is unable to last 70 minutes.

Tyrone are still favourites to progress to the Ulster final in Croke Park on July 10th, but McElkennon believes his team can improve on last week's display.

"This team has a lot of belief in their ability when it comes to going into replays," he said.

Tyrone are expected to name their team later tonight.

In the other semi-final, Derry will also release their line-up tonight but Armagh are holding off until tomorrow mainly because of the lower-back injury Ronan Clarke sustained last weekend.

Armagh and Donegal had hearings last night regarding the red cards shown to Francie Bellew and Adrian Sweeney. The result will become known this afternoon.

Donegal and Wicklow will name teams tonight ahead of their first-round qualifier in Aughrim, also this Sunday. Wicklow have doubts about the availability of centre back Dara Ó hAnnaidh, who damaged a quad muscle recently in training.

TIPPERARY (SF v Cork): B Cummins; E Corcoran, P Maher, P Curran; D Fanning, D Kennedy, D Fitzgerald; B Dunne, P Kelly; C Morrissey, F Devanney, T Dunne; E Kelly, M Webster, A N Other. Subs: D Young, E Buckley, J Carroll, D Egan, T King, M Maher, H Moloney, P Morrissey, P O'Brien, J O'Brien, M O'Leary, C O'Mahoney, E Sweeney, J Devane, G O'Grady.

CAVAN (SF v Tyrone): J Reilly; M Hannon, D Rabbit, K Fanning; A Forde, P Reilly, P Reilly; N Walsh, P McKenna; M Cahill, M McKeever, F O'Reilly; J O'Reilly, J Tierney, L Reilly.

ANTRIM (SH v Limerick): D Quinn; M Kettle, G Bell, C Hamill; G Cunningham, J Campbell, M McCambridge; P Richmond, M Scullion; K McKeegan, K Kelly, K Stewart; J McIntosh, J Connolly, B McFall.

LIMERICK (SH v Antrim): T Houlihan; D Reale, S Lucey, P O'Dwyer; O Moran, B Geary, P Lawlor; P O'Grady, D O'Grady; P Tobin, N Moran, A O'Shaughnessy; D Ryan, TJ Ryan, D Sheehan. Subs: J Fitzgerald, C Fitzgerald, S O'Connor, K Tobin, P Kirby, J O'Brien, M Clifford, A O'Connor.