Under-21 Semi-finals Tipperary will try to put the anguish of last week's defeat to Kilkenny out of their minds when their under-21s take on Galway in tomorrow's All-Ireland semi-final in Ennis.
Manager Séamus Power has made one change to the starting line-up, David Kennedy replacing Michael Farrell at wing forward as they look to hit the levels that allowed them see off Cork in the Munster final replay.
Survivors from last Sunday's senior game are right-half back Martin Maher and captain Eoin Kelly, who hit eight points. Tipp have a huge advantage, as in the absence of a Connacht championship this is Galway's first championship game of the season. Nevertheless, five of the players who lined out against Tipperary in the senior quarter-finals will take the field.
Of Galway's senior contingent, Damien Hayes and Richie Murray will be expected to cause the main damage in attack. Tom Tierney wasn't considered due to a broken hand, but the Premier men should still have too much game time to be troubled.
Tomorrow's other semi-final is expected to be severely lopsided as Kilkenny face Ulster champions Down in Mullingar. Down seniors Paul Braniff, Gareth Johnson and Stephen and Gabriel Clarke will attempt to slow the tidal wave of attacks but, with an extremely young team around them, not much hope is on the horizon.
The minor midfield duo of Brendan McGourty and Daniel McCuster have been given the unenviable job of competing with Shane Hennessy and Tommy Walsh. While JJ Delaney will also line out at half back.
The game does neither side any favours. Kilkenny could have done with another stiff test after an unimpressive display against Dublin in the Leinster final. How the tie can assist hurling in Down is also a mystery.
Given the problems in Ulster and Galway, it will be interesting to see whether the hurling development committee specifically address the under-21 area in their imminent report.
TIPPERARY (under-21 v Galway): V Doheny; E Buckley, J Devane, M Phelan; M Maher, D Fitzgerald, H Moloney; E Ryan, J Caesar; P Buckley, F Devanney, D Kennedy; E Kelly, J O'Brien, T Scroope.
GALWAY (under-21 v Tipperary): A Diviney; D Collins, T O'Regan, F Moore; D Hayes, S Kavanagh, A Cullinane; K Brady, B Mahoney; R Murray, P Garvey, D Hayes; K Burke, G Farragher, D Greene.
KILKENNY (under-21 v Down): D Herity; G Joyce, C Hickey, M Phelan; K Coogan, J Tyrrell, JJ Delaney; S Hennessy, T Walsh; C Phelan, P Cleere, W O'Dwyer; A Fogarty, S O'Neill, B Dowling.
DOWN (under-21 v Kilkenny): R Murray; G Dynes, R Conlon, S Roddy; J Hughes, G Clarke, P Hughes; B McGourty, D McCuster; A Dynes, P Braniff, E Clarke; S Clarke, G Johnson, N Gilmore.
