AIDAN KEARNEY has been recalled to the Waterford team for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Tipperary. The Tallow club man has not featured for the Deise this summer after undergoing an appendix operation.
However, manager Davy Fitzgerald has named Kearney at left corner back with Declan Prendergast moved out to right half back while Shane O'Sullivan is dropped. Kevin Moran also returns to the starting XV that started the quarter-final defeat of Wexford. He takes place of the other wing forward, Brian Phelan,
Ken McGrath is retained at full back in the experiment initiated by Fitzgerald since he took over from Justin McCarthy. Tony Browne continues in McGrath's regular centre back slot but the inclusion of Moran gives Waterford options at full back if McGrath is required further out the field. Kearney can also be switched to wing back.
The attack are all familiar faces with 2007 hurler of the year Dan Shanahan named at right wing forward, although he usually moves to the inside line, while Eoin Kelly and John Mullane will need to maintain their excellent form of late to find a way past the Munster and National League champions.
Tipperary manager Liam Sheehy has made just one change from the Munster final victory over Clare on July 13th with Hugh Maloney replacing Pat Kerwick in the half-forward line, where he will line up alongside Shane Callinan and John O'Brien.
In the football championship, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has selected the same side that edged past Mayo in the qualifiers for tomorrow's quarter-final against Dublin in Croke Park.
This means there is no room for a fit-again Owen Mulligan although the man who sank Dublin with a wonder goal in the corresponding last-eight fixture in 2005 is expected to be the first option off the bench should Harte adjust his attack.
Raymond Mulgrew and Martin Penrose are other viable options in the forward line who are held in reserve.
All Star midfielder Seán Cavanagh is again named at full forward, a position he is gradually adapting to as his three points from play against Mayo exemplified. Dublin have recalled Ross McConnell to mark Cavanagh.
Stand tickets will be on sale from the Dublin GAA office, Parnell Park, Malahide Road, Donnycarney tomorrow at 9am.
Meanwhile, former Limerick hurling manager Richie Bennis believes the Limerick County Board should have handled his dismissal differently, arguing they should have spoken to him first.
Speaking on The Road to Crokeron RTÉ 2 last night, Bennis spoke about losing his job: "Big change in 12 months, this time last year I was down in Ollie's (Moran) home club Ahane and we were getting ready for the All-Ireland semi-final and at present I'm out of a job.
"I thought they (the county board) should have handled it differently. They went down the official way which is their way of picking a manager . . . I thought they should have met me and asked me what was my situation and was I interested. I made it known I wanted to stay for another year and they didn't come to me and ask me what I had to offer."
Bennis explained how he found out about his dismissal: "Turned on the local radio and heard they were gone looking for a new manager. I thought it was Mickey Ned (O'Sullivan, Limerick football manager) . . . It did (hurt) big time, but that's it, that's the way it goes you have to get on with it."
