O'Neill included as Tipperary reinvent themselves

Tipperary have brought in underage star Eugene O'Neill for his championship debut in Saturday's All-Ireland quarter-final against…

Tipperary have brought in underage star Eugene O'Neill for his championship debut in Saturday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Down in Clones. He is selected at full forward in a team that is radically changed from the one dismantled by Clare in the Munster final.This will be the first appearance in modern times of a previouslydefeated team in the All-Ireland series and Tipperary have relaunched their campaign with one third of the side that played in Pairc Ui Chaoimh replaced. Two of the changes are enforced as Michael Cleary has an injured hip and Declan Ryan is under suspension for being sent off in a club match.Cleary is, however, named among the substitutes, as is Aidan Ryan, the former Tipperary player and All-Ireland medallist who has returned to training with the panel since the Clare match.O'Neill's promotion is not unexpected as he has been scoring freely with the under-21s who meet Cork at Thurles this day week in the Munster final. A key figure in Tipperary's minor AllIreland win in last September's replayed final against Galway, O'Neill comes in at full forward for Cleary.On one side of him is Brian O'Meara who scored a couple of points from the unusual position of left corner forward in the National Hurling League quarterfinal defeat of Dublin in Thurles 11 days ago. Better known for playing central roles, O'Meara is given a chance in the same corner to try to repeat his productivity. He comes in for Philip O'Dwyer who was substituted at half-time of the Munster final and is not even named on the bench.In the other corner Liam Cahill returns. One of the best newcomers of last season, he had an undistinguished outing against Clare and came on as a substitute for the Dublin match.Declan Ryan's place at centre forward goes to Liam McGrath who acquitted himself well there against Dublin, scoring two points in the process.In addition to the three newly introduced players in attack, there are a number of alterations to centrefield and the half lines. John Leahy is moved to his familiar starting position of wing forward, which seems to acknowledge that lining him out at centrefield hasn't been a great success.It is noticeable that of all the great games he has played in the middle, Leahy was switched there after beginning the match on the wing. The difficulty of making that switch on a permanent basis hasn't been elevated into principle by Tipperary manager Len Gaynor because he has given Tommy Dunne a similar task.The Toomevara player fre- quently performs well when moved during a match and did so in the Munster final after going from the wing to centrefield. Obviously, his selectors hope that Dunne can make the same impact from the throw-in.Partnering Dunne in what is a completely new pairing is team captain Conor Gleeson who switches from wing back, allowing two new flankers come onto the half-back line where so much of the team's troubles started in Cork.Liam Sheedy and Conal Bonnar who both played against Dublin retain their places after enthusiastic displays. Bonnar's brother Colm, whose weakened state after a hospital stay contributed to the team's problems, has recovered and takes his customary centre back position.Meanwhile, the main surprise in the Galway selection for Sunday's second quarter-final against Kilkenny is the inclusion of Eugene Cloonan at left corner forward. Cloonan broke a bone in his foot during the Connacht final destruction of Roscommon and was viewed last week as extremely unlikely to start.Nonetheless he is named in the team for Thurles. Definitely missing is Joe Rabbitte who received a severe head injury after a dreadful foul by his Roscommon marker. His place at full forward goes to Kevin Broderick with Francis Forde coming in on the wing as indirect replacement for Rabbitte.At centrefield, Liam Burke has recovered from injury and takes his place beside captain Joe Cooney with Vinnie Maher dropping back to left wing back. Cathal Moore, who played there against Roscommon, reverts to his more usual position of centre back and Michael Healy, captain of last year's minors, drops back to the bench.Players' All Star Tom Helebert is also dropped and makes way for Beagh's Finbarr Gantley, son of the former county star of the same name, at right corner back.Kilkenny have decided to leave the selection of their team until tonight. At training at Nowlan Park last night, injury victims Eddie O'Connor (ankle) and John Power (hamstring) were put through serious fitness tests. Both expressed confidence that they would be fit for Sunday, but the selectors decided to give them 24 hours to see if they had any adverse reaction.Liam Simpson played at full back in a full-scale practice match. Simpson impressed in the position in the National League quarter-final against Cork last Saturday. Pat O'Neill, full back for the Leinster final and centre back for the league encounter, was unavailable for last night's workout.Ulster champions Down have named the same 15 that surprised Antrim in the provincial final. A couple of positional switches have been made, though. Noel Sands switches to the right corner with Barry Coulter moving to the left from right wing forward. Martin Coulter junior drops back to the wing.Sunday's match in Thurles is an all-ticket affair. Tickets are available from the county boards in Galway, Kilkenny and Offaly and cost £12 for the new stand, £10 for the old stand and £6 for the terrace. Student and juvenile tickets are available at £3.