GAELIC GAMES: Lar Corbett and Paul Ormonde return to the Tipperary team for Sunday's Munster hurling final against Cork at Semple Stadium. Corbett's selection at full forward is one of three changes from the team that started against Waterford in the semi-final, with Ormonde returning to the defence and Paul Kelly coming in at midfield.
Corbett was troubled with chronic hamstring injuries for the best part of last summer, but having undergone a lengthy rehabilitation programme over the winter, has gradually been regaining his old form. He showed he was approaching his best in the semi-final as a second-half substitute for John Carroll, scoring the goal that killed off Waterford's challenge.
Micheál Webster is the player to miss out and drops to the bench, with Carroll retaining his place in the half-forward line.
Ormonde has endured an even longer lay-off and hasn't been a regular on the Tipperary starting line-up since 2002. Like Corbett, however, he has regained his best form and starts at left corner back. Paul Curran moves to full back, with Philip Maher, who was carrying a knee injury in the semi-final, the player to miss out.
Kelly's return to midfield was always inevitable once he fully recovered from the hamstring injury that has greatly limited his training to date. Last year's All Star also appeared as a second-half substitute in the Waterford game for team captain and wing forward Ger O'Grady, but it's a straight swap for Sunday as the player to miss out is midfielder Colin Morrissey.
The Cork selection shows just one change from the team that beat Clare in their semi-final on May 28th. Ben O'Connor has fully recovered from the hamstring injury that limited his role in that game to a late substitute, and he starts at right corner forward.
Kieran Murphy of Sarsfields loses out, as Cian O'Connor, who was the late call-up for Ben O'Connor the last day, holds on to his position at left wing forward.
Interestingly, there is one positional switch in the defence, with Brian Murphy named at right corner back and Pat Mulcahy moving over to the other corner. This suggests that Murphy, known for his tenacious and tight marking, will pick up Tipperary's main scoring threat, Eoin Kelly.
It means Cork also show just one change from the team that beat Tipperary in last year's Munster final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh when Murphy started in the forward line. Tipperary, in contrast, are a far different looking team with eight changes from that game this time last year.
Gone are defenders Maher and David Kennedy, midfielder Benny Dunne, and forwards Colin Morrissey, Tommy Dunne, Francis Devanney, Evan Sweeney and Webster - with the newcomers being Ormonde, Conor O'Mahoney, Hugh Moloney, Shane McGrath, John O'Brien, Carroll, O'Grady, and Corbett.
TIPPERARY (SH v. Cork): B Cummins; D Fanning, P Curran, P Ormonde; E Corcoran, C O'Mahoney, H Moloney; P Kelly, S McGrath; J Carroll, G O'Grady, J O'Brien; D Fitzgerald, L Corbett, E Kelly. Subs: D Young, E Buckley, S Butler, J Devane, F Devanney, B Dunne, K Dunne, D Egan, P Maher, S McDermott, C Morrissey, M Ryan, W Ryan, M Webster, J Woodlock.
CORK (SH v Tipperary): D Óg Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, P Mulcahy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor; T McCarthy, N McCarthy, C O'Connor; B O'Connor, B Corcoran, J Deane. Subs: M Coleman, W Sherlock, K Cronin, P Kelly, N Ronan, K Murphy (Sarsfields), K Murphy (Erins Own), C Naughton, C Cusack, A O Nash, C McGann, K Hartnett, S O'Neill.
OFFALY (Under-21H v Dublin): R Murray; K Grogan, P Cleary, S Clancy; C Hernon, D Hoctor, J Rigney; D Hayden, S Dooley; E Beavan, M Verney, D Kenny; C Slevin, J Bergin, A Egan.
DUBLIN (Under-21H v Offaly): A Nolan; G O'Meara, P Bergin, D O'Reilly; K Nolan, T Brady, C Billings; J McCaffrey, W Lowry; E Moran, G Morris, K O'Reilly; P Carton, D O'Dwyer, A McCrabbe.
WEXFORD (Under-21H v Kilkenny): É Martin; B Malone, M Kinsella, B Kenny; A Kavanagh, R Kehoe, G Hill; S Morris, PJ Nolan; B Kehoe, S Nolan, G Flood; A O'Neill, M Doyle, C O'Connor (capt).
