Sport

Tipperary to start Leahy on the bench

Tipperary have left John Leahy on the sideline for Sunday's Munster hurling championship meeting with Clare

By SEAN MORAN
Tue May 29 2001 - 01:00

Tipperary have left John Leahy on the sideline for Sunday's Munster hurling championship meeting with Clare. This is one of two changes to the side which defeated the same opponents in the league final earlier this month. Paul Kelly, recovered from a broken finger, replaces Leahy and Brian O'Meara comes in for Liam Cahill on the left wing of the attack.

The selection will cause some surprise as Leahy played very well in the league final. But his first half was better than the second and the reasoning is that he may struggle to make the 70 minutes and may be of more benefit to the team coming into the match rather than starting.

Team captain Tomas Dunne is named at centrefield despite a serious hamstring injury picked up in a recent club fixture. Obviously Nicky English and his selectors believe the injury will have healed by the weekend.

If not, Leahy is probably the next option or, if the 70-minute theory holds sway, Noel Morris who hurled at centrefield during the league, may play.

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Established centre back David Kennedy, who missed out on the latter stages of the league campaign with injury, is restored to the bench. He had a bout of tonsillitis last week which ensured that he wouldn't be starting.

Eamonn Corcoran remains at centre back but John Carroll may feature there at some stage - depending on the location of Clare's James O'Connor.

The team features two debutants, corner back Tomas Costello and left corner forward Lar Corbett - which means that Tipp will start with two teenage corner forwards as Eoin Kelly who came on a substitute in last year's defeat by Galway makes his first starting appearance.

Clare are expected to name their side this evening. The only injury concern is right wing back Liam Doyle who picked up a knock in the league final.

His chances of being fit are viewed pessimistically in the county and it is expected that John Reddan will take his place.

Reddan filled in at centre back during the NHL campaign but with Sean McMahon fully fit again, he wouldn't have been required in that position. Richard Woods, another possibility on the wing, is now "out of the equation because of injury" according to county PRO Des Crowe.

The team is likely to feature 13 of the side that lost the league final with Alan Markham joining McMahon in being restored to the starting line-up.