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Opening Weekend

Ryan mixes it up for Tipp's trip to Kilkenny

Donagh Maher and Adrian Ryan both make their hurling league debuts for the Premier on Sunday.

TIPPERARY BOSS DECLAN RYAN has rung the changes ahead of Sunday’s National Hurling League opener against Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.

A combination of injury, retirement and rotation means that only seven of the team which started last September’s All-Ireland final defeat against the Cats retain their places.

Corner-back Donagh Maher and wing-forward Adrian Ryan come into the side to make their league debuts for the Premier. Maher is the brother of Shane, who lines out at wing-back on Sunday, while Ryan is a first cousin of wing-forward Gearóid Ryan.

Seamus Callanan and Patrick “Bonner” Maher are still sidelined by injury.

Meanwhile, Anthony Cunningham has added a new twist to a winning formula for his first league game in charge of the Galway senior hurlers.

Cunningham has named eight of the side which he managed to an All-Ireland U21 title last year in his starting XV for the visit of Division 1 champions Dublin to Pearse Stadium.

Turloughmore veteran Fergal Moore captains the side from centre back.

Tipperary (NHL v Kilkenny): Darren Gleeson; Donagh Maher, Paul Curran (c), Michael Cahill; Shane Maher, Conor O’Mahony, Padraic Maher; Brendan Maher, David Young; Gearóid Ryan, Noel McGrath, Adrian Ryan, Pa Bourke, Brian O’Meara, John O’Brien.
Galway (NHL v Dublin): James Skehill; Deci Connolly, David Collins, Ger O’ Halloran; Tony Og Regan, Fergal Moore (c), Niall Donoghue; David Burke, Cyril Donnelan; Conor Cooney, Niall Burke, Iarlaith Tannian; Damian Hayes, Barry Daly, James Regan.

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