TIPPERARY BOSS EAMONN O’Shea has recalled a core of experienced figures to his team for Saturday night’s Waterford Crystal Cup final against Clare in Thurles.
There are 11 changes from the side that defeated Limerick IT in last Sunday’s semi-final victory.
Six of those players – goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, full-back Paul Curran, centre-back Brendan Maher, midfielder Noel McGrath, wing-forward Patrick Maher and corner-forward Brian O’Meara – all started in last August’s All-Ireland semi-final loss to Kilkenny.
The remaining quintet are corner-back Donagh Maher, wing-back Seamus Hennessy, centre-forward Eoin Kelly, full-forward Shane Bourke and corner-forward Seamus Callanan.
The four survivors from last Sunday’s victory are corner-back Conor O’Brien, wing-back Joey McLoughney, midfielder Shane McGrath and wing-forward Jason Forde.
TIPPERARY: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange); Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty), Paul Curran (Mullinahone), Donagh Maher (Burgess); Joey McLoughney (Toomevara), Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh), Seamus Hennessy (Kilruane McDonagh’s); Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Jason Forde (Silvermines), Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone), Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dora); Brian O’Meara (Kilruane McDonagh’s), Shane Bourke (JK Brackens), Seamus Callanan (Drom-Inch).
Meanwhile Offaly captain Niall McNamee hasn’t recovered sufficiently from a quad injury and he hasn’t been included in the twenty-six man squad to face Limerick in their Division 4 football league tie in Tullamore on Sunday.
Manager Emmet McDonnell was also without their ace Rhode talisman for their opening round victory over London at Ruislip last Sunday.
Introduced after 26 minutes during the game against London, 18-year-old Bracknagh club man Peter Cunningham, who captained Offaly minors in 2012, has been rewarded with a full NFL debut.
He lines out at full forward after kicking four points when he was sprung from the bench against The Exiles.
Richie Dalton, named to start against London but was omitted and subsequently made an appearance from the bench after fifty minutes in place of Alan McNamee, is selected to start at midfield against Limerick.
With Cunningham and Dalton figuring in the starting side it means that Shane Sullivan and Bernard Allen (Tubber) who got late call-up’s to the side that began against London, find themselves on the bench for the visit of Maurice Horan’s Limerick side.
OFFALY: Alan Mulhall (Walsh Island); Brian Darby (Rhode), Eoin Rigney (Rhode), Sean Pender (Edenderry); David Hanlon (Edenderry), Derek Kelly (Edenderry), Graham Guilfoyle (Clara); Alan McNamee (Rhode), Richie Dalton (Edenderrry); Ross Brady (Clara), Brian Connor (Walsh Island), Eoin Carroll (Cappincur); Matthew Mitchell (Clara), Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh), Anton Sullivan (Rhode)
