Sport

Clare reward St Joseph's

Clare hurlers have made 10 changes, six personnel and four positional, for the trip to neighbours Limerick this Sunday

By SEAN MORAN
Wed Mar 24 1999 - 00:00

Clare hurlers have made 10 changes, six personnel and four positional, for the trip to neighbours Limerick this Sunday. Of the six newcomers, four are from the new All-Ireland club champions St Joseph's Doora-Barefield, although Ollie Baker is still rested.

Most interest will focus on the selection of Christy O'Connor in goal. A brother of Jamesie's, he gets his first NHL run with Davy Fitzgerald sitting out the match on the substitutes' bench. On the left wing, Lorcan Hassett is given his chance. Captain of St Joseph's in the final against Rathnure a week ago, he scored 1-5 from play to earn his call-up. Regulars Sean McMahon and Jamesie O'Connor return to bring the club's representation to four.

An interesting name surfaces on the substitutes' bench. Stephen Sheedy, whose knee injury cost him participation in the 1995 All-Ireland winning campaign and who subsequently emigrated, is listed as the last of the replacements. Sheedy played centre back for Clarecastle last season when they won the Munster title and lost to eventual winners Birr after a draw in the All-Ireland replay.

Tipperary hurlers make two changes for their game against Kilkenny in the Hurling League at Nowlan Park this Sunday. Paul Shelley and Eugene O'Neill return to the side in place of Brian O'Meara and Declan Browne, who is being rested because of Tipperary's under-21 football match against Cork.

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Cork have made three changes for their crucial National Football League concluding match against Dublin at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Des McAuley, full back Ronan McCarthy and midfielder Nicholas Murphy have been replaced by Kevin O'Dwyer, Alan O'Regan and Philip Clifford, who was forced out of the Dungannon match by a late injury.

Sean O hAilpin, named at full back for the footballers, has been named at wing back for the hurlers, who play Waterford on Saturday.

Dublin, who need a point to be sure of advancing, delay their selection until tomorrow night but have a couple of injury problems to cope with. Jim Gavin misses out again, as he did in the draw against Galway a fortnight ago, with a hand injury. Keith Galvin is expected to get a month's suspension for being sent off in the O'Byrne Cup final against Louth whereas Paul Curran, who played well against Galway, is abroad working.