Enright waits in wings

So the wait continues. Declan Ryan is still hopeful of being fit for Tipperary's Munster hurling final meeting with Cork in Thurles on Sunday but for the time being the centre forward position has been left vacant.

It was decided at the Tipperary training last night that Eddie Enright would fill the role if necessary. The Thurles Sarsfields player has been impressive in the position in recent training outings and also showed good form on a few of his midfield starts during the league.

The fact that manager Nicky English is giving Ryan every chance to get over his ankle injury picked up in the semi-final win over Clare gives one idea just how crucial he considers the position. But for a man of Ryan's size, any problem with the ankle is bound to be significantly restrictive and he has to be deemed doubtful at this stage.

Ryan is receiving continuous treatment on the damaged ankle ligament but English has made it clear that it would be an injustice to the player if he was to start him when not fully fit. He did manage light training on Sunday and again last night.

Otherwise, the team announced last night shows no changes from that which defeated Clare. On that occasion, the midfield pairing of captain Tomas Dunne and John Leahy proved notably effective and they are expected to cause problems for Cork in what is the first championship meeting between the two sides since 1992.

The side met in the National League as recently as last April, a game Tipperary won by two points after a thrilling final 10 minutes. From the team that day, Tipperary are without Noel Morris, Andy Maloney, Gerry Maguire and Eddie Enright. Maloney would have been a more permanent member of the team had he not suffered an eye injury later in the league. He is now back to full fitness and named among the substitutes.

The Cork team for Sunday shows just two changes from the team that day. Mark Landers has his midfield spot filled by Derek Barrett, who played at wing back for Sean Og O hAilpin that day, and Alan Browne gets the starting place among the forwards in place of Neil Ronan.

Declan Ryan - if he plays - and Leahy will be the only survivors of the Tipperary team which fell to Cork in the Munster hurling semi-final in 1992. That day Tipperary played as All-Ireland champions; and rivalry between the two counties was at a peak. On Sunday, that rivalry is sure to reach similar levels.