Evans deflects attention to Limerick

CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 NEWS:TIPPERARY FOOTBALLERS may be the team to rattle the cages of some of the big teams this summer. They are the Division Three champions, defeating Down in the final, and their under-21s were unlucky to lose the provincial final to eventual All-Ireland champions Cork after a late goal.

They entertain Limerick at Semple Stadium in the first round of the Munster championship on Sunday. With Cork and Kerry on the other side of the draw the incentive for the winners is a semi-final against Clare and the possibility of contesting the provincial final on July 5th.

Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s Limerick charges made a decent fist of the qualifiers last year, memorably defeating Meath before losing to Kildare. In the process they unearthed an excellent teenage forward in Ian Ryan who returns despite a wave of interest from Australian Rules.

Tipperary have not won a championship match since defeating Waterford six years ago. “May 25th, 2003 was the date,” said manager Johnny Evans. “I remember it well. In the meantime Limerick have won eight or nine championship games. They are a real championship team we are up against. Just look at Fermanagh last weekend. They won just one game in the league but came out and beat Down in some style.”

Evans was understandably quick to dismiss their league form, especially the meeting with Limerick. “They had no dual stars that day in Kilmallock. Mark O’Riordan, Stephen Lucey and Jason Stokes are all back so they will be much stronger. Limerick have seen their neighbours promoted from Division Three while they were relegated to Division Four. The Limerick train is coming into Thurles on Sunday and they will be hard to stop.”

Such complimentary remarks regarding the opposition are commonplace in the lead-up to big matches but Evans says: “This is not caution it is a genuine worry.”

Asked whether he expects something special from his burgeoning panel in this campaign, considering what has gone before, Evans said: “Of course there is expectancy. No one knows what they can do or how far they can go. Any success brings an air of expectancy but Limerick are a hardened championship team. Hopefully we have enough youth to trouble them. Whether we have enough will to win remains to be seen.”

Johnny Cagney has been ruled out with ankle ligament problems while a final decision will be made on Ciarán McDonald (shoulder) today.

As mentioned, O’Sullivan welcomes O’Riordan, Lucey and Stokes back into the fold with Ahane’s Cormac Joyce-Power makes his championship debut at corner forward. Stephen Kelly has been ruled out after damaging his thumb playing rugby.

Meanwhile, rookie Longford manager Glenn Ryan has named his team for Sunday’s opening Leinster championship encounter against Wicklow in Portlaoise. Paul Barden captains the team from right-corner forward.

LONGFORD (SF v Wicklow): D Sheridan; D Reilly, B Gilleran, P Foy; D Masterson, E Williams, S Mulligan; G Dennigan, K Smyth; P Berry, F McGee, D Barden; P Barden, K Mulligan, B Kavanagh.

LIMERICK (SF v Tipperary): S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, M O’Riordan; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J O’Donovan, J Galvin; S Lucey, I Ryan, S Buckley (capt); C Joyce-Power, J Stokes, G Collins.