Tipperary hurlers and footballers unchanged

The Tipperary footballers and hurlers both go into this weekend’s knock-out championship matches with unchanged teams.

Hurling manager Eamon O’Shea has named the same team as beat Offaly in the round two qualifier for Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. That means Anthony Daly’s Dublin, as well as conceding home advantage, must face the same Tipperary men who have scored 8-50 in their last two games.

Tipp have bounced back in style after losing the Munster semi-final to Limerick, particularly in the round one qualifier against Galway. Between that and the Offaly game, Séamus Callanan has now scored 5-18, Lar Corbett 2-4, and Patrick Maher 2-1.

Opening game

The Limerick hurlers are also unchanged for their All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford, the opening game in Sunday’s double-bill at Thurles (2pm).

Manager TJ Ryan was always likely to keep faith with the team that pressed Cork so hard in the Munster final, before eventually losing 2-24 to 0-24. Donal O’Grady will once again captain the team from centre forward, with Shane Dowling – who scored 0-12 against Cork, including nine frees – again wearing number 12, even though he started at full forward the last day.

Tipperary football manager Peter Creedon also sticks with the same starting 15 for their fourth round qualifier against Galway in Tullamore tomorrow evening (5pm).

Like their hurling counterparts, Creedon’s football team have stacked up a massive total – 5-34 – in their two qualifier games, against Longford and Laois.

The full forward line of Conor Sweeney, Barry Grogan and Philip Austin hit 3-9 against Laois.

Tipp actually met Galway in the qualifiers last summer, in round one, with the Tribesmen emerging 1-12 to 0-11 winners in Pearse Stadium.

No wonder Galway manager Alan Mulholland is talking up his opponents:

“Tipperary were certainly unlucky not to beat Cork in the Munster semi-final,” says Mulholland, “and since then it has been obvious that wasn’t a one off performance. They posted huge scores against Longford and Laois and we are fully aware of just how potent they are up front.

“We were disappointed with our performance in the Connacht final but we believe we have learned a lot from that game and our preparation for the Tipperary match has been very good.”

Mulholland has made four changes from the Connacht final, with Tomás Healy taking over in goal; Joss Moore comes in at corner back; former Kildare star James Kavanagh is named at left half forward, with Michael Martin also getting at starting place in the right corner.

Sligo, who take on Cork in the other fourth round qualifier in Tullamore tomorrow evening (5pm), have also named an unchanged team.