Gavin back to bolster Limerick's challenge

Limerick football captain Muiris Gavin was last night recalled into the Limerick team for Sunday's National League semi-final against Kerry. Gavin, along with defender Mark Riordan, missed the final round meeting with Armagh because of injury but was passed fit.

Riordan replaces Pádraig Browne in defence, with former Mayo player Maurice Horan losing out to Gavin in the half-forward line. Conor Fitzgerald, who resumed training last week after being out of action for six months, was not considered. Veteran John Quane remains on the subs' bench.

In hurling, Galway have named an unchanged side for their meeting with Tipperary in their key second series match at Semple Stadium.

Victory in Thurles would leave Conor Hayes' charges within touching distance of a league final spot and would also end Tipperary's interest in the league this year.

Elsewhere, Dublin have some major injury worries ahead of their clash with Offaly, with Kevin Flynn, Shane Martin, Darragh Spain and Keith Wilson all on the doubtful list. Manager Humphrey Kelleher is unlikely to finalise his team until shortly before the game.

Offaly forward Rory Hanniffy is awaiting the final diagnosis on the knee injury sustained against Kilkenny last Sunday, with a final scan due today expected to outline his availability over the coming weeks.

In Limerick, the team to play Clare as part of the double bill with the football league semi-final shows two vacancies at corner forward as Andrew O'Shaughnessy is unlikely to be available and Donnacha Sheehan is injured.

Albert Shanahan replaces John Cahill in goal, with Niall Moran and Clement Smith, introduced as substitutes in the defeat by Waterford, coming in for Peter O'Reilly and Pat Tobin. County champions Patrickswell are without representation and the captaincy goes to TJ Ryan.

Carlow will announce today the successor to former manager Mick Condon, who resigned last week.

Finally, Australia have squared the three-match International Rules Youth Series with a dramatic three-point win over Ireland in the second test at the MCG in Melbourne.

GALWAY (SH v Tipp): L O'Donoghue; D Joyce, D Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, D Hayes, F Moore; F Healy, T Óg Regan; M Kerins, D Forde, K Broderick; D Hayes, E Cloonan, A Kerins.

LIMERICK (SF v Kerry): S O'Donnell; M Riordan, J McCarthy, D Sheehy; C Mullane, S Lucey, D Reidy; J Stokes, J Galvin; S Kelly, M Gavin, M O'Brien; C Hickey, Murphy, E Keating.

LIMERICK (SH v Clare): A Shanahan; M Cahill, TJ Ryan, B Carroll; D Reale, O Moran, M Foley; N Moran, C Smith; S O'Connor, J O'Brien, JP Sheehan; AN Other, E O'Neill, AN Other.