Dual player Alan Kerins has been restored to Galway's midfield ahead of Sunday's eagerly-awaited Guinness All-Ireland quarter-final against Clare.
The selection of the Clarinbridge man completes a circle during which he was dropped entirely by the selectors over his dual commitments with the county only to be recalled prior to the championship. However, he failed to make the team for Galway's crunch tie in Thurles against Cork a fortnight ago but impressed during his second-half display.
The man to lost out is Cathal Moore, whom Kerins replaced during the interval in that game. The experienced Moore now takes his place on Galway's bountiful substitutes bench.
Although Noel Lane professed himself unhappy with the contribution of the forwards in the Cork game - despite a return of 0-21 - he has resisted the opportunity to make changes.
So Sunday offers another chance for Damien Hayes to nail down a corner-forward berth despite some hot competition. Although Joe Rabbitte's still considerable talents are being employed with wise economy this year, he will definitely feature if and when the contest enters its crucial phase. With Rory Gantley breathing hot on the necks of the starters and Ollie Fahy awaiting the opportunity to get some on-field action again, the options for the selectors are myriad.
The deployment of Kerins at midfield suggests that Galway have abandoned the flamboyant axis of Richie Murray and David Tierney, who made such a spectacular debut against Kilkenny last year. Murray excelled against Cork while Tierney's contribution from wing forward was more telling as the game evolved.
It is a big day for Alan Kerins, who faced the criticism that his blossoming football career had blunted his attacking contribution to Galway hurling. However, word in the county is that his game is as sharp as it has ever been, despite worries that a blow to his hand might rule him out for this game. Galway hurling secretary Phelim Murphy last night gave assurances that Kerins is fine.
Tony Carmody returns to the Clare line-up in the one anticipated alteration to the team that cruised past Wexford in the qualifying round. After struggling with injury in early summer, Carmody made a jubilant return to the team after coming on for Conor Earlie and firing a pair of goals. He now replaces Earlie out right.
His selection at full forward will mean a key hour in the development of Diarmuid Cloonan, Galway's new full back. Cloonan enjoyed a steady championship debut in Thurles and now faces another big test in the white heat of Croke Park.
Other pivotal match-ups involve the more feted Cloonan, Eugene, and Clare's Brian Lohan, a rivalry which stretches back to a famous club championship game between Athenry and Wolfe Tones. John Reddan forms the midfield partnership with Colin Lynch.
When the neighbours last met at the same stage of the championship three years ago, they produced a forgotten classic that went to a replay. Clare prevailed but it was Galway that made the more significant noises in the years since then.
Connor Gleeson is recalled to the Tipperary team for Sunday's All-Ireland senior quarter-final match against Antrim at Croke Park. He replaces Eddie Enright who has been working in America for the past fortnight.
GALWAY: M Crimmins; G Kennedy, D Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, L Hodgins, D O'Brien; A Kerins, R Murray; D Tierney, M Kerins, K Broderick; D Hayes, E Cloonan, F Healy.
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; B Quinn, B Lohan, F Lohan; D Hoey, S McMahon, G Quinn; J Reddan, C Lynch; J O'Connor, T Griffin, N Gilligan; D Forde, T Carmody, A Markham.
TIPPERARY: B Cummins; T Costello, P Maher, P Ormonde; E Corcoran, D Kennedy, P Kelly; T Dunne, N Morris; B Dunne, C Gleeson, B O'Meara; E Kelly, J Carroll, M O'Leary.
