FORMER HURLER of the Year Dan Shanahan makes way for the returning captain Stephen Molumphy in Waterford’s team for Sunday’s re-run of last September’s All-Ireland final.
Molumphy comes in at left wing forward after having to withdraw due to illness the last day against Clare. Ken McGrath who came in for him is listed from the start at centre forward where he played after returning from injury in the only change to the side that took the points in Ennis.
All Star Eoin Kelly is named on the replacements’ bench after his return from long-term injury two weeks ago and he is again expected to play some part in the match, as Waterford try to overturn the traumatic memories of last year’s heavy defeat.
Meanwhile, holders Tipperary bring back captain Willie Ryan after injury for the weekend’s re-run of another of last year’s championship finals, the Munster decider between Tipp and Clare.
Paddy Stapleton, Seamus Hennessy and Seamus Callanan are also in the starting line-up for the first time in this year’s campaign, coming in for Eamonn Buckley, Pat Kerwick and John Devane respectively.
Brendan Cummins rotates back into the goalkeeping position in place of Gerry Kennedy and John O’Brien returns at full forward instead of Patrick Maher from the side that beat Cork under lights in Semple Stadium.
Cork manager Gerald McCarthy gives a vote of confidence to his inexperienced team, which confounded the direst predictions by losing in Thurles by an unflattering 12 points, for the visit of Galway in yet another re-enactment of a prominent championship match from last year.
On this occasion Joe Canning, who hit 2-12 and still finished on the losing side, will not be available to Galway as Portumna await next month’s All-Ireland club final.
Galway manager John McIntyre names three debutants for Sunday’s NHL clash with Cork at Páirc Ui Chaoimh.
The newcomers are goalkeeper Eric Ward, Kieran O’Donovan, who comes in at full back for the suspended Damien McClearn, and centrefielder Eoin Forde.
Finally, GAA President Nickey Brennan was yesterday joined by Uachtarán na hÉireann Mary McAleese at Croke Park for the official launch of the association’s Social Initiative project.
The GAA president outlined his hopes for the pilot scheme designed to enhance the social inter-action of older males in Irish society.
One hundred and sixty men from all four provinces were guests of the association at Croke Park at an occasion organised to inaugurate an initiative that will see seven further such events staged between now and March 2010.
“We are delighted as an association to be involved in a scheme such as this,” said Brennan, “and we acknowledge the role played by President McAleese and her husband Martin in highlighting this issue.”
WATERFORD (NHL v Kilkenny):C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, N Connors; R Foley, M Walsh, J Murray; S O'Sullivan, J Nagle; G Hurney, K McGrath, S Molumphy; J Kennedy, S Prendergast, S Walsh.
TIPPERARY (NHL v Clare):B Cummins; P Stapleton, D Fanning, P Curran; B Dunne, C O'Mahony, D Fitzgerald; T Stapleton, S McGrath; S Hennessy, S Callanan, J Woodlock; W Ryan, J O'Brien, P Kelly.
CORK (NHL v Galway):A Kennedy; E Keane, C Murphy, C O'Sullivan; J Moran, R Ryan, C Leahy; B Johnson, G O'Connor; A Mannix, A Ryan, D Crowley; T Murphy, M Collins, E Cronin.
GALWAY:E Ward; M Ryan, K O'Donovan, F Moore; A Coen, S Kavanagh, G Mahon; A Cullinane, E Forde; D Tierney, K Hynes, C Donnellan; N Healy, G Farragher, A Callanan.
