Ryan remains doubtful with ankle injury

Declan Ryan's chances of starting for Tipperary in Sunday's Munster hurling final against Cork still seem to be finely balanced. Manager Nicky English will announce his team this evening but the ankle injury Ryan picked up in the semi-final win over Clare still casts some doubt over his fitness and forces English to look at possible alternatives at centre forward.

Ryan trained on Sunday evening for the first time since the injury but it remains to be seen whether English will take the risk. At the moment, however, there are a number of players well suited to fill Ryan's centre forward role.

Eddie Enright, Ryan's replacement in the semi-final, is one of the three likely candidates to get the call if required. The Thurles Sarsfields player made his championship debut in the Munster clash with Clare last summer, playing at midfield, but is reported to have been filling the centre forward role to good effect in recent training outings. He also made an appearance in the first-round win over Waterford when he replaced Brian O'Meara, then playing at midfield.

Also in the running for the call-up if required are Andy Maloney and Eddie Tucker. Maloney had found a regular berth at midfield during the league but then received an eye injury in the semi-final meeting with Limerick, forcing him out of the early championship action. Now back to his full playing fitness, he could also prove an adequate replacement although he has yet to start a competitive game in the position.

Tucker, who replaced Maloney in the league semi-final, has the advantage of championship experience at centre forward. He started there in the replay against Clare last year after Ryan was surprisingly left out of the starting line-up.

There was some good news for midfielder John Leahy yesterday when he was named the Eircell All Star Player of the Month for June. The first such award for the Mullinahone player, it comes after his memorable performances so far in the Munster championship against both Waterford and Clare.