THE Tipperary manager Fr Tom Fogarty faces some difficult decisions this week. Seven of his panel are on the injured list as he makes a second attempt tonight to name a team for Sunday's National Hurling League final against Galway in Limerick.

However, he received sympathy yesterday from his Galway counterpart Mattie Murphy. "We would love to see Tipp come out with a full team on Sunday. The game would be all the better if that is to be the case," said Murphy.

"We all know the one thing you cannot legislate against, in any game, is injury. You hate to see any team caught in this way. It can be most upsetting for the whole squad, and so we would hope that all their lads will come through and be available for the match.

"I personally hate to see a hurler, or any sportsman, caught like this before a big game. We would prefer to have a good game and win against full opposition," said Murphy.

Murphy recalls that the boot was on the other foot when the teams met in the 1994 league final won by Tipperary. "On that occasion we were denied the services of Joe Cooney and Dermot Fahy through injuries."

But for Sunday's match, Murphy and co selectors Jarlath Cloonan and Mick Fogarty are blessed with a panel showing a clean bill of health. The only minor doubt before the team was picked on Tuesday night concerned Nigel Shaughnessy, who had sustained a belt from a hurley under the knee.

However, Shaughnessy is fit to resume at centre half back, where he is flanked by Conor O'Donovan and Donoghue. The team is the same as that which started against Wexford in the semi final.

Murphy said the reason the team is unchanged is because they decided to give some players who were "far from impressive in the semi final a second chance". There are three All Stars in the substitutes Padraig Kelly, Sean Treacy and Michael McGrath.

Tipperary's reserve strength has an impressive depth that has not escaped the notice of the Galway manager. "They have a panel that guarantees a strong back up to cover any eventuality. Having said that you can never say what is going to come out of enforced changes. Look at last Sunday's football final. Derry lost their whole half forward line and as things turned out it didn't seem to have any adverse effect for them."

The sort of Indian sign Tipperary seem to have on Galway since the 1994 final, and consolidate the league series in this consolidated in the league series in this campaign is dismissed by Murphy as unlikely to having any bearing on Sunday. You couldn't depend oh group matches as a form guide. What happened in Ballinasloe or Thurles or Nenagh or one of these places in November has no relevance. It even looks like we are going to have championship weather for Sunday's game, with the ball flying around the place at pace.

The Galway players and management are happy with the Limerick Gaelic Grounds as the venue for Sunday. "It's a fine big pitch and we in Galway have happy memories of the ground, for it was the scene 21 years ago of Galway's first league triumph after a long lapse." Ominously for Tipperary, they were the opposition that day.

Murphy forecasts a crowd of over 30,000. Of the match itself he says. "Finals don't often turn out to be classic games, patterns and plans tend to go out the window. Heart and determination to win take over. We would be hoping to have the edge on Tipperary in these respects.

"It's now seven years since Galway won a league or any major trophy. There are few survivors from that team but those who have won a league medal will be every bit as keen as their teammates who have not succeeded so far.

"We would be happy with an edge in midfield because we have six scoring forwards. I consider that we will have the edge on Tipp and we will be going into the match in confident mood," said Murphy.