Supporters of Limerick hurling got the news they didn't want last night with confirmation that midfielder James Moran will miss the Munster final against Tipperary at Pβirc U∅ Chaoimh on Sunday. Moran chipped a bone in his hand during the semi-final win over Waterford on June 10th and has been on the doubtful list ever since. Despite receiving daily treatment from the Limerick medical team, Moran is unable to get a proper grip on his hurl and that is not the type of player you want on the field for a Munster final. Limerick manager Eamonn Cregan has given the vacant spot to Jack Foley, who replaced Moran in the win over Waterford and ended up scoring 0-2. He will partner Michael O'Brien. There is one additional change from the side that beat Waterford as well as Cork in the opening round a few weeks before. Seβn O'Connor will make his championship debut at left wing forward as a direct replacement for Mark Keane. There was speculation over the last couple of weeks that Keane my lose his place in the half forward line after coming under some pressure against Waterford and Cork, and ended up being substituted on both occasions.
Cregan therefore made the decision to call up the 21-year-old O'Connor, who plays with Ahane and has impressed enough in recent training sessions to get the starting position on the left wing. Moran's loss may prove costly for Limerick as he had been providing major stability in the middle of the field since the start of the summer season as well as showing excellent form for his club Ahane in recent weeks. The defence remains unchanged although there is one positional in the attack. James Butler and Barry Foley switch positions in the full forward line, with Butler now starting on the left and Foley on the right. Brian Begley, one of the key men against Waterford, will once again start at full forward.
It was Begley who provided two goals in the triple hit against Waterford in the space of six minutes, and Butler provided the other. Limerick went on to win 4-11 to 2-14. With the minimum of changes in Cregan's newly designed line-up, the team still includes just five players that were involved in the long run of 1996 - team captain Barry Foley and defenders Stephen McDonagh, Ciarβn Carey, Mark Foley and TJ Ryan, with the latter actually starting in the full forward line in the losing All-Ireland final against Wexford. Moran's loss is at least balanced out by the fact that Limerick's opposition will also be without one of their midfielders.
Tipperary's Conor Gleeson was ruled out of the team for Sunday after his hand injury also proved slow to heal. His place went to the equally experienced David Kennedy of Loughmore, although that did necessitate a little reshuffling in the line-up. Kennedy came on as a substitute during the second half of the Munster semi-final victory over Clare earlier this month and he takes over from Eamonn Corcoran at centre back with the JKBrackens man switching to the left and Paul Kelly moving forward into midfield.Tipperary will be also without John Leahy, who injured his knee in the semi-final.
LIMERICK (SH v Tipperary): T Houlihan; S McDonagh, T J Ryan, B Geary; C Smith, C Carey, M Foley; M O'Brien, J Foley; P O'Grady, O Moran, S O'Connor; B Foley, B Begley, J Butler.
