Munster champions Tipperary will, as expected, be without former Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett for Sunday’s opening defence of their provincial title against Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds. Corbett sustained a rib injury in the league final defeat by Kilkenny last month.
All-Ireland winning captain from three years ago Eoin Kelly will start on the bench.
Eamon O'Shea names two debutants in his first championship selection as manager. In at wing back comes Kieran Bergin, who made a solid impression in the league final, which marked his first start for the county seniors. Jason Forde is named at right wing forward where he was also named for the league final but replaced before throw-in by Kelly.
John O’Brien replaces Corbett, lining out at left wing forward with Patrick Maher moving to centre forward. The other changes from the Kilkenny match see the return of veteran goalkeeper Brendan Cummins in place of Darren Gleeson and the inclusion after injury of Paddy Stapleton with Conor O’Brien dropping to the bench.
Dublin manager Anthony Daly makes three changes to the team that lost heavily to Tipperary in the league semi-final.
Former All Star goalkeeper Gary Maguire returns in place of Alan Nolan, Ryan O’Dwyer replaces Simon Lambert with team captain Johnny McCaffrey switching to centrefield and Niall Corcoran starts at right corner back with Ruairí Trainor dropping to the bench.
O'Dwyer and Corcoran were introduced as substitutes in the Tipperary match, in both cases for the players they replace in tomorrow's line-up.
Leading marksman
However there is no place in the starting team for Paul Ryan, the team's leading marksman in recent seasons and who came in as an early replacement in the league semi-final.
Daly had just two injury problems. Kevin Byrne has a broken finger and Seán McGrath an injured ankle.
Dublin footballer – and former hurler – Tomás Brady will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a second cruciate ligament injury in the space of two years.
Brady, who switched from the county hurlers at the start of this season, missed being involved in last weekend’s championship win over Westmeath because of a thigh injury.
He injured his knee in training earlier this week. Two years ago Brady, who this season became the holder of national league medals in hurling and football, tore his cruciate in the Leinster senior hurling championship defeat of Galway.
In a press release, football manager Jim Gavin said: “On a personal level this is very frustrating for Tomás who played a key role during the National Football League campaign and, having returned from a recent knock, was back again competing to a very high standard.
“Protocols have been activated to ensure that he will receive the best of medical care and the Dublin football coaching staff will actively assist Tomás in his recovery over the weeks ahead. We wish Tomás a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back to full health in the near future.”
