John Leahy and Liam Cahill will both start for Tipperary in the eagerly-anticipated Munster Hurling Championship first round game against Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday. The Tipperary team announced by manager Nicholas English last night features four championship debutants - Philip Maher, John Carroll, Mark O'Leary and Paddy O'Brien - and a substantial degree of switches.
Leahy, one of the most experienced forwards of the current intercounty scene, takes up his customary wing forward position alongside another veteran of 1989, Declan Ryan, who lines out at centre forward. On the other wing, O'Leary, from the Kilruane McDonaghs club, makes his championship debut. Leahy only made one start in Tipperary's league campaign, coming in as a late stand-in for the injured Ryan in the semi-final win over Limerick. Otherwise, English felt it best during the league to keep the Mullinahone man on the bench and bring him on during games.
There was speculation that Leahy might be deployed at centrefield, but in the absence of the injured Andy Maloney, English has selected Thomas Dunne and Brian O'Meara as a new partnership for what has proved a problem line. Dunne and O'Meara are both inter-changeable with Leahy, depending on the success of English's patch and mend selection.
There are also a number of significant switches in defence. Most significantly, Paul Ormonde moves from right wing back to the right corner and Carroll lines out at wing back.
Liam Sheedy was exposed in the right corner in the league final and paid the price when he was pulled off just before half-time and replaced by Donnacha Fahy. Ormonde's selection in the corner can be seen as a move to combat Waterford captain Paul Flynn.
With Ormonde's redeployment, Carroll now lines out at wing back. Carroll has played most of his career at centre back, but played centre forward, midfield and at centre back for Tipperary during the league. There may now be some questions asked about the Roscrea man's lack of pace for his new role.
With Brendan Cummins in goal, Maher of Borrisoleigh is selected at full back - where he makes his championship debut - with the veteran Michael Ryan in the left corner. Centre back David Kennedy and Eamonn Corcoran, successful debutants from last year, complete the back seven.
Cahill, who was an unused substitute for the league final after sustaining an injury in the build-up to that game, starts at corner forward. Otherwise, the full forward line remains intact. Toomevara's O'Brien, also making a championship debut, has been a regular in the league, while Paul Shelley, corner back when Tipperary were beaten by Waterford two years ago, again starts in his now customary full forward role.
In all, Tipperary show nine changes in personnel from the last championship meeting of the counties in 1998, while only three - Cummins, Leahy and Dunne - played in the same positions two years ago. By contrast, Waterford only have three changes in personnel from that day.
In another reflection of the way Tipperary have changed in recent times, only eight players survive from the team that started against Clare in last year's replay.
