Tipperary manager Eamon O'Shea has named an unchanged side for Sunday's GAA All-Ireland hurling final against Kilkenny. This means that Michael Cahill has not made the cut, despite having recovered from injury.
The former All Star corner back, who missed the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin with a knee injury and appeared only as a late replacement in the semi-final against Cork, hasn't been able to dislodge Cathal Barrett or Paddy Stapleton but he is expected to be named on the bench and likely to see action at some stage.
Patrick Maher is also selected at centre forward, fears that he had broken ribs against Cork having been stirred by soreness immediately after the match but these were ultimately allayed.
It is also expected that the team will line up as they did in the semi-final with Pádraic Maher at left wing back, Kieran Bergin on the other wing, Brendan Maher at centre back and James Barry at full back.
ipperary, who finalised preparations in Johnstown House in Meath last weekend, will have five of the team making their first appearances in an All-Ireland final: goalkeeper Darren Gleeson, corner back Cathal Barrett, full back James Barry, wing back Kieran Bergin and wing forward John O’Dwyer.
Sunday will be sixth successive meeting between the counties in championship. Tipperary have won just one of those, the All-Ireland final of 2010 whereas Kilkenny have won the finals of 2009 and 2011 as well as a semi-final in 2012 and a qualifier round last year.
Only four Tipperary players have been named to start all six: wing back Pádraic Maher, centrefielder Shane McGrath and forwards Noel McGrath and Lar Corbett.
Eamon O'Shea's team come into the final on the back of their most impressive display of the year, a 10-point drubbing of Munster champions Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. The manager still sees scope for further progress.
“There has to be more improvement in the sense that we didn’t move the ball I wanted them to move the ball - or anywhere near it. I think that’s the key to improvement.
“The backs played really well. Our forwards, on their own admission, weren’t really happy (about their performance) because they know it before anyone else. They don’t need me to go into a room and say things didn’t work today.
“They’ll tell me first in terms of what they expect. I think the big improvement for us this year has been that the players are more aware of it in terms of what they have to do. There’s been some great learning for them.”
He’s relaxed about the latest match in what has been since 2009 a modern saga between the counties.
“The enjoyment of the game for me is paramount. I understand that as manager I’m expected to compete and win. I understand the rules of the game here. But I also understand that when you go to a game against Kilkenny, in an All-Ireland Final or down in Nowlan Park, it’s a special hurling occasion and you can enjoy that at some level at some stage afterwards.”
TIPPERARY (SH team v Kilkenny): Darren Gleeson (Portroe); Cathal Barrett (HolycrossBallycahill), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh); Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh - Capt), James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane), Kieran Bergin (Killenaule); Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch), James Woodlock (Drom & Inch); Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons), Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha), John O'Dwyer (Killenaule), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields).
