Carroll at the heart of defence

Gaelic Games: Ken Hogan's first competitive selection as Tipperary manager sees John Carroll handed the perennially troublesome centre back position.

Carroll won an All Star at wing back and was an outstanding under-age centre back, but much of his recent hurling has been in the forwards, where he has provided a physical focus in the half forwards or at full forward.

Otherwise, there is a recall for Redser O'Grady at full forward. O'Grady previously started a competitive match for the county in last year's NHL final. David Kennedy starts at full back and former Kilkenny captain Denis Byrne is named at centrefield.

Opponents Offaly won't name until today. Michael Cordial, Barry Whelahan and Conor Gath are injured as is dual player Neville Coughlan. According to manager Michael McNamara, Brian Whelahan won't return to the panel for a couple of weeks yet. "Brian will be back at the end of the month. He's held up with work commitments."

Dublin manager Humphrey Kelleher's first selection includes dual player Conal Keaney, named at centre forward. A vacancy is left at right corner forward with Shane Martin favourite to fill it if he passes a fitness test before Sunday's match with Galway.

The Connacht side introduce one newcomer, corner forward Johnny O'Loughlin. Rory Gantley is missing due to a broken finger.

Laois name two debutants, Jimmy Walsh and Séamus O'Dwyer at centrefield and wing forward respectively. Dual player Declan Rooney is injured, Joe Phelan is working abroad and Paul Cuddy is also away.

Opponents Clare delayed naming a side and didn't train last night because of the funeral of former county player Jamie O'Connor from Tubber, who played for Clare in the 1970s.

Waterford have also delayed naming a team, but Ken McGrath will definitely be out after undergoing a minor operation recently.

Former Wexford All Star Adrian Fenlon gets married on Friday and misses the league opener against Antrim.

The Cork hurlers will stage their first home match, against Wexford on Saturday week, under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn.

It will be the first senior competitive fixture to be floodlit - just as the opening NFL match against Kerry just over a year ago was the first football match played under lights.

Tyrone and Donegal have been given the go-ahead to use their college players in Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup final, despite the fact that they have already played for their universities in the competition.

However, should St Mary's defeat Queen's today and qualify for Sigerson Cup weekend, then Tyrone's Mark Harte, Joe McMahon and Leo Meenan may sit out the McKenna Cup final, with just five days separating the two events.

GALWAY (SH v Dublin): L Donoghue; D Joyce, D Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, T Regan, F Moore; D Tierney, F Healy; D Forde, M Kerins, K Broderick; J O'Loughlin, E Cloonan, D Hayes. Subs: P Doonaghan, A Kerins, D Collins, O Fahey, J Conroy, D Hayes, A Cullinane, S Kavanagh, D O'Brien.

DUBLIN: B McLaughlin; S Daly, S Perkins, D O'Reilly; S Hiney, L Ryan, K Ryan; D Sweeney, R Fallon; D Curtin, C Keaney, K Flynn; AN Other, M Breathnach, M Carton.

TIPPERARY (SH v Offaly): B Cummins; T Costello, D Kennedy, M Phelan; E Corcoran, J Carroll, P Kelly; D Byrne, E Enright; B O'Meara, S Maher, B Dunne; S Butler, G O'Grady, E Kelly. Subs: J Cottrell, P Buckley, L Corbett, J Devane, D Fitzgerald, N Moloney, M O'Leary, P O'Brien, P Shortt, S Sweeney.

LAOIS (SH v Clare): K Galvin; L Mahon, P Cuddy, C Cuddy; J Fitzpatrick, P Mahon, M McEvoy; J Young, J Walsh; C Coonan, L Tynan, S O'Dwyer; T Fitzpatrick, D Cuddy, D Culleton.