Tommy Dunne warns of Morrissey ‘gamble’

Tipperary’s 2001 All-Ireland winning captain Tommy Dunne believes Limerick are taking a major gamble if they play Dan Morrissey at full-back in Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final.

Speculation is mounting in Limerick that manager TJ Ryan is set to blood a host of full championship debutants against Tipp, possibly as many as seven.

And Morrissey, from the Ahane club, is tipped to fill the pivotal position on the edge of the Limerick square ahead of Richie McCarthy, a move that would see him in a direct match-up with Tipperary danger-man Séamus Callanan.

Morrissey, 23, played at full-back for the Limerick U21 and intermediate teams in 2012 but won a Fitzgibbon Cup medal with University of Limerick at midfield last year.

He made his championship debut in 2014 and was also used off the bench last year but if Morrissey is handed the number three shirt, it will be his full championship debut in Thurles.

Dunne, writing in his new Nenagh Guardian column, says naming Morrissey to start would represent "a huge call" on Ryan's behalf.

But Dunne also pointed out that Ryan is a former full-back himself and “well aware of the criteria involved when it comes to marking top forwards”.

“Dan Morrissey and Richie English are tipped to start and if Morrissey lines out at full-back, it’s a huge call on manager TJ Ryan’s behalf,” wrote Dunne.

“Obviously if Morrissey is in ahead of Richie McCarthy, there’s a rationale behind that as Séamus Callanan gave Limerick all sorts of problems last year. Morrissey’s club form must be very good, and his training form too, so TJ will be going on something in that regard.

“But it’s still a huge risk. Anybody that’s played championship hurling knows that you’ll experience a pace and intensity like you’ve never experienced before, unless you have the experience to deal with it.”