Tipperary try new men and new mix

Tipperary have named two newcomers in their team to play Waterford in next Sunday's Munster senior hurling semi-final clash in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork.

Brian Horgan, from the Knockavilla Kickhams club, who captained the county's All-Ireland winning under-21 side in 1995 has been named at wing back while Clonoulty's Micheal "Bunny" Kennedy, a minor in 1996, comes in at right corner forward.

Len Gaynor has made a number of positional switches amongst his back lines. Micheal Ryan has been listed at full back, having spent virtually all of his inter-county career in the left corner.

There had been much conjecture in Tipperary as to who Len Gaynor might select at full back for the championship as the team have yet to find a permanent heir to Noel Sheedy, who retired last year. Both Conor Gleeson and Paul Shelley were tried at full back during the winter, but ultimately Gaynor has opted for Ryan.

Shelley, incidentally, will line out against Paul Flynn on Sunday, a player who gave him a torrid time during a minor encounter at the same venue in 1992 when Shelley was just 16. Liam Sheedy, right wing back last year, moves to the left corner.

Aidan Butler will play at centre back, traditionally another problematic position for the county, where he will mark Ken McGrath, a forward who has been in sparkling form for Waterford throughout the League.

Colm Bonner, thought to be in danger of losing his place in the starting line-up, will play at centrefield alongside Tommy Dunne.

Five of the forwards who played in last year's All-Ireland Final have been selected in the attack. John Leahy, injured for much of the county's league campaign, returns at left-half forward. Liam Cahill, who came on a substitute last September, starts in the left corner.

Liam Austin, the Cavan football manager, expects to name the team tomorrow to face Fermanagh in the Ulster Championship. Although Ciaran Brady and Bernard Morris have been receiving treatment for injuries, they will be available for selection.

Austin described his thus far brief tenure in management as "a fast learning curve".

While he believes that the departure of a number of established stars such as Stephen King leaves Cavan with something of a void to fill, he insists that his side were nonetheless optimistic about their chances of retaining the title.

"Well, it's been an ordeal certainly, there has been upheaval here. But, you know, you can only do your best. We feel we can win against Fermanagh but it must be remembered that Cavan got out of jail against them last year. All championship games are difficult, there are no guarantees of an easy game," he said.

Dublin manager Tom Carr will name his team to face Kildare in Croke Park after training tonight. While Keith Galvin remains a long-term casualty with a broken leg, Dessie Farrell is also a minor concern but ought to be fit enough to play. Stating that Dublin were relishing the prospect of the Kildare match, Carr believes that the Leinster Championship seemed to be up for grabs this year.

"Meath have been cast as favourites and are more than entitled to be after the Offaly game, but really there are 20 teams around the country capable of making life difficult for one another."

Tipperary: (SH v Waterford) - B Cummins; P Shelley, M Ryan, L Sheedy; B Horgan, A Butler, Conal Bonner; Colm Bonner, T Dunne; L McGrath, D Ryan (capt), J Leahy; L Cahill, E O'Neill, M Kennedy. Subs: F Horgan, W Hickey, G Flanagan, C Gleeson, B O'Meara, R Ryan, A Ryan, K Tucker, P Kelly.