Offaly's Murphy fit to face Laois

Team News : Brendan Murphy has declared himself fit for Offaly's Leinster senior hurling quarter-final against Laois in O'Moore…

Team News: Brendan Murphy has declared himself fit for Offaly's Leinster senior hurling quarter-final against Laois in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise this Sunday.

Murphy returns to the inter county scene after recovering from a knee injury that saw him miss the entire national league campaign.

Despite and MRI scan showing a slight tear to the posterior cruciate ligament he came through two training matches last Friday and Sunday unscathed.

Murphy is keen to make himself available for manager Joe Dooley, who he played alongside eight years ago.

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"The players really like him and want to play for him because he's been there and done that," said Murphy, referring to the manager.

"I played alongside Joe in 2000. I was on the wing and he was in the corner forward position."

The last time the two sides met in Portlaoise was in the Division 1B league game in March when Offaly lost 1-17 to 2-13.

Elsewhere Limerick football manager, Mickey Ned O'Sullivan, has named four newcomers ahead of Sunday's Munster quarter-final against Tipperary at Fermoy.

The entire full forward line of Kieran O'Callaghan, who also captains the side, Dermot Phelan and Ian Ryan, are new at senior level as is corner back Stephen Walsh.

O'Sullivan had a number of key players unavailable through injury including Michael Reidy and Conor Mullane.

Meanwhile Shane McCabe is in line for a return to the inter county set-up with Fermanagh and may play a part against in this Sunday's Ulster football championship clash against Monaghan.

There has been speculation that manager Malachy O'Rourke persuaded the Derrylin man back into the squad.

McCabe was unavailable for the national league due to his ongoing commitment with Irish League side Glentoran where he is on a four-year contract.

McCabe came on for Fermanagh as a second half substitute during a challenge match against Offaly last weekend. Although he is unlikely to start this weekend he could be used from the bench once more.

Limerick(SF v Tipperary): S. Kiely, D. Carroll, J. McCarthy, S. Walsh; P. Brown, S. Lavin, P. Ranahan; J. Galvin, T. Cahill; S. Kelly, J. Ryan, S. Buckley; K. O'Callaghan (capt), D. Phelan, I. Ryan.