NA PIARSAIGH’S Shane Dowling will make his championship debut for Limerick on Sunday in their Munster senior hurling championship first round tie with Tipperary.

The teenager is named at left half forward by manager John Allen, but there is no starting place for last year’s young hurler of the year nominee Declan Hannon.

The young Adare player – who only returned to training last week after missing the entire league due to a groin strain – has to be content with a place on the bench.

Midfielder Barry Daly has emerged as a major doubt for Galway’s provincial hurling championship opener against Westmeath on Sunday week.

The Clarinbridge clubman is struggling with a groin injury and manager Anthony Cunningham said last year’s All-Ireland under-21 winning captain was a major doubt.

“He is having it assessed and is in the middle of a rest period to see if it will come right for the Westmeath game,” said Cunningham, who is preparing for his first championship match as Galway manager.

“But at this stage it is doubtful that he’ll make it.”

But there was better news for another of last year’s victorious under-21 team as Davy Glennon looks likely to be able to play a full part against Westmeath after recovering from a hand injury sustained in a recent challenge match against Limerick.

LIMERICK (SHC v Tipperary): N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; W McNamara, D O’Grady, G O’Mahony; P Browne, J Ryan; D Breen (capt), C Allis, S Dowling; G Mulcahy, K Downes, S Tobin.