Galway give Kavanagh first start

Pauric Kelly is a confirmed absentee from the Galway team to face Tipperary in the National Hurling League Final in Cusack Park, Ennis, on Sunday. The experienced defender injured an ankle last week and, as expected, will be unfit to play. He is replaced at right corner back by Peter Huben.

The one additional change from the side that beat Kilkenny in the semi-final sees Nigel Shaughnessy moving from midfield to half back and replacing the dropped Robert Walsh. Tom Kavanagh comes in to midfield.

For Kavanagh, this game will be his first start for Galway, having by-passed the traditional minor and under-21 routes. He replaced Walsh early in the second half against Kilkenny, with Shaughnessy moving to the back line, and obviously impressed manager Matt Murphy with his two points from midfield. There are no changes among the forwards.

Tipperary manager Nicky English also makes two changes, in his case from the side that beat Clare by a single point in the semi-final last Sunday week. The most significant adjustment sees dual performer Declan Browne losing his place at corner forward in favour of Brian O'Meara, who moves up from the half forwards. John Leahy returns from his three-game absence due to a hamstring injury to take over O'Meara's regular spot.

The other change is in the back line where Brian Horgan comes in at right half back in place of Raymie Ryan. Horgan replaced Ryan in that position 10 minutes into the second half of the semifinal and holds on now.

Westmeath have named the side to play Kerry in their first ever All-Ireland Under-21 football final appearance and, not surprisingly, it includes the four players withdrawn from the county's senior championship encounter with Carlow last Sunday. Aidan Canning, David O'Shaughnessy, Des Dolan and Fergal Murray were kept out of that game after consultation with the under-21 management in order to prevent any risk ahead of Saturday's game in Limerick.

Having claimed their first Leinster title by beating All-Ireland champions Laois, Westmeath were eager to have their strongest team possible. Kerry are looking for their fourth title in five years and are expected to announce their team today.

Meanwhile, Kilkenny have announced a 30-man panel for the final run-up to their hurling championship campaign. The main surprise is that Joe Dermody, their regular goalkeeper for the last two championship seasons, has been left out in favour of James McGarry and Martin Carey, brother of D J McGarry of Bennetsbridge, who played in the league semi-final defeat to Galway, is now favourite for the regular position, starting with Sunday's challenge match with Clare.

Sean McCague has called on the media to report matters as they see it and not to be afraid of being critical when the occasion arises. The GAA president-elect was speaking at a function in Belfast yesterday when receiving the Bass/Ulster GAA Writers' Merit Award for the month of April.

Galway SH (v Tipperary): D Howe; P Huben, B Feeney, L Hodgins; N Shaughnessy, F Flynn, P Hardiman; T Kavanagh, L Burke; A Kerins, C Moore, K Broderick; O Fahy, M Kerins, E Cloonan.

Tipperary SH (v Galway): B Cummins; D Fahey, F Heaney, L Sheedy; B Horgan, D Kennedy, E Corcoran; E Enright, D Carr; T Dunne, D Ryan, J Leahy; L Cahill, P Shelley, B O'Meara.

Westmeath Under-21 (v Kerry): C Mullin; P Mullen, J Galvin, F Murray; B Lambden, A Canning, M Burke; K Burke, D O'Shaughnessy; S Deering, F Wislon, R Browne; J Fallon, M Ennis, D Dolan.

Kilkenny (SH Challenge v Clare): J McGarry; J Butler, S Meally, W O'Connor; L Keogh, C Brennan, P Barry; D Byrne, C Phelan; H Shefflin, J Hoyne, B McEvoy; N Maloney, P J Delaney, C Carter.