Kelly ruled out as Tipperary ring changes

News round-up: Tipperary manager Babs Keating has recalled team captain Ger O'Grady to the starting line-up for Sunday's Munster hurling championship quarter-final against Limerick at Semple Stadium.

O'Grady was dropped for the National League semi-final defeat to Kilkenny for Darragh Egan, who reverts to the replacements.

O'Grady's recall is one of a number of changes made by Keating. An injury to Paul Kelly means Colin Morrissey has been moved from wing forward to midfield where he will be partnered by Ballinahinch's Shane McGrath, who is making his championship debut.

Despite missing most of the National League through injury, Micheál Webster and Eoin Kelly are named in the full forward line alongside Diarmuid Fitzgerald, who is usually a defender.

Declan Fanning moves from centre back to corner back with Conor O'Mahoney taking over the number six shirt. Ken Dunne is another notable absentee from the starting 15. He played well during the league at wing forward, although he is among the reserves.

John O'Brien, another player who has been in and out of the team recently, starts at left wing forward.

Joe Kernan enters a fifth campaign at the helm of Armagh football this Sunday when his team face Monaghan in the third championship meeting in four years between the counties.

Monaghan shocked the then All-Ireland champions in 2003, with Kieran McGeeney in the stand, with a four-point win. The sides were again paired off in the Ulster preliminary round 12 months later when Armagh inflicted a ruthless 2-19 to 0-10 defeat before eventually regaining the Anglo-Celt Cup.

Armagh are trying to become the first Ulster three-in-a-row side since the great Down team of 1961. They also seek a sixth provincial title in eight years.

Regarding the view that this is an ageing Armagh panel, Kernan said the team is evolving and he pointed out the talent that has broken through since 2002.

"That will be said but I was looking at the panel from 2002 and there are 16 changes in personnel since. You take out Kieran McGeeney and Paul McGrane and the average age is 24 or 25. Seven or eight of that under-21 team (that won the 2004 All-Ireland) have made the step up.

"Paul Duffy is one who is looking good during the recent league campaign. Stephen (Kernan) is not far off either. Aaron (Kernan), Brian Mallon and Ciaran McKeever have already made the move up to senior."

Armagh's league campaign was hindered by injuries but Kernan has a full panel to select a team from tonight as Francie Bellew, Oisin McConville and Ronan Clarke have all recovered from recent injuries.

"Francie picked up the injury at training after the Derry game and then he was suspended. He didn't heal as quickly as we would have liked but he is back in full training and is looking all right for Sunday. Oisin McConville and Ronan Clarke both had a run-out against Meath last weekend so they are fine.

"Maybe our attitude wasn't that good during the league. When we started losing games, the confidence went with it but what we did on the last day to avoid relegation was heartening. That game against Wexford had a real championship fever and pace to it. Coming from behind has also another huge positive."

Meanwhile, Sean Boylan is tipped to be unveiled as Ireland's International Rules manager tomorrow. The Dunboyne herbalist stepped down as Meath manager last season after 23 years and four All-Ireland titles.

John O'Mahony, double All-Ireland winning manager with Galway, had been the other contender but he confirmed yesterday that GAA president Nickey Brennan has made no contact with him over the position.

It is unclear whether the usual two-year term is to be reduced to just one as the International Rules seems destined to become a biennial event. The GAA and AFL will complete discussions today regarding the reshaping of the hybrid game. Several rules changes and a new disciplinary system are expected to be confirmed.

TIPPERARY (SH v Limerick): B Cummins; D Fanning, P Maher, P Curran; E Corcoran, C O'Mahoney, H Moloney; S McGrath, C Morrissey; J Carroll, G O'Grady, J O'Brien; D Fitzgerald, M Webster, E Kelly. Subs: D Young, E Buckley, S Butler, L Corbett, K Dunne, F Devanney, J Devane, D Egan, P Kelly, S McDermott, P Ormonde, W Ryan, M Ryan, J Woodlock.