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Tipp make five changes

TIPPERARY HURLING manager Liam Sheedy has made five changes from the team that defeated Limerick in the final group round of …

Fri May 01 2009 - 01:00

TIPPERARY HURLING manager Liam Sheedy has made five changes from the team that defeated Limerick in the final group round of the NHL for Sunday’s Division One final against Kilkenny at Semple Stadium.

Shane McGrath returns to the starting line-up at midfield, with Séamus Callinan, James Woodlock, Noel McGrath and Micheál Webster all resuming their positions in the forwards.

Those who lose out from the starting side that defeated Limerick, 1-17 to 1-11, are Benny Dunne, Gearóid Ryan, John Devane, Pa Bourke and Patrick Maher. The Kilkenny team will be named tonight.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking GAA official has lashed out at the continuing outbursts of violence in games throughout the country following the abandonment of two football games in Laois over the weekend.

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County chairman Brian Allen declined to comment on the specifics of what happened in the local league matches, but is concerned that such incidents send out a negative message which could lead to parents getting their children involved in other codes.

The Division One and Division Five ties, involving Crettyard and The Heath and Portlaoise and Annanough respectively, were ended prematurely by the referees due to the eruption of fights involving numerous players.

Recalling an incident last year, when a player was injured following an off-the-ball altercation, Allen revealed the frustration of the officials charged with imposing discipline.

“It’s too early in the year for games like these to be getting out of control,” he said. “Incidents like these only serve to discourage kids from playing our games. People are going to have to stand up and tell it as it is. Knowing who did something is one thing, proving it is another.

“Within days of dealing with that incident last year, we were able to be told exactly who had done it, but by then it was too late. It can be very frustrating.”

TIPPERARY (NHL Final v Kilkenny):

B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran,

C O’Brien; P Maher, D Fanning, S Maher;

T Stapleton, S Mc Grath; L Corbett,

S Callinan, J Woodlock; N McGrath,

M Webster, J O’Brien.