Tipperary leave Kelly on bench for Sunday

Eoin Kelly has been left out of the Tipperary hurling team to play Wexford in Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park.

Though Kelly has been nursing a groin strain sustained in the qualifier victory over Dublin and was rested for last week's victory over Cork, indications were he would start this weekend.

But manager Michael 'Babs' Keating has named Lar Corbett, Darragh Egan and Willie Ryan in the full-forward line.

Corbett and Ryan have been in excellent form. Egan, a late introduction against Cork, now starts at full forward in place of Micheal Webster. Kelly is named as a sub.

John Carroll starts at centre forward, Francis Devanney losing out. Paul Curran (broken jaw) and Diarmaid Fitzgerald (groin) were not considered.

Meanwhile Graham Geraghty has been forgiven. The 1999 All-Ireland captain was welcomed back into the Meath football panel on Tuesday night after he apologised to team-mates for an incident at training on June 30th.

Geraghty was removed from the panel after an incident with 19-year-old Stephen Sheppard.

The 34-year-old met with the management team of Colm Coyle, Dudley Farrell and Tommy Dowd last week but did not return for the Fermanagh qualifier. Sources confirmed several players had an issue with his return.

But now Geraghty is in line for a recall ahead of Saturday's third round qualifier against Galway at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

"Basically people felt he had done his penance," said Farrell.

"His return will not affect the team. He just came back and looked for another meeting. Hopefully, we can all move on now. Graham will be considered with the 29 other lads for selection."

A team will be announced tonight with Geraghty an immediate candidate to return to the forward line for the first time since defeat to Dublin on June 17th as Joe Sheridan has since quit the panel and Brian Farrell is carrying an injury.

Geraghty also missed the first-round qualifier defeat of Down on July 7th.

Meanwhile, the GAA president, Nickey Brennan, stated "no sinister motives" were behind the replacement of Limerick referee Pat O'Connor with Wexford's Dickie Murphy for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final between Kilkenny and Galway at Croke Park.

"Pat O'Connor contacted the office this morning to say he is not available because he works some Sundays," said Brennan.

"There will be all sorts of conspiracy theories. There's not any. He is just not available and Dickie Murphy will replace him."

Brennan was speaking at the GAA and VHI initiative to address the threat of sudden arrhythmia death syndrome (SADS).

Automated external defibrillators will be provided to every county ground, while GAA clubs can purchase the machines at cost price, €1,200.

The first 125 clubs to request training for four people on how to operate defibrillators will receive the sessions free of charge.

TIPPERARY(SHC v Wexford): G Kennedy; E Buckley, D Fanning, A Byrne; E Corcoran, C O'Mahony, S Maher; H Maloney, S Butler; J Carroll, B Dunne (capt), D Hickey; L Corbett, D Egan, W Ryan.