Tuohy in for Clare as Tipperary stand firm

Munster champions Clare have made one change for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary at Croke Park. As expected, Fergie Tuohy, who was a late withdrawal before the semifinal against Kilkenny, is recalled. Meanwhile, Tipperary have named the same team that defeated All-Ireland champions Wexford.

Clare start 14 of the team that won the 1995 final. Stephen McNamara, on the bench, is the player to lose out since then, while Colin Lynch is the newcomer.

There was some surprise in Clare that Niall Gilligan, who deputised successfully for Tuohy and scored two points, has been returned to the substitutes' bench with Fergal Hegarty - replaced during the semi-final - retaining his position at right corner forward.

Within the county, there had been some expectation that Tuohy might be played in the left corner on Paul Shelly, with Gilligan moving to the right corner and Clancy staying on the 40. The retention of Hegarty has scuppered that prospect.

Ger Loughnane's and his selectors' thinking on this issue was influenced by the need for experience and the fact that Hegarty was on the successful team of two years ago. After naming the side, Loughnane referred to former Cork player Tony O'Sullivan as an example of a young player whose career had suffered a setback in the wake of a traumatic All-Ireland final.

As named, the team is similar to that which started the Munster final against Tipperary. All three half forwards started in the positions at which they're named for Sunday and the formation had a considerable impact on the early stages of the match, running riot through a disintegrating Tipp half-back line which has since replaced both wing backs on duty that day - although captain Conor Gleeson is now at centrefield.

Clare's attack has been very fluid this summer and players move around quite a bit during matches. It will be no surprise in the final if Ger `Sparrow' O'Loughlin moves to full forward, a position in which he caused Noel Sheehy considerable discomfort in July.

Another move which worked well in the All-Ireland semi-final was the redeployment of Conor Clancy at centre forward, in place of the injured Tuohy. Although Clancy and Hegarty have been added to the team since the Munster final, both are veterans of the 1995 All-Ireland.

The added experience is complemented by increased versatility over the past two years. Clancy's capacity to slot in at full forward is made possible by the quality of O'Loughlin's performances at full forward when moved in on the square.

At the back, it's a familiar tale with the defence from Davy Fitzgerald in goal out to Anthony Daly on the wing lining out for their ninth consecutive championship match. Ollie Baker and this season's impressive debutant Colin Lynch are at centrefield.

The only other changes on the panel is the inclusion of Andrew Whelan and Paul O'Rourke of the Wolfe Tones club amongst the substitutes. Given the tough new rules on naming and numbering substitutes correctly, two of the panel will not be able to tog out in the dug-out - although it will be remembered that neither the name nor number of Eamonn Taaffe, who scored the vital goal in the final two years ago, appeared in the programme.

Tipperary's selection was more low-key and it wasn't altogether a surprise that Len Gaynor and his selectors named an unchanged side. There had been speculation in the county that Brian O'Meara, successfully introduced at corner forward in the last two championship matches might switch in to full forward, with last year's Young Player of the Year, Liam Cahill, coming into the side in place of 19-year old Eugene O'Neill.

Instead O'Neill retains his place at full forward, an intimidating role for anyone playing Clare these days given the form of Brian Lohan and no change is made. The option remains of starting O'Meara on the square, but it is felt that O'Neill is not suited to corner-forward play and will most probably start where selected.

Whereas it was predictable that the side which comfortably defeated the All-Ireland champions would be retained, some aspects of the Munster final look to have been forgotten. One is that Kevin Tucker scored three points on the wing that day but has not re-appeared on the team since.

His replacement, Liam McGrath, is a more physical player and as such, looks more manageable for Clare captain Anthony Daly. McGrath featured in some speculation before the National League semi-final against Galway, during which he was the only first-team player to line out.

He played at centre forward which fuelled theories that he was being checked out for the position with a view to moving Declan Ryan in on Brian Lohan. As with so many other permutations, this remains a possible switch on the day.