As expected, Clare and Tipperary have rung wholesale changes ahead of Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League semi-final.
With both counties having fielded largely experimental sides in their final round-robin outings against Offaly and Antrim respectively, a raft of big names have been returned to Brian Lohan and Liam Cahill's starting line-ups for the penultimate round clash in Portlaoise.
There are nine changes to the Clare side which scraped a narrow victory over Offaly last weekend. Among those brought back into the first 15 by Lohan are Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Diarmuid Ryan, and John Conlon in defence, David Fitzgerald at midfield, and forwards Cathal Malone, Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan, and David Reidy.
The Tipp changes from the win above in Antrim number seven. Barry Hogan resumes his place between the sticks, while Conor Bowe replacing Danny Slattery is the sole change in defence.
Willie Connors and Darragh Stakelum are partnered together at midfield, with Dan McCormack, Gearoid O’Connor, and Patrick Maher the returning cast up front. Noel McGrath, who started against Antrim, is not included in Liam Cahill’s panel.
Clare (AHL V Tipperary): E Quilligan; A Hogan, C Cleary, C Leen; D Ryan, J Conlon, C Galvin; D Fitzgerald, D Lohan; C Malone, M Rodgers, P Duggan; K Smyth, I Galvin, D Reidy.
Tipperary (AHLv Clare): B Hogan; C Morgan, R Maher, M Breen; B O’Mara, R Byrne, C Bowe; W Connors, D Stakelum; D McCormack, G O’Connor, C Stakelum; J Morris, P Maher, J Forde.
