Senior hurlers primed for duel with Tipp

Sat, 14th February 2015

Dublin’s team for Sunday’s all-ticket NHL Division 1A opener against Tipperary in Parnell Park (2.0) shows seven changes from the one that exited last summer’s SHC at the hands of the Premier County.

Last July Tipp ended Dublin’s Championship ambitions when proving much too strong for the Dubs as two second half goals from John O’Dwyer saw them prevail 2-23 to 0-16 in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Apart from the seven changes in personnel there is a host of positional switches.

The players who survive from last summer’s meeting of the same two counties are Alan Nolan, Shane Durkin, Peter Kelly, Liam Rushe, Michael Carton, Conal Keaney, Danny Sutcliffe and Colm Cronin.

Some of the positional switches from then until Sunday include Liam Rushe at full-forward, Michael Carton at full-back, Peter Kelly at centre-back and Danny Sutcliffe at midfield.

St Jude’s man Sutcliffe will form a midfield partnership with Ross O’Carroll while Eamonn Dillon will lead the Dublin attack flanked by Conal Keaney and Colm Cronin in the half-forward line.

Inside Liam Rushe will man the edge of the square with Paul Ryan and Mark Schutte ‘in the corners’.

DUBLIN (SH v Tipperary)

1 Alan Nolan (St Brigid’s)

2 Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)

3 Michael Carton (O’Toole’s)

4 Paul Schutte (Cuala)

5 Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s)

6 Peter Kelly (Lucan Sarsfields)

7 Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)

8 Danny Sutcliffe (St Jude’s)

9 Ross O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)

10 Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda’s)